Coming soon! Wireframing tools

I am often asked which wireframing software do I use, the answer I give is in two parts, firstly and importantly I sketch a lot to explore ideas and enable discussions, initially this is on paper, white boards, and almost anything that I can make a mark on.

Once ideas start to show value in pursuing this can be worked up in more fidelity and when necessary prototyped to enable initial users testing. Once the direction is agreed, it is time to begin producing annotated schematics that can be worked up to fill in the details of the interface and its interaction to supplement the functional specifications to be used throughout the design and development phase.

The wireframes are a design tool and may need to be tweaked and updated to accommodate findings and to answer new questions as the process progresses, this aspect can be key deciding factor for tool selections when working on large projects.

Watch Bill Buxton discussing the value of sketching.

Wireframing tools for review

This review will be looking at the following tools;

Mac and Windows compatible tools

Adobe Illustrator + Indesign
http://www.adobe.com/

FluidIA
http://www.fluidia.org/

Balsamiq http://www.balsamiq.com/