Explaining wireframes/mockups?
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Igal Koshevoy
Dec 3, 2009, 3:24:13 PM12/3/09
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Does anyone have some suggestions on how to best explain the concept and
intent of wireframes/mockups? Either a response or a link or such would
be helpful.
I keep running into situations where I just can't get a client to
understand that I'm showing them a picture in hopes of establishing
bi-directional communications with them. That I want us to have a shared
vision and understanding of what their future product should be and how
it should behave. That I want to collaboratively create an artifact
representing what I'm going to build for them.
Conversely, I'm struggling to get them to understand that I'm not going
to implement features that aren't in these pictures, am not trying to
waste their time by randomly showing them unrelated abstract artworks,
and am not seeking feedback on the purely artistic merits of these
typically low-fi images or whether they "pop" or are "shiny" enough.
I realize that there's a limit to what can be done, but I can't help but
think that there's got to be a better way. I'm frequently reminded of
trying to teach Boy Scouts to use maps, where most would quickly catch
on and grow in their knowledge, but a few just couldn't seem to
understand that there was a relationship between the squiggly lines on
the paper and the territory in front of them.
-igal
intent of wireframes/mockups? Either a response or a link or such would
be helpful.
I keep running into situations where I just can't get a client to
understand that I'm showing them a picture in hopes of establishing
bi-directional communications with them. That I want us to have a shared
vision and understanding of what their future product should be and how
it should behave. That I want to collaboratively create an artifact
representing what I'm going to build for them.
Conversely, I'm struggling to get them to understand that I'm not going
to implement features that aren't in these pictures, am not trying to
waste their time by randomly showing them unrelated abstract artworks,
and am not seeking feedback on the purely artistic merits of these
typically low-fi images or whether they "pop" or are "shiny" enough.
I realize that there's a limit to what can be done, but I can't help but
think that there's got to be a better way. I'm frequently reminded of
trying to teach Boy Scouts to use maps, where most would quickly catch
on and grow in their knowledge, but a few just couldn't seem to
understand that there was a relationship between the squiggly lines on
the paper and the territory in front of them.
-igal
Chris Pitzer
Dec 3, 2009, 3:27:27 PM12/3/09
to pdxcr...@googlegroups.com
this is where the pencil sketch style may be helpful... The more it looks like it was written on a napkin the better your chances. Also, though, it might be good to find before/after images of known sites in mockup/finished form. That way you could point to those and say "See, the polish comes later... but EVERYTHING in the real site is accounted for in the wireframe".
I don't have a link for you yet, but I'll keep an eye out...
Chris
--
Chris Pitzer
p. 503 425 9444
t. @chrispitzer
w. http://lofiart.com
I don't have a link for you yet, but I'll keep an eye out...
Chris
--
Chris Pitzer
p. 503 425 9444
t. @chrispitzer
w. http://lofiart.com
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Janet Tingey
Dec 3, 2009, 3:33:13 PM12/3/09
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The Elements of User Experience, by Jesse James Garret, has a section devoted to wireframes in plain language that customers/clients can understand. Example: "The wireframe is a bare-bones depiction ... of all the components of a page and how they fit together."
If don't have a copy of this book, it's worth having on your bookshelf. It's an easy read. Info and links are here:
Janet
On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 12:24 PM, Igal Koshevoy <ig...@pragmaticraft.com> wrote:
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