Creating an App Prototype: Sketch, Mockup and Wireframe

Wireframes, mockups and sketches... Some people acknowledge the existence of colour app prototypes, others recognise only black and white. Some might say a mock-up can be interactive, others will disagree. Let’s discuss each of these terms in detail.
An app prototype is a sketched application. Think of it as a skeleton.
To make the prototype interactive, the designer draws up schematics of all the pages of the future app or website using some specific tools and assembles these screens into an integral model, establishing connections and links.
The prototype of the site or app is usually created by the UI/UX designers: people who analyse the user’s behaviour, form roadmaps and, finally, visualise the software interfaces.
This is a profession aimed specifically at creating effective layouts and dashboards, providing visitors with conveniently-designed software functionality.
The prototype allows the application to be demonstrated in action at the early stages of development before programming begins. With a clickable prototype, you have a chance to see the main screens in use.
The app prototype allows you to:
The choice of possible approaches for prototyping is very broad.
Conventionally, all the relevant tools can be divided into 3 groups according to the type of media:
Thus, we will observe the following ways of creating a prototype:
When it comes to visual details, it’s much easier to sketch with a pencil than to explain an idea with your fingers.
The advantages of on-paper prototyping are obvious – this is the fastest way to create a future application layout. However, the drawbacks arguably outweigh the positives.
A static prototype (or
A wireframe can be compared to a building plan – it will be used as a guide during construction (in our case, when developing a site or app), but it is impossible to live in it – it does not perform any real app or site functions.
A wireframe is used to determine what will be included and where.
A mockup is the midpoint of a highly-precise, static-design image. Mockups often consist of graphic sketches or even actual graphic design.
What does it do?
A mockup does not provide any user experience in terms of the organisation of interface navigation elements or interaction with them. Nevertheless, mockups are very handy for collecting feedback.
In order to give a wireframe the right look, you need to understand its assigned purpose.
We create wireframes to share the understanding of what elements are located on each page and how they are arranged. Visual clarity helps all project participants to see the structure and general idea of the software, without being distracted by the appearance of individual elements.
How to use them and what the differences are - find here.
In general terms, a mockup – or mock-up – is a model (full-sized or scalable) of a real object or design. In IT, it refers to a detailed wireframe with coloured images.
The presence of colour is the main difference between a mockup and a wireframe. Mockup prototyping is necessary to create a style and mood for the project. If a wireframe represents the bones of the project, a mockup contains the design image itself. It’s important to think over visual trivia and coordinate it with the
*Mock-ups are often confused with wireframes due to the names of some software tools, e.g. Mockup Builder.
The list of the most promising tools for creating wireframes and mockups
Prototyping is an important stage of software development. The next steps we take to represent your future software are as follows:
Thanks to clickable app prototypes, everyone can get a visual sense of the concept of
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