Why do I prefer Paper Wireframes before Digital?
Don’t make this mistake which I did…
By profession, I’m a UI/UX designer. A few months ago I was doing my internship project and found myself in a difficult position. It felt like why did I waste my time on this…
My Experience
Let me take you to the first week of my internship. As a newbie, I was assigned to redesign an existing application. I was given some screenshots of the old design which I need to redesign, So I took them and started redesigning the screens directly in Figma. I redesigned 4 screens and took them to the project manager. The reaction to those designs was proper denial and negative as the taste of the overall design was not according to the company's needs.
By the way, these four digital designs took me almost 5 hours to design. As I was doing my first internship as a proper UX designer, I was not able to grasp the gits of the overall process and the mistake I did was not following the basics i.e. I wasted so much time designing directly the digital screens rather than starting with a pen and paper. I realized all my efforts went in vain.
Things I learned
After that experience, I decided to never jump onto digital wireframes directly. Now during my projects, I follow a fixed process which gives me flexibility and more time.
Many designers have welcomed the convenience and adaptability of developing wireframes on a computer in the age of digital technology and design software. I, however, am distinct from the others. The tactile quality of paper wireframes inspires and comforts me as an enthusiastic designer.
I want to share my learning and why I favor paper wireframes over digital design in this story and how they help my creative process.
The Magic of Tangibility
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of having a pen in your hand and having your thoughts spill out onto the page. Drawing shapes, lines, and annotations on a piece of paper gives me a visceral connection to what I’m trying to create. The way the pen glides across the surface of the paper makes me feel every stroke of the pen, every curve of the paper, and every decision I’m making. It gives me a sense of artistry and creativity that’s often overlooked in the digital world.
Liberation from Restrictions
A variety of pre-defined templates and elements are available in digital design tools, which can occasionally stifle creative expression. On the other side, paper wireframes offer countless options. I am not constrained by pixel grids, established shapes, or program restrictions when working with a blank piece of paper. I’m free to experiment and explore, letting my imagination soar. This independence inspires me to think creatively and push the limits of design.
Enhanced Intuition and Focus
Ever found yourself getting distracted by the notification in the other tab while creating a digital wireframe? My Pro tip: Nowadays whenever I am doing digital wireframes, I switch my software into a new window so that I didn’t get any distractions from the other tabs.
I find that creating paper wireframes helps me completely engage in the design process. I have the ability to focus entirely on my ideas without being disturbed by difficult software interfaces or notifications. I’m able to connect with my intuition more profoundly and make design judgments on an instinctual level thanks to pen and paper’s simplicity. It enables me to see the design’s structure, interactions, and flow in a way that seems natural and organic.
Effective Collaboration and Iteration
The iterative nature of design frequently necessitates repeated alterations. In this regard, paper wireframes are superior. Without the need for complicated computer tools, I can quickly iterate on my ideas with a pencil eraser in my hand and explore several options. Paper wireframes are also very easy to share and collaborate on. They easily allow for discussion and sharing with team members and stakeholders, promoting a more inclusive and active design process.
The Beauty Of Imperfections
In today’s world, where we live in a world of “everything is digital” and “nothing is ever the same,” the hand-drawing of wireframes has always held a special place in our hearts. It’s not just that they’re beautiful, it’s that they have a human touch, a touch of authenticity, a touch of warmth. They’re human, and they’re imperfect.
The beauty of imperfection is that it’s part of the creative process. We’re all human, and we’re all going to make mistakes, but we’re also going to learn from our mistakes.
It’s a beautiful thing to be imperfect, and it’s a reminder that every step on the path to perfection is a giant leap forward.
In conclusion, digital design tools offer convenience and ease of use, but paper wireframes have a special charm that appeals to my creative nature. I value the tangible experience, creativity, focus, speed of iteration, and imperfection that paper wireframes provide. I find paper wireframes to be essential for my design process, as it allows me to connect with my designs in a way that digital tools cannot. I find pen and paper to be a simple and elegant way to express myself in a world that is increasingly cluttered with screens.
Now that you have come so far, I assume that this story was helpful to you in some or the other way and therefore I’m sure you'll also like my last previous story, AI doesn’t possess the skills of a UX designer. Get ahead of the “ AI will take my job” crowd.
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