Wireframe

Term from Web Design industry explained for recruiters

A wireframe is like a blueprint or sketch of a website or app before it's actually built. Think of it as similar to an architect's drawing of a house before construction begins. It shows the basic layout and structure of each page - where buttons will go, where text will be placed, and how users will move through the site. Wireframes don't include fancy colors or images; they're usually simple black and white drawings that help teams plan and discuss the website's organization before investing time in detailed design. This planning tool is essential in web design and user experience (UX) work, helping teams save time and money by sorting out navigation and layout issues early in the project.

Examples in Resumes

Created wireframe layouts for company's e-commerce website redesign project

Developed mobile-friendly wireframes and prototypes using industry-standard tools

Collaborated with clients to review and refine wireframe designs before final implementation

Typical job title: "UX Designers"

Also try searching for:

Web Designer UI Designer UX Designer Product Designer Information Architect Digital Designer Interaction Designer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you handle stakeholder disagreements about wireframe designs?

Expected Answer: A senior designer should explain their approach to managing different opinions, using data and user research to support decisions, and how they facilitate productive discussions to reach consensus while keeping user needs as the priority.

Q: How do you decide when to move from wireframing to high-fidelity design?

Expected Answer: Should discuss their process for gathering feedback, ensuring all user flows are complete, validating navigation with stakeholders, and confirming that fundamental usability issues are resolved before moving to visual design.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What's your process for creating responsive wireframes?

Expected Answer: Should explain how they plan layouts for different screen sizes, prioritize content for mobile views, and ensure consistent user experience across devices.

Q: How do you incorporate user feedback into your wireframe designs?

Expected Answer: Should describe methods for gathering user feedback, running simple usability tests on wireframes, and how they iterate designs based on user input.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What tools do you use for wireframing and why?

Expected Answer: Should be able to name common wireframing tools (like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch) and explain basic features they use to create simple layouts.

Q: What's the difference between low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframes?

Expected Answer: Should explain that low-fidelity wireframes are basic sketches focusing on layout and structure, while high-fidelity ones include more detail and sometimes interactive elements.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic wireframing tools usage
  • Simple page layouts
  • Understanding of web design principles
  • Creating basic user flows

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Responsive design wireframing
  • User testing and feedback incorporation
  • Complex interface planning
  • Collaboration with developers

Senior (5+ years)

  • Leading design strategy
  • Managing stakeholder expectations
  • Complex system architecture
  • Mentoring junior designers

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No portfolio showing wireframe work
  • Unable to explain design decisions
  • No knowledge of common wireframing tools
  • Lack of user-centered design thinking
  • No experience with responsive design concepts