Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

8
06/07/2022 Footer 1 RESPONSIVE DESIGN ROUNDTABLE WIREFRAMES VS. PROTOTYPES

description

For Responsive Designs, wireframes take on a whole new level of complexity. Is it better to create static wireframes for each screen width or to create an HTML prototype that demonstrates the responsive behaviors? Slide 2: The overall Design Process really doesn’t change for Responsive Design. Each phase has new considerations though: - During Design Discovery, you want to confirm device compatibility with the stakeholders and begin discussing content prioritization for smaller screens - In User Research, you may want to consider how user needs may differ when accessing the site from various devices - Content Prioritization becomes even more important for Responsive - The IA phase is where the rubber meets the road for Responsive since your wireframes need to account for various screen sizes - Same goes for Visual Design and of course, Implementation changes quite a bit! Slide 3: Example of traditional, desktop design process. Research-based wireframe is created, then designed, then implemented. Slide 4: The work multiplies for Responsive sites Slide 5: Example of static wireframes designed for a Responsive site. This is a homepage where the IA created 4 distinct wireframes to represent each breakpoint. Slide 6: Example of an HTML wireframe prototype designed for a Responsive site. This is a homepage where the IA created 1 wireframe in HTML using the Foundation responsive framework. Slide 7: Creating wireframes in HTML has some pros and cons Biggest pros = timesaver and ability to experience the site in-context (for clients, developers and usability test participants) Biggest cons = using a framework doesn’t work well for a mobile-first approach to design and creativity can be stifled Slide 8: Some lessons learned in responsive wireframing, for both static and HTML wireframes.

Transcript of Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

Page 1: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

04/10/2023 Footer 1

RESPONSIVE DESIGN ROUNDTABLEWIREFRAMES VS . PROTOTYPES

Page 2: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

04/10/2023 Footer 2

1. Design Discovery

2. User Research

3. Content Strategy

4. Information Architecture Wireframes

5. Visual Design

6. Implementation

DESIGN PROCESS

Page 3: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes
Page 4: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

04/10/2023 Footer 4

• To implement a responsive site, developers need to know how the page should look at 5 different breakpoints:

1. Desktop (960px or larger)

2. Tablet Landscape (960px - typically use same layout as Desktop)

3. Tablet Portrait (768px)

4. Phone Landscape (480px)

5. Phone Portrait (320px)

DESIGNING FOR RESPONSIVE BREAKPOINTS

Page 5: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes
Page 7: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

04/10/2023 Footer 7

PROTOTYPE PROS

• Shows how the site will work

• Less hours required for someone with good HTML skills

• Code could technically be picked up by WebDev

• Default behaviors for smaller screens are built-in to the code but are also easy to change/override

• Iterations are super fast since you can just FTP new code

• Learning curve for HTML coding

• Doesn’t lend itself to a mobile-first approach

• Limitations in how to do something in code may limit creativity

• Having default behaviors for smaller screens built-in to the code may limit creativity

AND CONS

Page 8: Responsive Design Roundtable: Wireframes vs. Prototypes

04/10/2023 Footer 8

RESPONSIVE WIREFRAME GOTCHAS

• For large feature images/carousels, always plan for what happens on smaller screens, especially with text overlays and calls-to-action

• For sites that include a login feature, always plan for:- logged out state (aka. initial page load)- how a person will log in (go to a new page or how form fields should display)- logged in state (aka. Welcome XXX)- logged in actions (My fundraiser/events/other, Edit my Profile, Log Out)

• Account for how Social Sharing will adapt at different breakpoints

• Design any section navigation needed beyond the first level

• Plan an alternative for any tappable maps or other interactive features