Wireframing and User Flow
A wireframe is a low-fidelity schematic representation of a screen layout — boxes, lines, and placeholder text with no color, imagery, or stylized typography. Wireframes communicate structure and functionality before investing hours in visual design. They answer: what content lives on this screen, how is it organized, and where does each interactive element lead? User flow is the sequence of screens a user navigates to complete a specific task — for example, the complete flow from landing page → sign up form → email verification → onboarding checklist → dashboard. Mapping user flows as diagram before wireframing ensures every necessary screen exists and no dead ends exist in the journey. Low-fidelity wireframes use rectangles for images, wavy lines for text blocks, and standard UI notation (crossed box = image placeholder, horizontal lines = text). Mid-fidelity wireframes add actual copy, realistic proportions, and component labels. High-fidelity wireframes approach the final visual design. The standard professional workflow is: user flow diagram → lo-fi wireframes (paper or Figma) → stakeholder review → hi-fi wireframes → visual design. Skipping wireframing leads to costly design rework when structural problems surface late in the process.