Learning a TON from the amazingly smart peeps at Viget -- including the power (and beauty) of a well developed wireframe. I am changing my tune about starting from scratch in Photoshop.
What are these magical semi-transparent markers everyone uses? I must know! :) (I too have always been a start in Photoshop guy but lately I've got some big projects where I do need to start doing it the right way).
Bill, they're these beautiful prismacolor markers and they really are awesome. The UX guy at the company I'm interning with turned me onto them and I'm hooked.
That's a good question Josh – I've never put sketches in front of a client. This is more for my process, nailing down site structure before I start the visual design. Ideally these would get spun up in Omnigraffle or Illustrator for client approval.
I've led with sketches in the past 3-4 projects I've done and they've went over well. Sketches do a nice job of keeping the discussion high-level without diving into details too quickly. It seems that even with low-fi digital prototypes people are ready to jump into minutiae.
Of course I think it depends largely on the client. If I'm working intimately with an individual or a small team they'll probably understand and appreciate paper prototypes, but for large companies or approval chains with lots of stop-gates I'd stick to wireframes or digital mockups.
11 Responses
Pro
Ethan Geyer
Learning a TON from the amazingly smart peeps at Viget -- including the power (and beauty) of a well developed wireframe. I am changing my tune about starting from scratch in Photoshop.
over 1 year ago
Pro
Justin Belcher
20% cool gray? That's my jam too :P
over 1 year ago
Pro
Ethan Geyer
Good eye Justin!
over 1 year ago
Awesome :)
over 1 year ago
Pro
Bill Labus
What are these magical semi-transparent markers everyone uses? I must know! :) (I too have always been a start in Photoshop guy but lately I've got some big projects where I do need to start doing it the right way).
over 1 year ago
Pro
Ethan Geyer
Bill, they're these beautiful prismacolor markers and they really are awesome. The UX guy at the company I'm interning with turned me onto them and I'm hooked.
over 1 year ago
Rebound
UI WIP
by Ethan Geyer
Getting back to this project after a few weeks working on something else and moving the wireframe into a homepage comp.
about 1 year ago
Pro
Josh King
I've never tried this before, how do clients respond to drawings?
about 1 year ago
Pro
Ethan Geyer
That's a good question Josh – I've never put sketches in front of a client. This is more for my process, nailing down site structure before I start the visual design. Ideally these would get spun up in Omnigraffle or Illustrator for client approval.
about 1 year ago
Pro
Justin Belcher
I've led with sketches in the past 3-4 projects I've done and they've went over well. Sketches do a nice job of keeping the discussion high-level without diving into details too quickly. It seems that even with low-fi digital prototypes people are ready to jump into minutiae.
Of course I think it depends largely on the client. If I'm working intimately with an individual or a small team they'll probably understand and appreciate paper prototypes, but for large companies or approval chains with lots of stop-gates I'd stick to wireframes or digital mockups.
about 1 year ago
Love this.
3 months ago