Ask HN: What's your favorite UI Mockup tool?

[burnblue]

I've gone through a bunch - Illustrator to Balsamiq to Mockflow and now HotGloo. I like Mockflow and HotGloo (both online fee-based apps) because they offer:

(1) Master Pages (or at least Master Objects) to keep things DRY (2) a way for clients to view, navigate, and comment directly on the frames (3) a good balance: low-fi enough to avoid seeming like a design pass, but hi-fi enough that each object is distinct and recognizable (4) a good selection of resizable, customizable widgets (5) an environment separate from the design file. Unlike many, I actually prefer to start from scratch with the design - it frees me from conforming too tightly to the frames, and leaves open the possibility for further iteration. Also, it's handy when passing frames to a visual designer - they can use whatever design tool they like.

[plainOldText]

Keynote for Mac. I love the fact it's so easy to use. And sometimes the mockups look so good you'll want to "lick them", to quote Steve Jobs. :))

[sarcasmatron]

I've spent a lot of money (mine and clients') on different tools, and I've settled on Keynote. It covers 95% of my needs and I don't have to manage yet another tool.

Being able to sit in a meeting wireframing on Keynote is wonderful. Factor in another $15 for the iPad app and I'm cooking with gas.

Meetings get super-focused quickly when the participants can immediately see output.

I usually upload it to Google Docs post-meeting for the remote participants.

Protip: Save your mockup files as themes so that you can get to them quickly and easily.

[ExpiredLink]

side note: good looking mockups are dangerous because many managers and stakeholders don't know the difference between mockup and real application. They think you're done.

[knarf55]

cool -- you actually create your entire wireframe in keynote?

[nolok]

Balsamiq

[pbreit]

I like balsamiq specifically because it is rough. That eliminates a lot of the wasted time arguing about pixels.

[burnblue]

I found Balsamiq completely unusable for large projects because of the lack of master pages. Maybe they've addressed this by now; that was ages ago.

[logicalmike]

I'll second this. I've been a paid user for years now.

[jjcm]

Photoshop. I've become so accustomed over the years to the tools/interface, that it's actually faster than pen/paper. Setting it up with common UI elements to drop in quickly makes mockups a breeze.

[sgdesign]

Photoshop for me as well, because I can then easily transition from the wireframe to the high-fidelity mockup. I much prefer it when the evolution is a continuous process, rather than being interrupted by switching software.

[imjoel]

The most efficient thing for me has been Illustrator w/ wireframe symbols. It's not so low fidelity that I can't envision the end products, additionally I enjoy the control vs. mockup tools like Balsamiq.

There some good wireframing resources for Illustrator and other programs in this Smashing Magazine post: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/05/50-free-ui-and-we...

[knarf55]

thanks -- i'll check it out! Appreciate it

[bkbonner]

Wireframe Sketcher in Eclipse http://www.wireframesketcher.com

[navs]

Google docs, believe it or not. I found a nice wireframing set at the following address: http://mortenjust.com/2010/04/19/a-wireframe-kit-for-google-...

[pmorel]

There're also SketchyPad and iMockups. I've created a list of the tools presented here, you can see it on http://www.romku.com/list/343849/ui-mockup-tools.

[knarf55]

Thanks again for all the feedback. I've been trying various tools and i've honestly been loving flairbuilder. Quick, simple to use, and it's highly interactive that's just built in. Haven't tried balsmiq yet but will give it a shot.

[imusicmash2]

as a product manager, I use 2 tools for wireframes and flow design

Flairbuilder and OmniGraffle http://flairbuilder.com/ http://http://www.omnigroup.com/products/omnigraffle/

The Flairbuilder developer is quite active and responsive about updates. I switched here from Balsamic because Flairbuilder allows for somewhat dynamic & functional mockups.

http://twitter.com/#!/flairbuilder

[knarf55]

Thanks -- i'll try it out Flairbuilder and I do like omnigraffle as well.

[stevelosh]

A whiteboard, or Penultimate on the iPad if there's no whiteboard around.

[loungin]

Second for whiteboards. If I must get it into electronic form either take a picture or inkscape.

[chime]

I love Pencil for Firefox. It's seriously underrated: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/pencil/

[naner]

Not available for Firefox 6.0

I do believe Firefox's frenetic update schedule just bit me in the ass.

EDIT There's a standalone version: http://pencil.evolus.vn/en-US/Downloads/Application.aspx

EDIT2 This add-on ("temporary branch") works with Firefox 4-6: http://code.google.com/p/pencil-ff4/

[joshuabutner]

Omnigraffle, Photoshop or paper. Although, seeing the templates created by Amir Khella (keynotopia.com) has made me want to try to use Fireworks a bit more for this.

[PCheese]

Mockingbird - https://gomockingbird.com/

Maybe it's just because I love web apps done with Cappuccino.

[ljf]

Trying the templates in Keynotopia, they are good, but I think I need to work longer on paper before spending time in PowerPoint.

[benwerd]

Sharpies and copier paper. Seriously: nothing else has been as efficient for me. (Although it depends on your Sharpie skillz.)

[elii]

Mockingbird - https://gomockingbird.com/

[theitgirl]

I have tried Pencil, Balsamiq, MockingBird and Google Docs. Google Drawings works best for me.

[Pickels]

Fireworks

[graiz]

A piece of paper.