One of the most challenging aspects of software development is the concept of project scope. This term refers to the entire set of features that need coding to consider the software «done.»

As a quick example, consider a website that allows for online ordering from a restaurant. What needs to go into this site? Initially, that might seem like a straightforward answer. The restaurant would need the food items, some way to check out with those, and some way to pay. At first glance, designing this is intuitive and straightforward.

It’s common, then, for clients and developers to agree on that being the project scope. Only when the team completes the project does the client realize that so much more is needed. What about searching for menu items? How about user accounts to make it easier to come back and pay without entering all the billing information again? What about pickup methods, like curbside or even delivery integrations with partners like DoorDash?

One of the best ways to avoid project scope issues is to create a wireframe. Here’s why it’s so vital for any project.

What Is a Wireframe?

A wireframe is an elementary, block-like diagram of the finished product. For the restaurant example above, you might have a wireframe that is simply a bunch of squares representing the pictures of the food items and squiggly lines representing the text underneath. Think of these diagrams as rough outlines or sketches of the concept of your app or website.

How Does It Define the Project Scope?

Wireframes are essential for defining project scope. When you draw out a wireframe, you begin to think about your idea’s components – without all the flashy graphics to be distracting. You’re distilling your concept down to the essential elements, making you think of all the features you’ll need.

Continuing with the restaurant example above, when you do a wireframe, you’ll likely quickly realize that just presenting a list of food items might not be the best. How will people find what they want? Oh, a search bar would make that so much easier!

And then, when you do a wireframe of the payment screen, you might say, «hey, if they had a user account, we could pre-fill this information!»

Wireframes almost always force people to think about the functional components of their project. Once you’ve collected a solid understanding of the functionality, you have the project scope!

Get a Wireframe Mock Before You Code!

The best part about wireframes is that they’re relatively easy to do. You don’t need to be a designer or pay for one. Anyone can sit down and draw some boxes and some lines for text. You can make the wireframe as detailed as you’d like, but they don’t have to be that detailed. You have enough to define the project scope as long as you show the buttons, where the images would go, and have some placeholder for the text!

At INVID Group, we always recommend doing wireframes as part of the development process. If you’d like to get your project started, please get in touch with us! We’d love to hear more about your project and work with you to get a wireframe and define the project scope!