“The design process begins with research; it continues with generating, refining and evaluating different ideas; and ends with prototyping, visual design and, finally, implementation ” — Janko Jovanovic
Choose deliverables that fit the requirements and that are consistent with the project's objectives. The most effective deliverables are the ones that allow you to communicate the ideas properly.
Deliverable (n.) — a document created during the course of a design project to facilitate communications, capture decisions, and stimulate innovation
Deliverables Types:
Sketch is a rapidly executed freehand drawing that is not intended as a finished work.
Wireframe is a basic visual guide used in interface design to suggest the structure of a product and relationships between its components. Typically, wireframes are completed before any artwork is developed.
“ It's simply meant to illustrate the features, content and links that need to appear on a page so that your design team can mock up a visual interface and your programmers understand the page features and how they are supposed to work.” — usability.gov
Wireframes Types:
Wireframes Collections:
A mockup is a scale or full-size model of a design or device, used for teaching, demonstration, evaluating a design, etc.
A deliverable is called a prototype if it provides at least part of the functionality of a system and enables testing of a design. A prototype simulates a real product and lets users experience how it will actually work.
Paper-based prototype for Daum
Prototypes Types:
“How to Prototype and Influence People” by Aza Raskin
The most used programs for wireframing are Visio, Balsamiq, InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and OmniGraffle.
Pencil Project is an Open Source Firefox Addon tool for making diagrams and GUI prototyping.
Inkscape is an vector graphics editor application, distributed under a free software license.
Mockup Sources:
Annotations Alternative Mockups provided by Thibaut Deveraux
For other examples of mockups and partial prototypes see XWiki's Incubator.