Nice GUI Design / Mockup Tool

Cool Software App #3

More than once in consulting work, I've needed a tool to quickly mockup user interfaces to help client envision the screen interactions, data structures, and/or overall look-and-feel of a proposed system that I'm helping define requirements for.  As I've seen it, the solutions to do that are basically limited to: 1) Photoshop (Fireworks, GIMP, etc) 2) Actually creating the screen in an IDE like Delphi, VB, or whatever, or 3) Visio, using the shapes intended for UI design.

Photoshop works, but in my opinion it's generally a pretty inefficient method for creating what begs to be created w/predefined drag-and-drop shapes. 

Using the IDE directly seems to invariably cause issues when mocking up actual data, needing to be able to compile to get the actual screencap, and is usually too cumbersome as well, in my experience.

Visio, well, no offense intended toward Rob, but I found trying to design UI screens in Visio quite cumbersome, and the outcome results-wise bit less than satisfactory.  (But in fairness, I don't think Visio's primary design intent is to mock up UI screens, and my work with it for this purpose was quite a few years ago).

So it's been interesting, and sometimes a little annoying, wishing someone would come along a create a tool to quickly knock those occasional UI mockups that can be so helpful in the requirements-defining process.  Finally though, someone has decided to address this need.  The app is still a little gooey (pardon the pun) from not quite enough bake time, but I think it's a valiant first effort, and at it's once-introductory price of $24.95, it was a steal.  (Note that now $79.99 for the "personal edition," which arguably feels a little on the high side to me given where the app is at, but I'm sure others will think it's a bargain even at that price).

At any rate, I like it, and look forward to seeing where the author takes it in terms of development.  If it sounds like something you might be interested in, it's called Designer Vista, and a 20-day trial version is available.  You can check out more at the web site here.

Comments

[John Wilfong]

The problem I see with this tool is what if the client likes the glyphs, tab styles, table styles, etc provided in the mock up and the tools, glyphs, component sets you use can't duplicate the mock up? It would be better for the app to exceed expectations then the mock-up to exceed the app. What would be cool would be if the mock-up app could provide a 'paper-napkin' style skin.

[Kumaravel Somasundaram]

It is easy to create simple napkin style GUI designs with DesignerVista. After reading your comments, I have designed a simple login dialog with just two controls Rectangle Shape and Label.

Screen shot:
http://www.designervista.com/samples/images/simplelaf/SimpleLookAndFeel.jpg

Data File:
http://www.designervista.com/samples/samples/common/SimpleLookAndFeel.dvf

Moving forward, I am planning to add more controls for Web Application design and add simulation behaviour, so that entire application flow can be simulated.

Regarding cost, I think it is reasonable when compared with similar products price $499 and above.

FYI. we have added new feature to export the designs as HTML files for easy distribution.

Cass McNutt and John Wilfong, Thank you for your comments.

[Peter Severin]

There are now many more specialized wireframe and mockup tools out there. One of them is WireframeSketcher that works in Eclipse IDE. It also supports other tools like Aptana, Flash Builder and Zend Studio. It lets you quickly mockup your interfaces using a design independent wireframy style. Mockups cannot be mistaken for real UI which helps you gather better feedback and avoid the "is it finished already" question. Check it out here:
http://wireframesketcher.com

[Jessica Perry]

I have been using visio 2007 for software application design, data storage design for quiet a long time and find it very useful. It has good add-ins, templates and tools for various business purpose. You can download free add-ins and tools here http://visiotoolbox.com/downloads/addins/