Wireframe Tools: Uses and Examples

Wireframe tools are becoming essential for professionals interested in workshopping new designs and creating user-friendly products in the rapidly growing web and app design fields. As the demand for highly skilled UI/UX designers, web developers, and product managers continues to rise, the importance of having the right tools to streamline digital design processes and clearly communicate design ideas will likely rise along with it. 

Whether you're a seasoned designer or new to the industry, learning to utilize the best wireframe tools for your tasks can help you excel in your job role and design products more efficiently. Below, explore what wireframe tools are, who relies on them, their benefits, and some popular examples of wireframe tool uses.

What is a wireframe tool?

A wireframe tool is a visual guide that helps you to represent the elements and flow of your website, app, or product design. These tools enable you to plan your projects' layout, navigation, and functionality, making it easy to communicate your ideas to clients or team members. Using a wireframe tool lets you streamline your design process from the beginning, saving time and reducing potential misunderstandings.

Types of wireframes

A high-fidelity wireframe looks and behaves almost exactly like the finished product. It includes all the little details, like colors, fonts, and images, and may even have interactive features like buttons that work. High-fidelity wireframes or prototypes are great for testing the user experience and getting feedback on specific design elements.

A moderate-fidelity wireframe is a step down from a high-fidelity one. It still looks and feels like the finished product, although it may not have all the embellishments. For example, it may have less color or animation. A moderate-fidelity prototype is a good choice when you want to test a design concept but you're still deciding whether to commit to all the details.

A low-fidelity wireframe tends to be simple and abstract, much like a rough sketch or basic mock-up of your product. It might be hand-drawn on paper or created quickly using simple design software. Low-fidelity wireframes are great for brainstorming because they allow you to work through your ideas quickly and plan out basic structures. They're also helpful for getting feedback on the overall concept before you invest too much time and effort into creating a more detailed prototype.

What jobs rely on wireframe tools for design?

Wireframe tools are widely used by professionals who need to be able to quickly showcase the design and functionality of new sites and other digital technologies. Several common careers that benefit from wireframe tools include the following:

Web designers 

Median annual US salary: $69,233 [1]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 8 percent [2]

Web designers can use wireframe tools to plan the layout and user experience of websites. As a web designer, you can use wireframes to explore potential ideas, demonstrate how the audience will interact with the website or app, and make sure all stakeholders are on the same page.

Read more: What Does a Web Designer Do (and How Do I Become One)?

Business analysts

Median annual US salary: $92,896 [3]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 11 percent [4]

Business analysts can use wireframe tools to model the business flow and show consumer interaction. As a business analyst, you might use wireframes to review expectations and requirements for new software and systems with other team members before the design process begins.

UI/UX designers

Median annual US salary: $85,499 [5]

Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 8 percent [2]

UX/UI designers can use wireframe tools to show how a product will function and the placement of each design element. As a UX/UI designer, you might use wireframes to ensure you understand your client's request before you deliver the final product.

Read more: What Does a UX Designer Do?

Benefits of wireframe tools

Wireframe tools offer numerous benefits, including streamlining the design process and enhancing the overall efficiency of a project. One key advantage is the improvement in communication among team members and clients. Wireframes serve as a visual aid that helps convey design ideas more effectively, reducing potential misunderstandings and allowing for faster iterations.

Another significant benefit? Wireframe tools help you make better design decisions, allowing you to focus on the basic structure of a project and how priority items will fit together. This engagement throughout the design process can prevent design issues and lead to more successful projects with higher user satisfaction. A research study presented at the 2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference found both digital and tangible wireframes beneficial in increasing team collaboration and engagement when workshopping new ideas, even when users were new to wireframes [6].

Workplace benefits of using wireframe tools

Using wireframe tools can be beneficial for various job positions and industries. For instance, as a web designer, you can leverage these tools to plan website layout and user experience before diving into more detailed design work. Similarly, UI/UX designers can use wireframe tools to create prototypes of user interfaces for apps and software, enabling them to test different design concepts and identify potential usability issues.

As you gain expertise in using wireframe tools, you may aspire to more advanced roles in the industry. Positions such as Senior UI/UX Designer, Design Team Lead, or even Product Manager could become attainable, offering increased responsibilities and opportunities to shape the future of web and app design. 

Wireframe tool examples

Wireframe tools help you quickly mock up or map the unique requirements of a product or service. With these powerful tools, you can create visually appealing, functional, and responsive layouts while improving collaboration among team members. 

Consider some popular wireframe tools that can help you succeed in several roles.

Adobe XD

Adobe XD is a beginner-friendly wireframe tool for low—and high-fidelity designs. With its intuitive interface, you can easily create wireframes, prototypes, and animations. Adobe XD has several built-in templates, which can be a great place to start if you need help creating your first mock-up. Adobe XD also offers a collaboration feature, making sharing ideas and collaborating with your team easy.

UXPin

UXPin is a wireframing tool for rapid prototyping and higher-fidelity designs. It offers interactive prototyping, which means you can create elements that change when you click on them or hover over them. UXPin also allows you to create a style guide, which can be useful when you want cohesive designs throughout your products.

Sketch

Sketch is a popular wireframing tool with extensive wireframing capabilities and a large library of plugins and resources. Sketch's user-friendly interface makes it easy to create high-fidelity designs with predefined templates or on an infinite canvas. 

Figma

Figma is a cloud-based design tool that excels at real-time collaboration and editing, allowing your team to work together on wireframes and prototypes from anywhere. In Figma, you can create wireframes from scratch on a blank canvas, dot grid journal, or with a wireframe template. When finished, you can share a link with your team.

Justinmind

Justinmind is a comprehensive wireframing and prototyping tool with pre-built UI libraries, interactive elements, and responsive design capabilities. When you're just getting started, you can use the learning resources and tutorials to quickly build knowledge. As you gain familiarity, you will find more advanced features, such as web interactions and mobile gestures, to fit your growing needs as a designer.

MockFlow

MockFlow is a tool for UI planning and making quick wireframe sketches. This wireframe tool can be great if you work on a team, as you can create different folders and pages for various team members to have access too. Mockflow also keeps track of revisions, so you can revisit older designs and explore different ideas.

InVision Freehand

InVision Freehand is a type of digital whiteboard tool you can use to create wireframes and prototypes. With Freehand, you can sketch, draw, and create shapes, import designs from Sketch or Photoshop, and add comments or annotations directly onto the canvas. Freehand is particularly useful for brainstorming, design critiques, and collaboration during the design process, as it supports real-time feedback and communication between you and your team members when creating low-fidelity and early-stage designs.

Canva

Canva is very beginner-friendly and offers an accessible wireframing solution for non-UX designers. While it's primarily known for its graphic design features, Canva's basic wireframing options and intuitive drag-and-drop interface make it an easy-to-use choice if you do not have a background in a related field. 

Promote your knowledge of wireframe tools.

Promoting your industry knowledge can help you demonstrate your expertise and attract clients or job opportunities. Some ways you can showcase and develop wireframe skills include:

• Create a portfolio: Include examples of your work in a professional portfolio to showcase your wireframing skills. It is important to highlight the tools you've used and the problems you've solved through wireframing.

• Network with professionals: Join design communities, attend industry events, and connect with professionals in the field to share your knowledge and learn from others.

Get started on Coursera.

Wireframe tools are a useful tool for programmers and designers to create mockups of different types of web applications. Explore more about creating wireframes and start building a job-ready portfolio with courses and Professional Certificates on Coursera. You can earn a shareable certificate with Build Wireframes and Low Fidelity Prototypes, where you will create storyboards, learn UX basics, and start preparing yourself for an exciting career in design.