What it includes
A wireframe shows layout and priority: where the headline sits, what the main call to action is, how navigation works and what order sections appear in. Placeholder boxes stand in for images and gray lines stand in for text.
Wireframe, mockup, prototype
A wireframe plans structure. A mockup adds the real look, like colors, fonts and images. A prototype is clickable, so people can test how moving between screens feels before anything is built.
How they're made
Wireframes can be sketched on paper or built in tools like Figma or Balsamiq. Many teams start rough and add detail once the layout feels right.
Why Wireframe matters
Changing a layout in a wireframe takes minutes. Changing it after design and development can take days. Wireframes help everyone agree on what a page needs to do before time and money go into polishing it.
Catching the problem early
A law firm's new homepage wireframe showed the contact button below several long sections. Moving it near the top and adding a short practice-area list at the wireframe stage avoided a costly redesign later.
Common mistakes
Adding visual design too soon
Colors and photos pull attention away from structure. Agree on layout first, then style it.
Skipping mobile
Most visitors arrive on phones. Wireframe the mobile layout, not just the desktop version.
Using fake text forever
Lorem ipsum hides whether real content fits. Use real headlines and approximate copy as soon as you can.
Where we work on this