Balsamiq Mockups : Review

What is Balsamiq Mockups ?

Balsamiq Mockups is a solution for the real headache that each designers faces. It all starts when the client rejects the PSD mockup you have made with loads of effort and valuable time. Balsamiq mockups is a cross platform app which will help you to build rough sketch of the interface design project in a matter of time..

The Interface

One of the best part of the Balsamiq Mockups is its interface layout. It has a very easy, simple and usable Interface layout. Which will help its users to arrange elements by dragging it from the showcase to the workspace. Its interface elements collection can be accessed through a scrollable showcase and can be sorted using certain credentials.

Balsamiq mockups also has a property inspector tool, that comes as a tool tip similar to the one in Microsoft Office 2007+ which will provide you all the options you need to determine the feel of each elements you have placed in your project. It has a tabbed interface to open and edit multiple projects same time.

Wow ! Impressed ? Wait… Its true that Balsamiq has a good Interface layout with usable and simple interface. But I will never say its beautiful ! If I use words without filtering, I will say “Balsamiq got the crappiest UI design” – Yes, It makes me cry when I open Balsamiq for my new projects, It will be very annoying when the most loved app don’t have a beautiful interface design. But am sure this drawback will never make its users hate this wonderful app, it really worth the money you pay.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Easy to learn
• Quick and Easy to Use
• Drag and Drop Interface
• Library with most common interface elements
• Pop-up ‘Property Inspector’
• Predefined Keyboard shortcuts
• Lock elements from further editing
• Export as PNG or XML data
• Quick search option Similar to OS X Spotlight (Or Windows Live Search )
• Has a full screen viewer (NOT EDITOR)
• Has informative tooltips
• 3^rd party UI elements addons
• Green

Cons

• App’s interface design
• A Good Icon !
• Some elements (but you have 3^rd party addons)
• Color option for elements
• Full Screen Editor

In conclusion Balsamiq is an extremely useful app for designer (sometimes clients too !) to share interface design idea and make simple and effective mockups. There is a reason why I said its ‘Green’ it saves a tree each time when you stich mockups digitally ! This is an app that you must try if you haven’t yet.