Wireframes vs prototypes: what to ask your designer to deliver
Short answer: Wireframes show structure; prototypes show behaviour—ask for the level of fidelity that answers your riskiest unknowns before build.
NZ SME projects blow budgets when owners discover late that “the booking flow feels clunky”. Decide early what must be clickable.
Wireframes: best for
- Agreeing information architecture and priority of sections.
- Content planning before photography and copy investment.
Prototypes: best for
Multi-step forms, configurators, or anything with conditional logic. Low-fi clickable prototypes often suffice—pixel-perfect can wait.
What to document alongside
Content sources, integrations, analytics events, and accessibility expectations—design deliverables are only part of the brief.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need both?
Not always—simple brochure sites may go from wireframe to UI. Complex flows benefit from prototype user tests.
Who owns Figma files?
Clarify licensing and handover in your contract—avoid read-only limbo after launch.