Why Wireframing is Inevitable for Your Software Development Process?
Software Development is all about delivering the best possible results in the least possible time. There are no shortcuts, but only smart paths in development process. The absoluteness of the path chosen is determined by the tools, techniques and processes opted.
One such technique that our designers use to make the software development easier is wireframing. The visual designs that explicate the details of how the client expects the software product to be are what Wireframing is basically about. It gives the development team a clear-cut idea of the software to be developed and how the transition of screens and workflow is expected by the Business.
In Webdura, creating wireframes have helped a lot to arrive upon a previously agreed decision regarding an interface. Webdura has developed a language learning app called Lyringo that our teams were able to execute without any huddles during the software development process.
Wish to know more about how Wireframing is presumed at Webdura for different projects? Let us have a walkthrough…
What is Wireframing?
Wireframing is a visual guide that illustrates how different elements can come together to make a viable software product. It basically is the skeletal framework or screen blueprint of a webpage or an application in a two dimensional model.
In Lyringo, our team made a complete repertoire of the following components during the creation of wireframes:
- Page structure and layout
- Architectural schematic
- User flows
- Functionality
- Anticipated responses
Wireframes can give a clear picture to the designers regarding how stakeholders expect the software to be. As an end result of wireframing, the client will be provided with a prototype which was developed by designers from scraps to develop a website or application.
How Wireframing is done for Lyringo?
- System Analysis Document Creation
At Webdura, as cited in the previously posted editorial we follow the Agile mode of software development. During the itinerary of Lyringo, our team consults clients for basic understanding of the requirements. Based on multiple discussions, our team of designers create system analysis document and is like a guide that our designers follow during the project progression.
- Creation of Wireframes
Designers create mockups and user flows using Balsamiq and MockFlow tools. This will give an idea about screen transitions and user flows during the product design stage. In order to avoid any disarrays in the wireframes, the UI/UX designers should have an idea of how many screens are required and how they expect the user to follow. User flow is all about where the user should come from and where they should end up. Lyringo has a perfect architecture that ensures wireframing is done in the best possible way!
- Design & Development
In the designing stage, our team determines the following factors:
- Content creation and organization
- How the page where the user arrives looks like?
- What all should be included in the rest of the areas of each pages?
- What are the buttons to be added and how they are expected to function?
The page wise design is done using Zeplin. The Lyringo team communicates with the client and takes in the feedback of the client regarding the design and wireframe. The team will make the necessary changes in the design as and when communicated by the client. There will be weekly build delivered to the clients.
Through Slack and Trello communication, we ensure that there is no communication gap between Lyringo team and the client. Additionally, Jira tool is deployed for issue tracking and ensuring correct progression of work.
Wireframe & Actual UI
After putting in place the above mentioned design components in our product, we then find answers to the next level questions like what color and which font will be apt for the pages. At the end of each stage, we make sure that our wireframes have done complete justice to the prospective audience.
- Testing
The wireframe that we developed is subjected to testing and there will be a qualitative feedback mechanism for testing the different screens and checking the basic user flow. Once the usability testing is done, our team comes up with the functionalities that need to be shredded and added.
- Once the code is built and pushed to the QA, the tester and stakeholders can test the application. The stage when the code is ready and pushed to prod, deployment is done. After deployment, the QA tests are carried out, end-to-end testing, business testing, identification of defects and improvements or enhancements (if any) will take place. On deploying codes, the stakeholders can see the working application.
- Client Acceptance Testing
The client will test and verify whether the application developed is on par with the requirements and whether every acceptance criteria are met. If there are any gaps or deviations from the requirement, then this is the stage where our team makes the necessary rectifications. In this phase,we ensure the quality of the product and get the sign off from the clients.
- Maintenance
Once the application is released to the business environment , our Applications Maintenance Operation (AMO) team will provide the necessary application and maintenance support. If any defects or issues occur after the release, our AMO team will work towards correcting it.
What are the advantages of the Wireframe Model?
- There will be clarity in project execution by providing a clear idea of work flows and layouts
- Clients will have a clear idea about what the project goals are and which are the areas that need major focus on
- Team communication becomes easy when you have a prototype and how responsive the designs are
- The idea of the website can be better conveyed through wireframe so that feedbacks can be initiated and necessary changes made at the early stages
- The designers will have the basic idea of which are the codes to be launched for putting together the different elements.
- Wireframes can aid the designers’ thought process in producing website layouts of different sections and make the whole procedure a little more creative and rational
Conclusion:
Wireframe is not merely a checklist but is a standpoint wherein users, clients, designers and other stakeholders come to congruence regarding the way an application or website has been developed. In the long run, wireframes can save a lot of time and effort of the stakeholders in a cost-effective manner.
