Date post: | 27-Jan-2015 |
Category: |
Design |
Upload: | suzeingram |
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Spoilt for Choice
Which prototyping tool is right for you?
Balsamiq Mockups
Balsamiq Mockups
MockflowMockflow
PowerpointPowerpoint
ProtoshareProtoshare
Designer Vista
Designer Vista
Axure RP Pro
Axure RP Pro
PetraPetra
Easy Prototype
Easy Prototype
JustinmindJustinmind
Fluid IAFluid IA iPlotz
iPlotz
FlairbuilderFlairbuilder
SimulifySimulify
SketchFlowSketchFlow
Visio Professional
Visio Professional
MockupScreens
MockupScreens
OmniGraffleOmniGraffle
PencilPencil
ForeUIForeUI
DenimDenim
SketchFlowSketchFlow
FireworksFireworks
RapidRabb.it
RapidRabb.it
Lucid SpecLucid Spec
Flash Catalyst
Flash Catalyst
GUI Design Studio
GUI Design Studio
HotGlooHotGloo
iRiseiRise
What we looked for…
How long did it takePlatformCostCollaborate with othersInteractive wireframesEasy to learnExport optionsLikesDislikes
Created a simple wireframe
Balsamiq Mockups
Platform DesktopCost $79Interactive prototypes NoExporting PNG or XML onlyEasy to learn Yes
No keyboard shortcuts
No keyboard shortcuts
no SHIFT drag to contrain
angle
no SHIFT drag to contrain
angle
Great library of drag ‘n’ drop
shapes
Great library of drag ‘n’ drop
shapes
Mockflow
Platform OnlineCost Free for basic editionInteractive prototypes Yes, but only very basicExporting PNG and PDFEasy to learn Yes
VERY basic interactivity
VERY basic interactivity
hard to select multiple objects
hard to select multiple objects
Very simple and easy
Very simple and easy
create decent wireframes
quickly
create decent wireframes
quickly
set of widgets and icons are
good
set of widgets and icons are
good
Protoshare
Platform Online (Firefox only)Cost $19 per monthInteractive prototypes YesExporting Yes! (many options – could be best of breed)Easy to learn Yeah, sort of
Collaboration features seem
good
Collaboration features seem
goodIt's a
little slow
It's a little slow
Designer Vista
Platform WindowsCost $80Interactive prototypes NoExporting HTML onlyEasy to learn Takes some effort
Easy drag and drop shapes
Easy drag and drop shapes
Shortcuts not always
provided
Shortcuts not always
provided
Good search functions
Good search functions
Resizing objects not
easy
Resizing objects not
easy
Hard to create nav menus
Hard to create nav menus
Justinmind
Platform Windows and MacCost $690Interactive prototypes Yes. Takes some fiddling around to "get it"Exporting HTML, MS WordEasy to learn Yes for basics, interactive stuff is a bit tricky
A step-up from basic
prototyping tools
A step-up from basic
prototyping tools
Entering requirements descriptions is not intuitive
Entering requirements descriptions is not intuitive
Couldn’t work out how
masters work
Couldn’t work out how
masters work
Worth checking out
Worth checking out
Expense not justified…yet
Expense not justified…yet
Fluid IA
Platform Online (Beta…maybe?)Cost FreeInteractive prototypes DunnoExporting DunnoEasy to learn Impossible to use
Worst tool of all
Worst tool of all
Not sure if it’s in beta
Not sure if it’s in beta
Wouldn’t recommend it
Wouldn’t recommend it
iPlotz
Platform Online, Windows and MacCost Online – Free, Desktop - $75Interactive prototypes YesExporting PDF, JPG, PNG, PreviewEasy to learn Yeah, sort of
Looks really nice, works smoothly
Looks really nice, works smoothly
Widgets are in alphabetical
order
Widgets are in alphabetical
order
Nice commenting
feature
Nice commenting
feature
Interactivity is only very basic
Interactivity is only very basic
Devil in the detail….
Devil in the detail….
Online hosting of preview
Online hosting of preview
Flairbuilder
Platform Windows and MacCost $99Interactive prototypes YesExporting PNG, JPEG, XML. HTML coming soonEasy to learn Yeah, sort of
"undo" limit seems to be
limitless
"undo" limit seems to be
limitless"snap to
guide" feature is too sensitive
"snap to guide" feature is too sensitive
Great for creating
prototypes of forms
Great for creating
prototypes of forms
Widgets are interactive by
default
Widgets are interactive by
default
Text boxes automatically
resize
Text boxes automatically
resize
Simulify
Platform Online and Windows, Mac & LinuxCost Online - Free, Desktop $89Interactive prototypes YesExporting UnsureEasy to learn No…because it appears to be buggy
a lot of features that
don't work well
a lot of features that
don't work well
online version seems to be
buggy
online version seems to be
buggy
Mockup Screens
Platform WindowsCost $100Interactive prototypes Not reallyExporting HTML and PDFEasy to learn Yes
The skins feature is ok
The skins feature is ok
lacks important
functionality
lacks important
functionality
JustProto
Platform OnlineCost $19 / monthInteractive prototypes NoExporting No exporting (in planning)Easy to learn Yes
Masters are good
Masters are good
Can only apply one master
per page
Can only apply one master
per page
Very quick to use
Very quick to use
Lacks functionality
Lacks functionality
Some bits in Polish
Some bits in Polish
Can add other users to edit
Can add other users to edit
OmniGraffle Platform Mac Cost $99
Pencil
Platform Firefox on Windows onlyCost FreeInteractive prototypes NoExporting PNG onlyEasy to learn Yeah, sort of
It’s a Firefox addon!
It’s a Firefox addon!
Editing elments is
quirky
Editing elments is
quirky
It’s free! It’s free!
Hard to useHard to use
Fireworks
Platform Windows and MacCost $299Interactive prototypes YesExporting PNG, HTMLEasy to learn Yeah, takes some time though
selecting layers and objects is seemless
selecting layers and objects is seemless
wireframes look too boxy
wireframes look too boxy
ForeUIForeUI
Platform Windows + Mac (Disk image)Cost $79Interactive prototypes Yes. Takes some fiddling around to "get it'Exporting PNG, PDF, HMTLEasy to learn Yes for basics, interactive stuff is a bit tricky
Allows multi-selection of
objects
Allows multi-selection of
objects filling an
object with colour is weird
filling an object with
colour is weird
Beige city!Beige city!
Axure RP Pro
Platform Windows (Mac version in development)Cost $589Interactive prototypes YesExporting HMTL, JPG (etc), MS WordEasy to learn Yes for basics, interactive stuff is a bit tricky
Using masters saves time
Using masters saves time
Crappy default library
Crappy default library
Interactivity is powerful
Interactivity is powerful
Steep learning curve for
interactivity
Steep learning curve for
interactivity
Specification output is great
Specification output is great
Lousy HTML output
Lousy HTML output
Denim
Platform Windows, Unix, and Mac Cost FreeInteractive prototypes NoExporting HTML onlyEasy to learn Noooooo!
OMG!OMG!
OMG!OMG!
OMG!OMG!
OMG!OMG!
Expression Blend 3 + SketchFlow
Platform WindowsCost $599Interactive prototypes YesExporting MS WordEasy to learn Yeah, takes time though
Clients can add comments to wireframes
Clients can add comments to wireframes
Too much control!
Too much control!
Workflow representation
(Sketchflow Map) is great
Workflow representation
(Sketchflow Map) is great
It’s powerfulIt’s powerful
Pidoco
Platform OnlineCost 10 Euro/monthInteractive prototypes Yes. exports an online prototypeExporting HTML onlyEasy to learn Yes
Collaboration Collaboration
Feels a bit clunky. Lagged
at times
Feels a bit clunky. Lagged
at times
Feels a bit unfinished and
unpolished
Feels a bit unfinished and
unpolished
Lucid Spec
Platform WindowsCost $500Interactive prototypes YesExporting UnsureEasy to learn Not really
Broad range of features
Broad range of features
1995?1995?
drop down menus where
you select True/False
drop down menus where
you select True/False
Hard to select layered
objects
Hard to select layered
objects
Flash Catalyst
Platform Windows and MacCost Free (in Beta)Interactive prototypes YesExporting UnsureEasy to learn Unsure
GUI Design Studio
Platform WindowsCost $200Interactive prototypes YesExporting UnsureEasy to learn Kind of for basics, interactive stuff a bit tricky
IntutiveIntutive
No search functions
No search functions
Good range of shapes
available
Good range of shapes
available
HotGloo
Platform OnlineCost Free (…for the time being)Interactive prototypes Yes. Takes some fiddling around to "get it'Exporting JPG only (export one jpg at a time)Easy to learn Yes for basics, interactive stuff is a bit tricky
online collaboration looks pretty
good
online collaboration looks pretty
good
You can't group shapes!
You can't group shapes!
Can create masters
Can create masters
limited keyboard shortcuts
limited keyboard shortcuts
iRise
Platform WindowsCost $7,000. That’s right, $7,000!Interactive prototypes Yes - Complex Exporting Options mostly for iRise's own softwareEasy to learn No
ability to make fully functional
websites
ability to make fully functional
websites
Insanely expensive!
Insanely expensive!
Very steep learning curve
Very steep learning curve
ComplexComplex
Wrap up…
Gold star
Honorable mention
Avoid like the plague
Expression Blend + SketchflowAxure
ProtoShare (collaboration)iPlotz (for comments)HotGloo (free…for now)
Fluid IASimulifyDenim
Thank you
Melinda MaherKristian MartinRicardo EscalonSafa FatayerjiKatherine Alsop
The makers of Justinmind, Flairbuilder, JustProto, Axure, Expression Blend + Sketchflow
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anyuser/2737879402/
Thank you
Keep in touch:
Suze IngramUser Experience Designer at Stamford Interactivewww.stamfordinteractive.com.au
[email protected]@suzeingramsuzeingram.blogspot.com
Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anyuser/2737879402/