LayoutSkizze

LayoutSkizze, often rendered as Layout-Skizze in German, refers to a preliminary visual representation of the arrangement of visual elements on a page or screen. It is used across graphic design, publication design, web and app design, and other media to explore how content can be organized before detailed design work begins.

Its purpose is to communicate structure, hierarchy, spacing, and relationships between components such as headings, text blocks, images, navigation, and interactive areas. A LayoutSkizze is typically low fidelity and focuses on placement and alignment rather than typography details or visual styling. It may be hand-drawn or created with digital drawing tools.

Common characteristics include the use of a grid or columns, simplified shapes for placeholders, labels to indicate content types, and rough indications of margins and whitespace. In practice, it serves as a consultation artifact to align team and client on layout concepts early in a project.

Workflow-wise, a LayoutSkizze often precedes wireframes and mockups. Designers generate multiple sketches to compare options, then select a direction for higher fidelity representations. The sketch is refined into wireframes, where interactivity and structure are defined, and later into visual mockups with typography, color, and imagery.

While the term is common in German-speaking contexts, the underlying idea—sketching layout concepts quickly—exists in English as layout sketch, layout sketching, or rough drafts. It is valued for its speed, flexibility, and ability to facilitate early feedback.