From Wireframes to Design Comps

Last week I was working on some initial design comps for an iPhone app we’ve been developing. Now, I haven’t designed in a little bit and surely I haven’t designed from my own wireframes in quite some time. And it was in that transition I realized the gap between the UX hand off to design. And here’s what I found.

While wireframing I try to add the right labels (no draft language in nav), observe initial brand constraints; all the while blocking out areas for copy, images, and other media. I then annotate the screens and send them forward to one of our designers. Now, of course we all get together and discuss the wireframes so it’s not a cold hand off.

But I noticed a disconnect as I opened the PDF of wires while opening my Photoshop document. I suppose I’ve had my head buried in the UX sand for too long. I suppose I got a little set in my ways because as I began to design from screen to screen I wanted to change some things. Not just the general layout but things like button labels.

Now for some UX folks this isn’t a problem. But there a segment of us who get a bit concerned when things start to change without testing and research. Changing labels for instance is not a good thing!

However, I found myself getting over it after I worked out a few compromises. And because it was just me on this portion of the project it was difficult to argue with myself. Now testing will prove whether I made the right label change or not but I find that there is a gap between wires and design. Because wires remove branding elements from the screens design challenges such as balance, whitespace, and visual hierarchy don’t come into play and are therefore not included in the wires. So there is an innate opportunity for change to occur.

And you know what? I know this. But it was a great reminder to respect the transition and respect the craft from both sides of the house- UX and Design.

So for all you wireframe jockeys out there- take a moment and open up Photoshop and start designing from wires and see what you encounter. You should surely have questions but will you see an opportunity for change that could enhance the experience? Try it out and see. Stretch those creative muscles!

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