[joshdotsmith]

When doing design work I usually now start with Ryan Singer's shorthand for UI flows: https://signalvnoise.com/posts/1926-a-shorthand-for-designin...

From there I'll dive into hand drawings, perhaps a wireframe (although Balsamiq is a pain to use), and maybe some specific visual designs if needed in Sketch, which may then go into Invision. Basically every step is optional along the way to a fully implemented design, but the general flow can be adapted at length.

This is especially nice when doing client work because clients' needs and budgets are highly variable. If I can get away with just a UI flow and drawings and feel confident that we're on the same page in terms of how they describe the UX back to me, then we're good to go.

The biggest thing is to just get over your own insecurities about scribbling and drawing. I'm awful at it. But when my anxiety or my attention-deficit keeps me from going through the earlier (cheaper) motions, then invariably I suffer in terms of time lost later.