Balsamiq - Ever wondered this about wireframing?

The latest news from Balsamiq:
A strategy, a foresight, and a superpower

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Hi friends,

Welcome back! It’s me and the whole Balsamiq team, waving to you from behind the screen. We're back with another monthly insight, and this one's packed with nuggets you've been curious about.

Hundreds of you have turned the pages of Wireframing for Everyone, our in-house labor of love by Michael Angeles, Leon Barnard, and Billy Carlson. You've asked us questions about how AI impacts wireframing, how to prioritize so many steps in the design process, and more.

Taking inspiration from those discussions, and with insights from our authors/in-house UX experts, we've curated answers to some of your most pressing questions on wireframing.

Our goal? Give you a fresh perspective and a boost in your everyday product discussions. Let's get to it:

Question 1: AI and high-fidelity tools are tempting. Why should I stick with wireframing?

Answer: Of course, the first question is about AI—it feels like it’s everywhere now. Here’s the deal: Wireframing doesn’t hinder creativity or productivity; it amplifies it. With AI, the output is as good as the data fed into it. While high-fidelity tools paint a pretty picture, they might miss key functional issues.

For example, imagine you're creating a new type of e-commerce experience. An AI tool might push you towards a traditional cart layout simply because it's common. But with wireframing, you can envision a new interactive shopping bag feature that enhances user engagement.

Wireframing is your playground, where messy ideas are celebrated, and functionality drives the design. It's less about getting it perfect and more about iterative improvement. Dive into prototyping only when you're confident in the flow and layout.

Action Step: For your next project, start with a free-flowing wireframing session. Find out if you end up with something different than if you started with AI, and experience clarity first.

Question 2: I’ve got this avalanche of product ideas. How do wireframes help prioritize?

Answer: Think of wireframes as your idea filter. When you lay out each idea visually, it's easier to spot redundancies, inconsistencies, or even genius strokes you might have missed.

Let's say you're developing a fitness app with 15 unique features. But when you wireframe it, you share it and realize that only seven truly enhance the user experience. The visual nature of wireframes helps you gauge the feasibility and impact of each feature.

By visually sorting through the chaos, you can identify what's gold and what’s not.

Action Step: Got a bunch of ideas or feedback from customers? Wireframe them, quickly and imperfectly. You might spot the superstar features amidst the crowd.

Question 3: I'm drowning in meetings. Can wireframes really help?

Answer: Meetings aren’t always a waste of time, but unprepared meetings almost always are. A wireframe gives structure and direction to your brainstorming sessions. It turns abstract discussions into concrete action points. With a clear wireframe, everyone knows what’s up and can react to something, slashing those hours spent in "clarification" debates.

Here’s an example shared by nearly every product team I’ve ever spoken with: Your team is debating a new onboarding flow. Words fly, but there's no consensus. It takes weeks (maybe months) to move forward.

Compare that to a team that pulls out a wireframe that visually represents two layout options. The discussion instantly becomes more focused—the power of having a tangible representation.

Action Step: Have a wireframe ready for your next product or design meeting. Observe the change in discussion quality.

Question 4: Why wireframe when there's so much else on my plate?

Answer: Oof, we hear you on this one. No matter your team size or role, everyone hits a season of being overwhelmed. But picture this: fewer revisions, more structured feedback, and fewer misunderstandings. Wireframes, while another task, are your ticket to a smoother design and development process. They're the early steps that prevent mid-project chaos later on.

Let's draw from the world of architecture, as an example. An architect wouldn't start building without a blueprint. Similarly, diving straight into development without a wireframe is risky. Think of a time when a feature seemed great in theory but was a usability nightmare in practice. A wireframe could've highlighted that hiccup early on, saving time and resources.

Action Step: Make wireframing a non-negotiable step in your project pipeline. See how many issues you catch and solve early on.

Final thoughts

There you have it—wireframing, the unsung hero of the design world. It's not just about pretty boxes and arrows. It's a strategy, a foresight, a superpower. So, whenever you're knee-deep in pixels and prototypes, remember your wireframe is your compass, guiding you toward a product that doesn't just work but wins.

Want more? Check out the book, some original articles, and interviews:

Happy customer of the month

If you can't sketch your idea out for someone else, you don't understand it well enough.
I often use Balsamiq to sketch out my ideas. It's great for visualizing problems (and brainstorming solutions).
— Adam Costa

Product news

We’re working on some pretty big and exciting features, like a bigger, easier-to-navigate canvas. But for this month, there are no new features to learn. Consider it a small break for your brain 😉

Wireframing Academy news

We’re continuing to spread the word about our book, Wireframing for Everyone. All three authors participated in a “Tent Talk” about the book hosted by Chicago Camps. Also, you might have noticed that we added some of our favorite quotes from the book to the loading screen for Balsamiq Wireframes (see the full list of quotes here).

Last, but not least, we sent a newsletter about the book, with an offer to get some exclusive book swag. Check it out if you’re interested.

UX/UI links for August

7 Reasons to Replace Advanced Search With Filters So Users Can Easily Find What They Need - by Adam Silver
Can Growth Design Be Truly Ethical? - by Mary Borysova
2 Key Design Principles for Product Listing Information (64% Get at Least 1 Wrong) - by Iva Olah
Tree Testing: Fast, Iterative Evaluation of Menu Labels and Categories - by Page Laubheimer
How UX Outcomes Make a Team's Daily Work Truly Human-Centered - by Jared M. Spool

Company News

We continue to focus on finding opportunities to make our work more efficient, balanced, and delightful. One notable change: We recently shifted some responsibilities, and one of our team members (Florian) has been diving into IT in a more dedicated capacity. This is helping us keep security, permissions, and access in tip-top shape. Other than that, it’s mostly been business as usual.

Let's make Balsamiq Better together! We’d love to hear about your ideation and design process to see how we can help. Sign up for our Research Program or book a call.
Sponsorships and raffles: Notable events we’re sponsoring include You Got This Through the Seasons: Fall, Design Matters Copenhagen, Design Ops Summit and more!
Notable recipients of our Free Software Program:
- Canadore College provides free healthcare and wellness services to the elderly and members of the public
- Humanize Homelessness is making it easier to help the homeless
- Youth Music's NextGen community supports young people to make, learn and earn through music

That's it for this month!

Thanks for reading. Let us know if you learned something new, or if you have a wireframing/product question we didn’t cover. I read every reply and we’re happy to help when we can.

See you next month, with more behind-the-scenes news from your friends at Balsamiq!

Stay curious and keep wireframing,

Arielle for the Balsamiq Team

Most new customers find Balsamiq via recommendation...

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Balsamiq - Ever wondered this about wireframing?

Question 1: AI and high-fidelity tools are tempting. Why should I stick with wireframing?

Question 2: I’ve got this avalanche of product ideas. How do wireframes help prioritize?

Question 3: I'm drowning in meetings. Can wireframes really help?

Question 4: Why wireframe when there's so much else on my plate?

Final thoughts

Happy customer of the month

Product news

Wireframing Academy news

UX/UI links for August

Company News

That's it for this month!

Most new customers find Balsamiq via recommendation...

Older messages

Behind the scenes of Balsamiq's major UX revamp

Lessons from Balsamiq’s UX & marketing workshops

Inside Balsamiq’s new book: Wireframing for Everyone

Balsamiq resources for developing your design sense

How we evolved decision-making at Balsamiq

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