Small sketches that are made quickly to explore ideas resulting from research and brainstorming are called what?

• A. Storyboards
• B. Rough Sketches
• C. Thumbnails
• D. Wireframes

Answer: (C)

Thumbnails are small, quick drawings used early in the design process to explore many ideas that come from research and brainstorming. They’re deliberately simple and tiny, so you can generate a lot of concepts in a short time without getting bogged down in details. This approach helps you compare different layouts, relationships, and visual directions quickly and identify the most promising options for fuller development.

Storyboards, on the other hand, are sequences of frames that map out a story or user journey, focusing on motion or narrative flow rather than rapid ideation. Rough sketches are general quick drawings but aren’t necessarily the smallest or fastest option and can be more about roughing out specific ideas than exploring many concepts. Wireframes are basic layouts of a site or app that outline structure and functionality, not the broad brainstorming of visual directions.