What function does a wireframe serve in the design process?

A wireframe serves primarily as a tool for layout planning in the design process. It provides a visual representation of a website or application interface, showcasing the arrangement of elements such as buttons, text, images, and navigation without getting into the specifics of design details like color schemes or graphics. This skeletal framework allows designers and stakeholders to visualize the structure and flow of content, ensuring that the essential components are effectively organized before moving into more detailed design stages.

By focusing on layout planning, wireframes help identify the placement of elements in relation to each other, facilitating discussions on usability and functionality. This early stage in the design process is crucial for addressing layout issues before they become more expensive and time-consuming problems later on in development. Thus, their primary role is to convey the spatial and functional aspects of a design concept.