Balsamiq Mockups

We’ve been experimenting with a few different tools for producing web design mockups for clients lately and are stoked to have come across Balsamiq Mockups. Essentially, Mockups is a tool for quickly and effectively creating wireframes for websites and software applications.

After using the software for a little over a day, we’re pretty pleased. The things we like best..

• it has a super-easy user interface – you can just jump in and start creating mock-ups without having to learn a thing!
• it comes with 75 pre-built controls (browser windows, menu bars, scroll bars, buttons etc) and you can download more at Mockups To Go – a community site for sharing ready-to-use UI components and design patterns built using Mockups.
• the mockups intentionally have a ‘hand-drawn’ look, so that people don’t get attached to “that pretty color gradient” or think that your mockup has actual code behind it and is “practically done”.

Experimenting with Balsamiq Mockups

Paul Arden has some great comments on why rough layouts sell the idea better than polished ones in his book ‘It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be‘, so we’re looking forward to seeing how clients respond.

NB. The story behind Balsamiq is worth a read. It’s always great to hear about highly-talented developers producing solid, simple software and enjoying commercial success.