Wireframes

Introduction

'Wireframes' is the name for a simple technique to streamline the development. The technique basically assumes that your webpages are built from rectangles (see the box model) and it helps to create order in the development chaos by facilitating a visual approach. See also Wikipedia, review a beginners guide or view some general examples

Basic

A basic one looks like this:

Basic: header, body, footer

Most geekLog pages do have this look-and-feel and the graphic is obvious and simple. Next steps are to refine the rectangles into more detail that reflects the content and functions we want to present. we have the option to replace rectangles, OR , add rectangles inside them and keep the surrounding rectangle for clarity.

Extended

First thing is to drill down the BODY rectangle.

Extended: header, body:(menu, application), footer

Below is still a simple layout, but note that now the position of the rectangles is inherently defined, though is relative to each other.

Advanced

Advanced: header:(branding, secure, globalNav), body:(secondaryNav, content:(title, support), application), footer

Now add some functionality. As an example the HEADER is designed in detail, we forget about BODY and replace it by a MENU and some CONTENT is added with embedded rectangles for a STORY and a SEARCH box.

The example below is stripped from the major rectangles and shows no dependencies.

GeekLog

The layouts that geekLog is using can be wireframes also, as is shown to the left and the right. With a clear and implicit layout from top to bottom and from right to left, or just some boxes glued together.

At this very moment the need for a clean design is seen. And some rectangles need specifications for width and height.

Window size is something to think about too.

All these rectangles can be given a proper name or ID and these names must be used in the communications in the development team.

Without such a wireframe, without such visual representation, any comment on the content outlined, any hint etc. will loose its meaning.