In preparation for this week’s post, I started looking online for a GUI Mockup tool. One that was quick and easy to use, as well as a “not quite done” look that would spark collaboration (subjective I know). I didn’t want something that was heavy like: PowerPoint, Keynote, or Visio. I didn’t want something that would encourage me to spend time in the antipattern of Big Design Up Front.

Here’s the entire review in two words: Perfect Fit.

Alright, if you promise to come back, stop reading and just try out the online demo.

Here’s what I really like:

• Clean UI: property boxes are dimmed until needed, keeping you focused on your screen
• Easy to Discover: I quickly found little nuances (like icon sizes)
• Smart: auto-appearing guidelines for aligning elements and providing consistent borders,
• Support: I had to contact Peldi about something and he responded within 45 minutes… from Italy… and it’s only Peldi as Balsamiq.
• Convincing: As I fly through this app I consistently try clicking on an object, expecting some behavior… only afterwards do I remind myself how dumb I really am.
• Multi-platform, web-delivered: Adobe AIR application all the way.

Here’s what still needs work:

• Consistent Text Editing: When editing text, I missed at first that I needed to use a “Label/String of Text” or “Paragraph of Text” to get Text Alignment, and other formatting options.
• Favoring the Keyboard: many times I was editing text of an object and I wanted some “quick finish” keyboard command (say, CTRL+Enter) to commit my change and drop me out of edit mode. Instead I had to use the mouse and click somewhere off the object.

This is just great software to work with… fantastic job to the huge software teamPeldi with Balsamiq Mockups!

Technorati Tags: balsamiq, balsamiq mockups, great software, peldi