Difference Between Wireframing and Prototyping in UX Design

Wireframing and Prototyping are two main stages of the Design Process. These two are equally important steps in a User-centered product design process. Prototypes and Wireframes are two of the most frequently produced UI and UX deliverables. These tools help design the client’s needs by Illustrating Ideas and Concepts and collecting Responses from Users. These two serve different purposes during product development and both of these make product development efficient and user friendly.

Wireframing vs Prototyping

What is Wireframing?

A Wireframe is a Simplified, Static, Structural representation of any Site or Application. It is a basic two-dimensional visual layout of the design element which presents key information about the product. Wireframe allows us to simplify communication with users. It is mostly a hand-drawn sketch that helps to understand the functionality, structure, and space of the Application or Website. It’s the first valid step of a project imperceptible ideas into somehow perceptible ones. Wireframes mostly depict functionality and are mostly in greyscale. It is a Low-Fidelity sketch or outline of the layout of an interface.

Types of Wireframing

• Low-fidelity Wireframes: Low-fidelity wireframing is a technique of creating a rough visual representation of a design using simple shapes, lines, and text. It is the most basic wireframe mostly done wit pen and paper.
• Mid-fidelity Wireframes: Mid-fidelity wireframing refers to wireframes that are created with a moderate level of detail and design elements. This type of wireframe mostly focuses on the structure of the product and contain some basic design elements and typography.
• High-fidelity Wireframes: High-fidelity Wireframing are the most detailed and precised and visually-rich wireframes that somehow gives the feel of the final product.

Benefits of Using Wireframing

• Cheap and Quick to Make
• Defines and Simplify features of website and apps
• Easier to Communicate Ideas to the client
• Brings Precision to the Project
• Economical and Time Saving
• Decide website Observance

What is Prototyping?

Prototype is a replication or sample version of a final product, which Designers use for testing before launch of any Project. Prototypes are a crucial part of the design process used in all design practice. It is a simple model or a mockup of a concept, idea, product or service.

Types of Prototyping

• Low-fidelity prototyping: It is mostly paper-based, which creates a quick preview of the product. They are ideal for quick brainstorming and collaboration. It is just like a skeleton of a design which is faster and cheaper as well.
• Medium-fidelity prototyping: These are interactive clickable prototypes. It is more detailed and realistic prototype than Low-fidelity prototyping. It has limited functionality which are built upon storyboards or user scenarios.
• High-fidelity prototyping: High-fidelity prototypes are highly detailed, functional and interactive. It looks like a ready application, which can be shown to get a final design approval before developing or testing.

Benefits of Using Prototyping

• Saves Money and Time
• Workflow Simplification
• Team Alignment
• Increase Conversion
• Bugs Identification
• Enhance User Involvement

Difference Between Wireframing and Prototyping

	Wireframing	Prototyping
Description	Simplified Representation or a basic layout. (Rough, imprecise sketch)	Early Design Model of the Final User Interface. It is a clickable prototype that resemble the behaviour of an actual app.
Objective	To visually communicate an idea.	To validate assumptions by testing with end users.
Design Fidelity	Wireframing is Low-fidelity Design.	Prototyping is High-fidelity Design.
Structure	Looks like Tree Diagram or Flowchart that shows all pages and how the pages will connect.	Looks like Mock-Up or Demo of what the final Product looks like when the product will be live.
Nature	Wireframes are Static in Nature	Prototypes are Interactive in Nature
Costing	Wireframe is a Low Cost design structure.	Costing of Prototype ranges from to Medium to High Cost.
Time Investment	Wireframes are Quick to Implement	Prototype takes more time than wireframing as it is more detailed.
Components	Visual Color and Design are not Implemented. Basically contains black and white lines, rectangular boxes. Fonts don’t play important role here.	Contains detailed Content and Images with Interaction and Animations.
Function	Access serviceability and focus on structure.	Test user interaction and any possible flaws before developing ang making the product live.
Interactivity	There is no Interactivity in wireframing.	Prototypes are highly interactive and almost gives the feel of the original product.

Conclusion

Wireframing and Prototyping are not the exact same tool and they both work differently for the design process. We need to wireframe a project before a prototype can be built around it to use. wireframes and prototypes are both important to keep all project stakeholders on the same page. Both represent crucial pieces of the design process that yield the best possible version of the product.