Mockup

UX design artifact

01 Definition

Mockup meaning: A static, high-detail visual of a design showing its final look but not interaction.

A mockup is a detailed, static representation of a screen that shows colors, typography, imagery, and spacing. It sits between a wireframe and a prototype, conveying the intended look without clickable behavior. Because it is static, a mockup cannot show transitions, states, or how the design responds to input.

Why it matters

How Mockup fits the work

Mockups let stakeholders review the visual design and branding in detail before development, reducing surprises about how the finished screen will look.

In context

The designer shared a homepage mockup with final colors and fonts, and the client approved the look before the interactive prototype was built.

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Practical note

A mockup shows one state at a time; document hover, error, empty, and loading states separately so developers do not have to guess how the interface behaves.