Cooking up wireframes with Balsamiq

Written by Andoy Montiel

Before designing a website interface, usability engineers represent the base layout via a wireframe. I’ve tried various tools ranging from Visio to OpenOffice.org’s Draw, and have found Axure to be the most feature-rich item for our needs. Recently though I stumbled upon Balsamiq, an Adobe Air-based wireframing application that is a breeze to use.

What I like about Balsamiq:

1. It runs via Adobe Air. This means that I can use it on Windows, Mac, and Linux. As a zealous supporter of Linux, I am thrilled to know that this wireframing software runs on my favorite operating system.
2. The price is quite reasonable. For just US$ 79, you can have Balsamiq running on your desktop.
3. Community developed interface components are available online. Mockups To Go offers Balsamiq users a place to download additional design patterns that can be used for various projects. The Vote To Promote is one of my personal favorites.
4. There are a lot of predefined interface components. Balsamiq offers a ton of website components, making the task of developing layouts so much quicker.

Although a very useful tool, Balsamiq does have some negative points:

1. It tends to be a memory hog. I’m not sure if it’s just the complexity of the interface I’m designing or if it’s because of Adobe Air, but I experience a noticeable slow down in Balsamiq if I 3 wireframe projects open at the same time.
2. I cannot adjust some aspects of the predefined interface components. I have tried to render the Horizontal Rule widget in white instead of black numerous times, but Balsamiq does not allow changing the color of items with lines.

Overall, I am a fan of Balsamiq. It is a tool that helps me quickly develop a number of web interfaces. The sketch-like rendering of designs is a plus because it conveys the message that a wireframe is just a “rough sketch” of the final design. This software is something that I definitely recommend to usability practitioners.

---

Sample interface components available in Balsamiq:

---

Talk Usability wireframe made with Balsamiq

Comments

• Find It

• Recently Written

  • Why context is important
  • Fave Usability blogs
  • DiGi Prepaid – When little things add up to create an excellent customer experience
  • Usability poll: What are your thoughts about opening links as new windows?
  • Cooking up wireframes with Balsamiq
  • It’s been a while
  • Making User Login More Usable
  • Making things usable: A Usability Primer
  • iPhone in the Philippine context
  • The epiphany that gave birth to this blog

• Categories

  • Commentary
  • Interesting Find
  • Musings
  • Reviews
  • Usability trainings

• Monthly Archives

  • September 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008

• Noteworthy

  • Boxes and Arrows
  • Dmitry’s Usability Post
  • Experience Lab
  • Jakob Nielsen’s Website
  • Scott Weiss’ Handheld Usability
  • The Usability Blog
  • Theo Mandel’s Usability Blog
  • UI Design Newsletter
  • Useful Usability
  • User-Centered

• Admin

  • Register
  • Log in

Copyright © 2007 Talk Usability • Using Dropshadow theme by Brian Gardner