Low Fidelity Wireframes: A Guide for UX Designers

The first step toward making any idea a reality is sketching it out, and in the world of UX/UI design, that's exactly what low-fidelity wireframes help you accomplish. These simple wireframes play a significant role in shaping the early stages of product design, making them a crucial tool in the UX design process.

Make low-fidelity wireframes work for your design workflow by learning what they are, how they differ from high-fidelity wireframes, their many benefits and the steps you can take to create ones of your own.

What Are Low-Fidelity Wireframes?

Two wireframes side by side. The left one is labeled ‘low-fidelity’ and features simple gray boxes labeled ‘grocery’ and ‘restaurant.’ The right one is labeled ‘high-fidelity’ and features the same boxes, but this time they’re decorated with vibrant pictures of food, colorful buttons and carefully placed text. — In the Skillshare class “The UX/UI Design Process - Creating Wireframes and a Final Design,” teacher Lindsay Marsh uses Adobe XD to illustrate the differences between low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframes.

Low-fidelity wireframes are simplified representations of a product's layout, and focus on the basic structure and functionality of the layout rather than detailed visual elements.

Unlike high-fidelity wireframes, which offer a closer approximation to the final product with detailed design and interaction elements, low-fidelity wireframes use placeholders and simple shapes to address user flows and achieve functionality. They prioritize understanding the core user experience and ensuring that the design meets user needs.

They're also different from design mockups, which are more polished and visually detailed. By contrast, low-fidelity wireframes strip away aesthetics to concentrate on the layout and interaction patterns. This makes it easier for designers to focus on the functionality and usability of the design without getting distracted by decorative design elements such as bright colors or attention-grabbing fonts.

Why Make Low-Fidelity Wireframes?

The design program Figma open on a computer. A basic wireframe of a website page is visible. It features a dark blue background, pink buttons and placeholders for text and images. — In the Skillshare class “Learn Figma: User Interface Design Essentials - UI/UX Design,” teacher Arash Ahadzadeh creates a low-fidelity wireframe to visualize a landing page.

If you choose to start a project with low-fidelity wireframes, you'll get to enjoy several benefits. These include:

A faster ideation process: Quickly sketching out ideas with a low-fidelity wireframe can help you jumpstart the creative process and generate multiple design concepts in a relatively short amount of time.
Easier modifications: Simple, less detailed wireframes make it easier to implement changes in new iterations without investing unnecessary time in complex revisions.
Enhanced communication: Clear, straightforward wireframes help communicate ideas effectively to stakeholders, cross-functional teams and anyone else you need to collaborate with. This ensures everyone has an early understanding of the project's direction.
Quick testing and feedback: Early-stage wireframes provide a basis for rapid user testing, which can allow you to gather valuable feedback before progressing to more detailed designs.
Fewer time-consuming revisions down the road: Identifying and resolving potential issues early on in the design process can save time and resources by preventing significant changes in later stages.

How to Create a Low-Fidelity Wireframe

Creating a low-fidelity wireframe involves several important steps. Follow this step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Brainstorm with Team Members

If you're working with a team, begin by gathering your team for a brainstorming session. Discuss the project's goals, target audience and key features. A collaborative approach like this ensures that everyone is on the same page and has a chance to contribute to the project's initial ideas.

Working alone? No problem—just have a solo brainstorming session instead.

2. Outline the User Flows

A user flow diagram represented by basic shapes with arrows drawn between them. From left to right, the shapes are labeled ‘start,’ ‘log in,’ ‘settings,’ ‘track,’ ‘progress’ and ‘end.’ — In the Skillshare class “Learn UX Design in 1 Hour: A Complete Case Study Journey,” teacher Matt Wagg shows students what a user flow looks like in the context of a user who wants to log in to a website and track their order.

Identify and outline the primary user flows, and determine the main actions users will need to take, as well as the sequence of steps they'll likely follow. This can help you create a clear, logical and user-friendly structure for your wireframe.

3. Sketch Basic Layouts

Using a wireframing tool like Figma, Balsamiq or even traditional whiteboarding, start sketching the basic layouts of your web pages or mobile app screens. Try to focus on the arrangement of key elements and the overall structure without worrying about visual details or aesthetics.

4. Place Functional Elements

Adobe XD open on a computer. Several low-fidelity wireframes are visible on the screen. Each is titled ‘Scott Green Tea,’ with one showing a mobile website homepage, one showing several purchasing options and one showing a checkout page. — In the Skillshare class “User Experience Design Essentials - Adobe XD UI UX Design,” teacher Dainel Scott’s low-fidelity wireframe is full of functional elements like buttons to ‘learn more’ and ‘buy now.’

Next, add functional elements such as buttons, input fields and navigation menus. Use simple shapes and placeholders to represent these elements, and make sure their positions make sense within the layout.

5. Focus on User Interaction

Consider how users will interact with your design. Ensure that the wireframe supports smooth navigation and intuitive interactions. This stage is crucial for identifying potential usability issues early on in the design process.

6. Gather Feedback

A presentation slide titled ‘get first impressions.’ It features a simple silhouette of a person, and includes the text ‘participants need to look at the prototype from the right perspective.’ Two sample questions have been provided, which read ‘What is the first that grabs your attention?’ and ‘What do you think you can do with this interface?’ — In the Skillshare class “Designing for the Future: UI/UX Prototyping,” teacher Patricia Reiners gives students examples of questions they can ask when soliciting feedback.

Share your low-fidelity wireframes with team members, stakeholders or test users to gather feedback. Encourage them to focus on the wireframe's functionality and user experience rather than visual design aspects. Use their input to refine and iterate on your initial wireframe.

7. Prepare for High-Fidelity Prototypes

Once you have a solid low-fidelity wireframe, you can begin transitioning to high-fidelity prototypes. Get ready to do so by considering the visual design elements and interactive features you’d like to incorporate.

Grow Your UX Design Skills with Skillshare

Low-fidelity wireframes are a powerful tool in the UX design process. They help streamline the design workflow, facilitate effective communication and ensure a user-centered approach. With their help, designers can successfully create more intuitive and user-friendly products, all while saving time and boosting stakeholder engagement.
Looking to improve your UX and UI design skills, from low-fidelity wireframes to responsive web design and everything in between? Skillshare is here to help. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced designer, our expert-led classes can help you refine your techniques, stay on top of the latest industry trends and connect you with professional UX designers.