Effortless GUI Mockups with Balsamiq

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!