Today is your last lesson on user experience design before you get into the nitty gritty of DESIGN DESIGN.
Today's lesson is all about wireframes, those funny-looking, boxy things that are a crucial part of any organized design process.
Wireframing is one of my favorite parts of the UX/design process. It's when you finally begin really translating your grand ideas into a tangible product.
So far, you have probably thought a lot about your project. If you're working on a personal portfolio, what does it look like? After defining your user, sitemap and user flow, it's time to take the next step and actually build a prototype!
The challenge with wireframing is being thorough enough; there are always so many little details to every website! Trying to remember them all can make your brain hurt, but it's also a very necessary (and potentially rewarding) step.
Take your time with this step. Try a few different things, and try a few of the different tools we suggested. See what feels right to you. Don't worry if you keep changing your mind - web design and development are very iterative so just try to be as decisive as you can for now.
(And please DON'T try to learn ALL the tools we suggest right now! These are just different options that are widely used in the industry. Just take a quick look at them and then choose one to try. You can go back to try the others if you want to / need to later. And, if you're struggling with the tool you chose, feel free to whip out the good ol' paper and pencil! Better to do that rather than skip wireframing altogether. It's SO important...)
Once you've got something sketched out, solicit feedback on your wireframe - Ask your friends, coworker or mom what they think, and consider implementing the feedback you think is most useful. Really spend a long time doing this. Wireframing may look easy, but it's a very precise, strategic art!
Then, once you're done, check and double-check your wireframes for all the details, and then share them with your fellow web designers in the Google Group. You're sure to get lots of supportive and useful comments that'll help you make your wireframe even better! :)
LEARN: 
