What is a Mockup?

A mockup is a scale representation or full-size model of a design or device, used for teaching, demonstration, design evaluation, promotion and other purposes. It is a tool used in the design and technology industries to visualize what a product or feature will look like before it is fully produced or developed.

In graphic and web design, a mockup is a mockup that shows how a design will look in real-world situations, such as a web page on a computer or an app on a cell phone. They are especially useful for getting feedback from clients or team members before moving to the production phase.

Where are Mockups used?

Mockups are used in a variety of areas and disciplines to visualize how a product or design will look or function in real-world situations. Depending on the area, they can range from simple schematic representations to detailed and highly realistic mockups.

• Graphic Design: To visualize how printed designs, such as posters, business cards, brochures, magazines and packaging, will look.
• Web design: To show how a web page will look on different devices and browsers.
• Application design: To represent the user interface of an application on different devices, such as smartphones and tablets.
• Interior design: To visualize how furniture and other elements will look in a given space.
• Architecture: To show clients and stakeholders what a building or structure will look like prior to construction.
• Advertising and marketing: To present proposals for advertising campaigns, advertisements, billboards, and more.
• Fashion: To visualize how garments or accessories will look before they are produced.
• Product development: In areas such as electronics or manufacturing, to visualize how a product will look from different perspectives.
• Automotive: To represent how an automobile design or a specific feature will look before the vehicle is manufactured.
• Video games: To sketch and visualize scenarios, characters and other game elements.
• Events and Booths: To visualize how a booth or exhibit area will be organized and look at an event or trade show.

What are the advantages of using mockups?

The mockup is a fundamental tool that cannot be missing in the arsenal of any designer, whatever the area. We are going to tell you about the different advantages offered by this type of resources and why they are indispensable.

• Clear visualization: They provide a visual representation of the final product or design, making it easier for clients and stakeholders to understand the designer’s or developer’s vision.
• Early testing: Allow testing and evaluation of a design before moving to the production or development stages. This can result in identifying and correcting problems at an early stage.
• Cost savings: By detecting and correcting errors in the mockup phase, additional costs can be avoided in later stages of production or development.
• Flexibility: Mockups, especially digital mockups, can be easily modified and adjusted, allowing for rapid iterations based on feedback received.
• Promotion and marketing: An attractive and realistic mockup can be useful for promoting a product or design prior to launch or production, generating interest and buzz.
• Decision support: By having a visual representation, stakeholders can make informed decisions about the design, features, materials and other aspects of the product.
• Improves communication: Provides a visual reference point that facilitates communication between designers, developers, clients and other team members.
• Effectiveness in presentation: A well-made mockup can be more persuasive and effective in presentations, especially when seeking approval of a concept or design.
• Reduces misunderstandings: By having a tangible or visual representation, the risk of misunderstandings or misinterpretations about what is expected of the final product is minimized.

Programs for creating and editing mockups

There are a large number of programs that allow the creation and editing of mockups. We are going to describe some of the most outstanding and used ones:

• Adobe Photoshop: Although traditionally known as an image editing software, Photoshop is widely used to create mockups because of its versatility. Designers can use mockup templates in PSD format and customize them according to their needs.
• Adobe XD: This is a user experience design and prototyping software. It allows designers to create interactive mockups for websites and mobile apps.
• Sketch: This is a design tool for macOS that has gained popularity in user interface and user experience design. There are a lot of resources and mockup templates available for Sketch.
• Figma: This is a web-based design and prototyping program that facilitates real-time collaboration. Like Sketch and Adobe XD, Figma is popular among interface designers.
• InVision: A prototyping platform that allows designers to turn their designs into interactive mockups. It can be integrated with tools such as Photoshop and Sketch.
• Balsamiq: A wireframing tool that allows designers to create more schematic and less detailed mockups, which is useful for sketching ideas quickly.
• Moqups: A web application that allows users to create mockups, wireframes and prototypes in a browser-based interface.
• Affinity Designer: Although it is a graphic design tool, it can also be used to create mockups, especially with suitable templates.