Why I Use Something Called Base Designs

I recently started doing what I like to call "base designs" instead of the more traditional wireframes. I felt like wireframes were just one extra step that became unnecessary after already solving the content and layout flow in the website architecture phase. And my clients weren't quite understanding the point of the wireframes.

I use base designs to explore color, spacial relationships and typographical hierarchy, before getting into things like photography, texturing and extra design elements. This makes moving into the design phase much quicker and more seamless (in my opinion). My clients know what to expect when they see the end design and editing colors or type relationships becomes a simple step in the process.

What I'm trying to say is... always be growing / transforming your workflow to find what works best for you :)