·4 min read
MVP Wireframing Basics for Founders
Wireframes bridge the gap between your idea and what developers build. Simple boxes and arrows can save thousands in miscommunication.
What Wireframes Should Show
- •Page layout and structure
- •Content hierarchy
- •Navigation between pages
- •Interactive elements
- •Not: colors, fonts, final copy
Wireframe Fidelity Levels
| Level | When to Use | Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Sketch | Initial brainstorm | Paper, whiteboard |
| Low-fi | Internal discussion | Balsamiq, Whimsical |
| Mid-fi | Developer handoff | Figma, Sketch |
| High-fi | Usually skip for MVP | Full design tools |
Free Wireframing Tools
- •Figma: Free tier, professional tool
- •Whimsical: Simple, fast, collaborative
- •Excalidraw: Sketch-style, open source
- •Paper: Still works great
Wireframing Process
- •List all screens needed
- •Sketch the main user flow first
- •Add secondary screens
- •Connect screens with arrows
- •Annotate interactions and notes
Common Wireframe Mistakes
- •Too much detail too early
- •Skipping mobile layouts
- •Not showing error states
- •Missing empty states
- •No annotations explaining interactions
A rough wireframe reviewed with users beats a polished design built on assumptions.