The design process involves the development of a concept that provides added functionality or extra ease to the users. Sometimes, it assists businesses to reach more customers and help them to use their services easily. If the concept of a mobile app is accepted, the integration of the concept’s functionality and design is then done by the developed team. In the design process, sure standards are received, so, stability and quality are maintained throughout the process. Wireframes are the blueprints from which an app design process is initiated is one such standard.
What are Wireframes and how they are used?
The wireframe is the blueprint upon which the app design process is based, for a mobile app design. Wireframes include a simple sketch that exhibits where the individual design elements suit the mobile app. A wireframe has a basic layout that holds no color, no imagery, and even no text. The mobile app wireframe allows the designer to survey the functionality, layout, and usage of the app without coding knowledge. That means, it merges the gap between raw thoughts about an application and its actual look and feel, even before the coding process starts sometimes.
The main purpose of the mobile app wireframes is only to refer to where independent elements of the apps fit in the layout. So, sometimes even a pencil sketch can be enough for wireframe design. But, to create efficient wireframes, much equipment is available. For wireframe design in the marketplace, Photoshop CC, Visio, Axure, and Balsamiq mockups are some of the available tools. Wireframes act as an excellent visual aid and help in developing commercially possible and aesthetically satisfying mobile applications.
Main reasons for using wireframes in mobile app design:
In mobile app design, bouncing the use of wireframes can easily do, but it is not recommended. If this procedure is avoided and the final product is released into the market, there may be large economic losses. Because the wireframes are the main design standard that brings the user experience to the forefront in the development process. The most desirable wireframe from the multiple tested wireframes is chosen in the design process. Both business goals and user goals are satisfied in the desirable wireframe. The important reasons for using this in the mobile app design are given below:
User experience is in lead
This is one of the main aspects of the use of wireframes. The process of design that increases customer satisfaction and loyalty to the business is User Experience design. Every detail of the product is related to the user experience design. By handling the functionality that is suitable for both the user and the business, Wireframes help this process. The number of screens, the interfaces, and the content in the layout all come to priority because of the wireframes. So the performance of the app is greatly affected by the multiple wireframe designs tested on the app.
For a better understanding of use cases, mobile app wireframes are used:
The list of business goals that are present for every app is called use cases. The app shouldn’t only satisfy the user and also solve their problem, if an app doesn’t have that potential, it will be deleted and forgotten. Depending on the app, the number of use cases may vary. Each use case is related to a functionality that is given in the application. Few applications have a single use case, like a taxi application or an application that lights the torch up on the phone. and some other applications like the file manager and other business-related applications have many use cases. The single-use case apps are normally rare and wireframes are needed to take care of such goals.
Enhancing the number and order of the screens to reach product goals:
. The user needs access to the tools that point them in the direction of the tasks they wish to complete in the applications. A mobile app wireframe is helping to reduce the number of screens required to achieve such user goals. As the order of various screens is also examined and made efficient, so the app attains its goals in less time. The user doesn’t like to click the back button more times to do one task. Effective design processes can minimize significant changes made during the app’s actual development.
Wireframes give a correct budget idea:
Once the process of wireframing is done, the app developers know the number of screens, components, and user interfaces they need for the mobile app design. Through this process, the complexity of the app and the evident time to develop the application can be estimated. It also helps the developers to estimate the required budget to develop the app.
The information hierarchy is strictly defined:
It is important to define the information flow in the mobile app. It becomes all the more important to design the information strictly if the app deals with critical tasks like banking. By carefully making an information hierarchy, better app design can be made, as the functionality of the app increases.
Tools used for wireframing as the industry standard :
Axure RP:
It is the most comprehensive design tool for mobile apps. It allows its users to create, test, and share interactive prototypes. It has a sharp learning curve that takes time for new designers. But it is a professional tool that handles professional UX designs. It is used to design both static, low loyalty designs and more complicated, interactive ones.
Conclusion:
As wireframes make the design process more accurate and easier, they are the standards in the mobile application design process. It is possible to make mobile apps faster, cheaper, and more functional than before, by integrating the best design processes. Smarther is the leading app design company that also develops mobile applications for their clients. They provide end-to-end services and offer compatible support to their clients around the world.