When you first begin creating a mobile app, it can be quite overwhelming. There are so many different factors to take into consideration before you even get started on the design and development process. From coming up with an amazing idea, to making sure it’s something your target audience will love – there are a lot of different pieces that need to fit together perfectly in order for your app to succeed.
To help reduce the stress and anxiety that comes with launching a new mobile app, you should first create a detailed wireframe. A wireframe is essentially a layout or blue print of your app that details every element and feature you plan on including in the final product. You may have previously heard this referred to as an MVP or minimum viable product; basically, it’s the bare minimum set of features necessary for your app to be successful with users.
What is a Mobile App Wireframe?
A wireframe is an essential part of the app creation process and lets you see potential issues with your design before any development takes place. It allows you to see how everything will fit together and how easy it will be to use.
The goal of a wireframe is to create a visual map of how your app is structured. You’ll use this diagram to plan out the content, user experience, and functionality of your mobile app before you spend any money on development.
Wireframes are used in a variety of industries, and are extremely beneficial for a number of reasons. Wireframes outline the structure and content of an app without concerning themselves with aesthetics. This allows you to focus on the most important aspects of the app, without being distracted by design choices.
Why Create a Wireframe Before Development?
A great argument for creating a mobile app wireframe before moving on to the development process is that it will help you save money. Creating a detailed wireframe up front will allow you to identify any potential issues with your app before it’s too late to correct them.
You can test your ideas and see if they’re viable with a wireframe before investing time and money in the final product. You’ll be able to see if your app idea is worth pursuing, and if the features you’ve included are useful and beneficial for your users. If you’re working with a team, creating a mobile app wireframe before development can help you all to stay on the same page. Working together to create a detailed wireframe up front will allow everyone to have a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
How to Create a Mobile App Wireframe
First and foremost, you should choose a platform to create your app wireframe on. There are plenty of online tools available that allow you to create a mobile app wireframe from scratch.
There are also a number of different templates and examples you can use to help you get started with your own app wireframe. You can also seek out in-app feedback from potential users and beta testers by creating a low-fidelity wireframe. This will allow you to test out your design and see what improvements need to be made before you move on to a higher fidelity version.
Identify the Problem You’re Trying to Solve
Before you start creating a mobile app wireframe, you first need to identify the problem you’re trying to solve. This will help you build a clear and concise app that users will love and find incredibly helpful. If you can solve a problem that you or people around you experience every day, you’ll be one step closer to creating a successful app.
Know Your Audience and User Expectations
Once you’ve identified the problem you’re trying to solve, you need to figure out who your target audience is. You should understand their daily needs and struggles, and know what they would find beneficial and useful in an app. Once you’ve identified your target audience, you should also identify their expectations.
What do they expect from a mobile app? What kind of features and functionality do they expect to see? By understanding your audience’s expectations, you can more easily create a mobile app wireframe that will exceed their needs and leave them happy.
Sketch Out Your Design Ideas
Once you’ve identified the problem you want to solve and your audience’s expectations, you can start sketching out your app design ideas. Once you know what your app will be focused on, you can start thinking about how you want your design to look. You should make note of any features that you want to include, how you want the content to be laid out, and where everything should go.
Create a Map of Your User Experience
Once you’ve sketched out your design ideas, you need to create a map of your user experience. A user experience map will help you outline the journey your user will go through when using your app. In order to create a user experience map, you first need to break down the user’s journey into simple steps.
Once you have these steps laid out, you can create a flowchart to visually map out your user experience. If you’re having trouble creating a user experience map, you can use this handy user journey flowchart to help you visualize the process.
Refine Your Wireframes to Match the User Experience
Once you’ve created a map of your user experience, you can start refining your app wireframe. You can start to add the specific elements, features, and content you want included in the app. You should organize the content in a way that makes sense, and makes it easy for users to find what they’re looking for.
You can start to think about how the app will work and how your users will navigate through it. You also want to think about how you want your app to feel. You can create an emotional impact with the color, font, and graphic choices you make in your app. You should use these design aspects to evoke a particular emotion and make your app stand out.
Remember, Keep It Simple
The last and most important thing to keep in mind while creating a mobile app wireframe is to remember to keep it simple. The mobile app landscape is filled with endless features and endless choices, and you don’t want your app to get lost in the shuffle.
People want simplicity, and you want your app to be used. Creating a simple and easy-to-use app is one of the most important things you can do when creating a mobile app wireframe. If you’re finding that your app is becoming too complicated, go back to the drawing board and simplify it. Start with only the most important features and build from there once the app gains popularity.
Summing up
A mobile app wireframe is an important part of the app creation process and lets you see potential issues with your design before any development takes place. It allows you to see how everything will fit together and how easy it will be to use before starting the full development process. To make sure that your app development project goes well, partner with KitelyTech to build your app. Our team has the experience that you need to build your app right the first time. Call us at (800) 274-2908 to get your project started.
