Brief Explain: 3 types of wireframes & When to use them
Christopher Nguyen
6 replies
A wireframe is a blueprint for your website or digital product
There are 3 main types:
1️⃣ Low-fidelity
2️⃣ Mid-fidelity
3️⃣ High-fidelity
So when should you use these?
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1️⃣ Low-fidelity
Block diagrams provide only the most basic but essential information about a wireframe:
→ The layout
→ Types of content or functionality
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2️⃣ Mid-fidelity
The grey boxes wireframes allow you to use grayscale colours to emphasise the layout:
→ No need to choose a colour palette
→ No need to spend time on real copy
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3️⃣ High-fidelity
A higher-fidelity detail of the product:
→ Should be understood with little or no explanation
→ Facilitates moving on to the next design phase
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🔸 Bonus: Wireflows
Wireflows = Wireframes + Flowcharts
Wireframe-style page layout designs with a simplified flowchart-like way of representing interactions.
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Replies
![Lori Mitchell](https://ph-avatars.imgix.net/5790332/original.jpeg?auto=compress&codec=mozjpeg&cs=strip&auto=format&w=36&h=36&fit=crop)
Lori Mitchell@lorimitch81
the three types of wireframes are low-fidelity (simple and used for basic structure layout), mid-fidelity (more detailed, great for feedback on functionality and user flow), and high-fidelity (detailed and interactive, perfect for final design tweaks and usability testing) - the type you choose depends on your project's stage and feedback needs!
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I'd love to dive into the fascinating world of wireframes; to briefly explain, low-fidelity wireframes are quick, sketch-like designs used in early planning to visualize basic structure, mid-fidelity wireframes add more detail and functionality to better represent the end product, while high-fidelity wireframes are nearly complete designs filled with detailed content, interactions and are typically used in later stages for testing before finalizing the design.
Knowing when to use each type depends on the stage of your design process and the goals you want to achieve.
And speaking of design, if you're interested in leveling up your design skills and learning more about wireframes and other design techniques, you might want to check out ProApp! It's an edtech application that has just launched on Product Hunt today, and it's packed with valuable design courses and resources. You can find it here: ProApp on Product Hunt
Happy designing! Let me know if you have any more questions!
According to me The choice of wireframe type and when to use them depends on the project's stage and the objectives you want to achieve. In the early stages of ideation and exploration, low-fidelity wireframes are best for quick iteration and brainstorming. As the project progresses and you need to define the layout and interactions more clearly, mid-fidelity wireframes can be employed. Finally, when you are close to finalizing the design and need feedback on the aesthetics and user experience, high-fidelity wireframes are the most appropriate.