When designers create a website, they rarely start with pixel-perfect mockups. Most of the time, designers start with a sketch on a napkin or a digital mockup—both of which are wireframes.
As a product designer with a strong focus on UX design, I can say with certainty that wireframing is an essential skill for anyone interested in making a website (or any other digital product) because wireframes provide a clear visual representation of a future design. In this post, I’ll walk you through the different types of wireframes, then share a few wireframe examples that’ll help you create your own.
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What is a wireframe?
A wireframe is a simple visual representation of a web page or other digital product. Wireframes are often called “blueprints of user interface” because they are used to outline the structure and layout of a future web page or app screen.
Wireframes typically don't have images or detailed graphics. Instead, simple geometric objects stand in for visual elements and placeholder text (a.k.a., lorem ipsum) stands in for copy. In doing so, designers minimize distractions and help focus on the arrangement of elements and the overall user experience. A wireframe typically includes the following:
Page layout: The wireframe should show the basic layout of the page, including the header, footer, navigation and main content area.
Content hierarchy: The wireframe should indicate the importance of different content elements by using different sizes and fonts.
Functionality: The wireframe should show how users will interact with the page, such as by clicking on buttons, filling out forms or viewing images.
Annotations: Although they’re not required for every wireframe, annotations can be useful for providing additional context, explanations or instructions about specific elements or interactions.
Why are wireframes important?
Wireframes act as your project's blueprints, making sure everyone's on the same page and sparking collaborative brainstorming. These visual sketches are like the architect's plans for a building, ensuring that you don't start constructing without a clear vision.
One of the most significant benefits of wireframes is their speed. You don't need fancy design software; a simple pen and paper will do. In just a few minutes, you can draft a wireframe, making it an efficient way to get your ideas down fast. This speed also means that you can create wireframes during brainstorming sessions, keeping the creative juices flowing.
But it doesn't stop there. Wireframes are your ticket to design evolution. They let you experiment and iterate on your ideas swiftly. This is particularly handy in the early stages of the web design process when you want to explore multiple design concepts simultaneously. With wireframes, you can do this without burning excessive time and resources. So, whether you're sketching your ideas on paper or using digital tools, remember that wireframes are your allies in turning your vision into a reality.
7 wireframe examples that you can create yourself
Wireframes come in various types and fidelity levels, each serving different purposes in the design process. As you go about creating your own, take a look at these wireframe examples to get a sense of how to construct them and how they’re used.
01. Sketch wireframe
Designers often start with a rough, hand-drawn sketch before drawing up a more formal, digital wireframe. This allows them to start planning the layout and structure of a future page or screen. These wireframes are often used in the initial brainstorming phase to explore ideas without going into detail.
02. Detailed, hand-drawn wireframe
Detailed, hand-drawn wireframes are a step up from sketch wireframes. They provide more specific representations of page elements, layout and content placement. These wireframes are useful for further refining ideas and concepts before moving into digital design tools. Detailed hand-drawn sketches can be an excellent addition to a designer's portfolio, and since they look more visually polished, they can be shown to stakeholders as a part of a slide deck.
03. Lo-fi wireframe
Designers use digital tools to create lo-fi (i.e., low-fidelity) wireframes. These wireframes serve as a fundamental step in the design process, focusing on the core layout, structure and content placement for web pages. They don't dive into the nitty-gritty and usually look pretty rough, using basic shapes, lines and placeholders to outline the main interface elements.
Lo-fi wireframes are useful for early-stage collaboration between team members. You can share them to get initial feedback on your budding ideas and make sure you’re all in alignment about what the web page needs.
04. Mid-fi wireframe
Mid-fi wireframes find a sweet spot between the simplicity of low-fidelity wireframes and the polished finish of high-fidelity ones. They offer a level of detail that's a step up from the basic sketches of low-fi wireframes but maintain a more streamlined look compared to their high-fi counterparts. In these mid-fi wireframes, you'll often spot clearer representations of page elements along with some basic styling cues.
Mid-fidelity wireframes help the team identify the right user interface elements and styling choices. They're especially handy when you're in the testing phase of your product. With mid-fi wireframes, you can test out your concepts and fine-tune the user experience based on the results. So, they're not too fancy, not too basic. They’re just right for getting your project on the path to success.
Use this strip header template from Wix to create a mid-fi wireframe for your website.
05. Hi-fi wireframe
High-fidelity (hi-fi) wireframes take you much closer to the final design with a generous infusion of visual details. These wireframes go beyond basic outlines and sketches, featuring realistic representations of UI elements, true-to-life text copy and a restrained palette of colors, often limited to one or two shades. These colors are strategically used to emphasize essential elements, like those eye-catching call-to-action buttons. High-fidelity wireframes are your go-to when you want to dazzle execs or stakeholders. They present a polished and visually pleasing version of your design concept.
One way to create a high-fidelity wireframe is to use a website template. A website template is basically a pre-made website design that you can customize to your own needs. Website templates come in a wide variety of styles and layouts, so you can find one that matches the look and feel you want for your website.
To use a website template as a high-fidelity wireframe, simply choose a template that you like and customize it with your own content and branding. Once you are happy with the design, you can use the template to create a working prototype of your website. This prototype can be used to test the user experience of your website and get feedback from users before you start developing the final website.
06. Interactive wireframe
Interactive wireframes are wireframes that go beyond static representations and include clickable elements, simulating user interactions and transitions between screens. This type of wireframe isn't tied to a specific fidelity level; you can create interactive versions of lo-fi, mid-fi and hi-fi wireframes alike.
Interactive wireframes are particularly useful when assessing navigation paths in a digital product. They allow you to assess how users will move through the interface, providing valuable insights into the user experience and helping to fine-tune the product's usability.
Get this gallery template from Wix to create your mid-fi, interactive wireframe.
07. User flow wireframe
User flow wireframes, also known as flowcharts or process diagrams, illustrate the path a user takes through a website or digital product. These wireframes typically consist of a series of connected screens or steps that depict the sequential progression of actions a user follows to achieve a specific goal or complete a task. They are instrumental in understanding and optimizing the user experience by identifying potential pain points and areas for improvement in the user's path. For example, I designed the user flow wireframe below for a grocery-shopping app I worked on for a client.
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8 website wireframe templates to spark your creativity
Now that you know what types of wireframes you can create, it’s time to start creating wireframe. But where to begin? These eight website wireframe templates can help you get started. I’ll go through eight different types of wireframes, discussing what each wireframe needs as well as common sections to include.
01. Homepage wireframe
When it comes to crafting homepage wireframes, I've found that this initial blueprint plays a pivotal role in setting the tone for an entire website or app project. The homepage is the digital doorstep, and careful organization of content here can have a positive impact on user engagement throughout the site.
Invest time organizing content on the homepage, then reuse some content blocks—like featured content—on other website pages. Doing that will create a visually and functionally consistent website that will positively impact your visitors.
Common sections to include:
Header: At the top of the homepage, you'll find the header section. This is where the logo resides, alongside the navigation menu for effortless navigation across the website. A clean and intuitive design ensures that visitors can quickly find their way around.
Hero: The hero section is a prominent and eye-catching element, often featuring a large image or video. It's the first thing visitors see and should communicate the essence of your website or app. A clear and compelling headline accompanied by a call-to-action button encourages users to explore further.
Featured content: In this section, I highlight key content or offerings. Whether it's showcasing featured services or products, it's presented in a grid format or as a series of cards for easy browsing. This section keeps visitors engaged and informed about your offerings right from the homepage.
Testimonials: Trust and credibility are vital. Including a section with customer reviews or testimonials adds authenticity to your website. Each testimonial features text from satisfied clients or users and often includes their photos or avatars.
Newsletter signup: For those looking to build a loyal audience, integrating a newsletter signup section can be a smart move. It invites visitors to subscribe and stay updated with your latest news or offerings.
Footer: The footer, though at the bottom, is not to be underestimated. It contains contact information, essential links, and a copyright notice, offering visitors a quick way to access critical pages like About, Contact and Privacy Policy. Social media icons and links further extend connectivity.
02. Store
A store wireframe is a valuable tool for planning the layout and structure of an online store. You can use wireframes to create layouts for various parts of the store, such as a product page to showcase product details, a product search page to display product categories and filters, and even a wireframe for the checkout flow. This checkout flow wireframe includes screens for shopping carts, shipping, billing information and order confirmation.
Common sections to include in your website wireframe:
Header: This section typically includes a logo, a navigation menu, a search bar and a shopping cart icon.
Promo: This is a prominent section that often includes a large hero image or banner highlighting promotions. It should feature a clear call-to-action button for shopping or exploring.
Featured products: You can create a grid or carousel to showcase featured products or best-sellers. Each product in the grid includes a thumbnail, title, price and an "Add to Cart" button for easy purchasing.
New arrivals: To highlight recently added products, you can include a section that features images, titles and brief descriptions of each.
Customer reviews: If it’s relevant, you might consider including testimonials that speak to the quality of your products.
Footer: The footer is an essential part of the store's wireframe. It should contain links to crucial pages like Home, Shop, About Us and Contact. Additionally, include payment method icons, add social media icons with links and consider adding a newsletter signup form and a copyright notice for a complete footer.
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Get this home goods store template from Wix.
03. Blog
Designing a blog may appear straightforward, but wireframes can be beneficial even for these seemingly simple pages. When you’re creating a blog, this type of wireframe helps you visualize the structure for the main blog page, the category pages and the individual posts. It ensures that your layout is clear, captivating and aligned with your primary goals.
Common sections to include:
Header: This area should contain your blog's logo, a navigation menu for easy browsing and a search bar to help visitors find specific content.
Blog post: Within this section, provide a detailed view of the selected blog post. Include the blog post content, encompassing text, images, headings and any embedded media. Additionally, incorporate author information, the publication date, social sharing buttons and links to previous and next blog posts.
Related blog posts: Offer a list of blog posts relevant to the one the user is currently reading. Display them in chronological order, each with a featured image or thumbnail, post title, publication date, author name and a brief excerpt. You can use pagination or a "Load More" button for navigating to older posts.
Author bio: Consider including a brief biography of the author or profile information, along with a photo or avatar.
Comments: Allocate space for reader comments and discussions. Each comment should feature the comment text, the name of the person who wrote it and contact information, such as email or social media handle.
Blog categories or tags: Provide a list of blog categories or tags to facilitate topic-based navigation for your readers.
Footer: Conclude with a footer that includes links to essential pages like Home, About and Contact. Add social media icons for easy sharing and connection, a copyright notice and a link to your privacy policy.
04. Portfolio wireframe
A portfolio serves as a showcase for your work. Therefore, a portfolio wireframe typically features galleries for displaying projects, project description pages and navigation pages that help access different parts of the portfolio easily.
When I'm crafting portfolio pages, I tend to favor straightforward layouts, like grids that feature project thumbnails and essential project information. For individual project pages, I recommend a layout that facilitates quick information scanning. Visitors should be able to quickly find the information that they’re looking for, such as project timelines, challenges and results.
Common sections:
Header: This section houses vital elements like the logo, navigation menu, a search bar if applicable and a prominent "Contact" or "Hire Me" button for easy access.
Hero: Featuring a large hero image or video, this section highlights a featured project or introduces you. It's essential to include a clear call-to-action button that encourages visitors to explore the portfolio further.
Project showcase: A grid or gallery layout proudly displays portfolio projects. Each project entry includes a thumbnail image, a project title and a brief description. These thumbnails are clickable, providing a seamless transition to individual project pages or more detailed project information.
Individual project: For those seeking more in-depth insights, this section offers a detailed view of a selected project when clicked on a thumbnail. It includes project images, descriptions, key features, technologies used and links to visit the live project, if applicable.
About: This segment provides a glimpse into your background with a brief biography or introduction. It should be accompanied by your headshot or avatar and a link to the full About page for those interested in learning more.
Testimonials: Quotes from satisfied clients or collaborators can add credibility to the portfolio.
Contact: To facilitate connections, this section includes contact information, such as an email address and links to social media accounts. Consider including a contact form for inquiries or project requests.
Footer: The footer completes the portfolio with links to essential pages like Portfolio, About and Contact. Social media icons and links enhance connectivity, while a copyright notice and a link to the privacy policy provide necessary information.
Use this game designer template from Wix to create a hi-fi wireframe for your website.
05. Landing page wireframe
A landing page wireframe is all about crafting a highly effective single-page design aimed at motivating visitors to take a specific action. Typically designed for products or services, the primary goal is to prompt visitors to make a purchase or subscribe. Effective landing page design is the key to persuading visitors to convert into loyal customers.
When tackling a landing page wireframe, it's crucial to have a clear goal in mind. Think about the information visitors need to make a decision and prioritize strategic call-to-action buttons like "Buy" or "Sign Up" to guide them toward completing the desired action when they're ready.
Common sections to include:
Header: The header section includes essential elements such as the logo, a navigation menu and prominent call-to-action buttons that direct visitors towards the desired action.
Hero: The hero section is a focal point, featuring a compelling image or video along with a headline and subheadline. It also prominently displays a call-to-action button.
Key features: This section highlights the key features or benefits of the product or service. It presents concise descriptions accompanied by icons for quick comprehension.
Testimonials: Building trust is crucial, so include a section featuring customer testimonials or reviews. These testimonials should include text and small photos or avatars of the customers.
Pricing: Clear and organized, the pricing section presents various pricing options with plan names, features and prices for easy comparison.
Contact: To provide an avenue for communication, include contact information, including an email address and phone number, allowing visitors to reach out with questions or inquiries.
FAQ: Anticipate visitor questions by including a section with frequently asked questions and collapsible answers for easy access to information.
Footer: The footer is the final touch, featuring links to essential pages like the privacy policy, terms of service and other legal information.
Try this consultant landing page template on Wix to create a hi-fi wireframe for your website.
06. Mobile wireframe
Mobile wireframes belong to a specialized category of wireframe examples tailored explicitly for smaller screens like smartphones and tablets. They are meticulously designed to ensure that user interface elements and content are perfectly optimized for mobile devices, considering touch interactions for a seamless user experience.
In my approach to web design, I often begin by creating a layout for the smallest screens, which are mobile devices, and then gradually adapt it to larger screens like desktops. This approach allows us to prioritize essential content and functional elements, trimming away unnecessary information and features for a streamlined mobile experience.
Common sections to include:
Header: The header is designed to be mobile-friendly, often featuring a collapsible hamburger menu for navigation. The logo or site title is usually centered at the top for easy recognition and access.
Hero: The hero section is optimized for mobile screens, with a mobile-optimized hero image or banner. It typically highlights featured products or promotions and prominently displays a call-to-action (CTA) button for user engagement.
Content: To ensure an optimal mobile browsing experience, the content section is crafted with a focus on mobile devices. This may involve using a single-column layout or a grid to present content efficiently. For example, it could showcase a collection of featured products or best-sellers in a user-friendly format.
Footer: The mobile-friendly footer is designed for easy interaction, with links that are easy to tap on. It provides quick access to essential pages like Home, About Us and Contact, ensuring that users can navigate the site effortlessly on their mobile devices.
07. Forum wireframe
Forum wireframes are instrumental in the strategic layout planning of online discussion forums or community websites. These wireframes encompass a range of essential components to ensure a seamless user experience within the forum environment and encourage interaction with other members.
Common sections to include:
Header: Positioned at the top of the forum, the header typically includes the forum logo along with its title. It also incorporates a search icon or bar, facilitating content searches for users. Additionally, you'll often find a user profile icon or avatar, accompanied by a dropdown menu that provides access to various account options, enhancing user interaction and engagement.
Forum categories: This section organizes the forum into distinct categories or sections, each with a title and a brief description. Links are provided for users to access individual categories, streamlining navigation and ensuring that users can easily find discussions aligned with their interests.
Latest topics: The latest topics section serves as a dynamic hub, presenting users with a list of the most recent forum discussions. Each topic is accompanied by a title, last post information and details about the author. Links are also provided to enable users to view the full discussion, fostering engagement and participation.
User profile: While optional, the user profile section offers users a dedicated page to view and manage their profile information. This typically includes the user's avatar, username and relevant statistics. Additionally, it may feature links to access the user's profile on social media platforms, explore their posts and configure account settings for a personalized experience.
Post: This section forms the core of the forum wireframe, displaying forum topics or individual posts within discussion threads. It typically includes user avatars, post content and timestamps to provide context and facilitate discussions. Reply buttons and options for posting ensure seamless interaction and participation within the forum community.
Pagination: In larger forums, navigation controls such as pagination or a "Load More" feature may be incorporated to help users access older forum topics or posts efficiently, promising a smooth browsing experience.
Forum search: The inclusion of a search bar within the forum allows users to conduct targeted searches within the forum's content, making it easier to locate specific discussions or information of interest.
Notification/messaging center: Some forums include a dedicated section for user notifications or private messages, enhancing communication and engagement among forum members.
Footer: Finally, the footer of the forum is equipped with essential links to various pages, such as the Portfolio, About and Contact pages, promoting user exploration beyond the forum. Social media icons provide additional avenues for community interaction, while copyright notices and links to privacy policies ensure legal compliance and transparency.
Try this high-fidelity gardening forum wireframe on Wix.
08. Pricing page wireframe
Pricing page wireframes help structure the presentation of pricing plans for a product or service. They typically include feature comparisons, pricing tiers and additional information that assists your customers in making purchasing decisions.
Common sections to include:
Header: At the top of the pricing page, you'll find the header, which houses the navigation menu and the logo. This makes it easy for customers to explore different sections of your website while considering their pricing options.
Pricing plans: The heart of the pricing page, this section presents a grid layout that displays various pricing plans. These plans are usually organized in rows or columns, making it easy for people to compare their options. Features are listed in a clear and easy-to-scan format, helping customers understand the value they'll receive with each plan. Additionally, you may want to give customers the flexibility to choose their billing frequency, whether monthly or annually. Wireframes may incorporate mechanisms for displaying these billing cycles, as well as any discounts or special offers that apply when someone opts for annual payments.
Contact: Some pricing pages include a contact or support section, providing visitors with direct access to essential customer service information. This can include an email address and phone number for inquiries or assistance.
Footer: Last but not least, the footer of the pricing page should be equipped with links to important legal information, such as the privacy policy and terms of service. These links ensure transparency and legal compliance, fostering trust between your company and your customers.