UX design·Updated January 20, 2026

Generate ASCII Style Mock

Create ASCII art mockups and wireframes for rapid prototyping and documentation.

What's an ASCII Mock?

An ASCII mock is a text-based wireframe using ASCII characters to represent UI elements. It's perfect for rapid prototyping, documentation, or communicating interface ideas without design tools.

+-------------------------------------+
| Header / Navigation |
+-------------------------------------+
| |
| Main Content Area |
| |
| +----------+ +----------+ |
| | Card 1 | | Card 2 | |
| | | | | |
| | [Button] | | [Button] | |
| +----------+ +----------+ |
| |
+-------------------------------------+
| Footer |
+-------------------------------------+

Use Case

Creating quick ASCII mockups for rapid prototyping, documentation, or communicating interface ideas without design tools.

Prompt

Create an ASCII art mockup/wireframe for [interface/component name].

Include:

1. Layout Structure
   - Use ASCII characters to represent UI elements
   - Boxes: ┌ ┐ └ ┘ │ ─ (or + - | for simpler)
   - Text labels: Clear, concise labels
   - Spacing: Consistent indentation and alignment

2. Component Elements
   - Headers: Use = or - for section dividers
   - Buttons: [Button Text]
   - Input fields: [___________]
   - Navigation: > Home | Products | About
   - Content areas: Use | for columns, - for rows

3. Visual Hierarchy
   - Use spacing to show grouping
   - Use different characters for emphasis
   - Show relationships between elements
   - Indicate interactive vs. static elements

4. Responsive Considerations (if applicable)
   - Show mobile vs. desktop layouts
   - Indicate breakpoints
   - Show how elements reflow

5. Annotations (optional)
   - Add notes explaining design decisions
   - Label key interactions
   - Mark important elements

Format as clean, readable ASCII art that clearly communicates the interface structure.

How to use

1Replace [interface/component name] with your specific interface (e.g., "Dashboard", "Login Form", "Product Card")
2Add context before the prompt: Describe the interface purpose and key elements. Example: "Dashboard for analytics. Needs: header with logo, sidebar navigation, main chart area, data table below."
3If you have a reference: Describe existing interfaces or upload screenshots. Say "Similar to [product name] dashboard" or "Based on this design: [description]"
4Specify complexity: Mention "Simple wireframe" or "Detailed mockup with all states" to control detail level
5Paste the modified prompt into your preferred AI tool, like ChatGPT or Claude
6Review the ASCII mockup: Check if layout structure, component elements, and hierarchy are clear
7Iterate: Ask "Add mobile layout" or "Show hover states" or "Make it more detailed"
8Use the mockup: Copy ASCII art to documentation, code comments, or team chat for quick communication
9Refine: Ask "Add annotations explaining each section" or "Show responsive breakpoints"

Pro Tips

• Start simple: Begin with basic layout, then add details in follow-up prompts
• Use for documentation: ASCII mocks are perfect for README files, design docs, or code comments
• Show states: Ask "Show default, hover, and active states" for interactive elements
• Mobile-first: Request "Show mobile layout first, then desktop" for responsive designs
• Combine with code: Use ASCII mockup to plan before writing actual component code
• Share easily: ASCII art works in any text editor, Slack, GitHub, or documentation tools
• Iterate quickly: Much faster than opening Figma - perfect for rapid ideation