what's the best app to draw UI wireframes on the mac? (And why) [closed]

M

10

I want to draw user interfaces for web and desktop applications.

I need something less print-oriented than omnigraffle. think pixels!

Also, need good building blocks (aka stencils). Form elements, tableviews, etc.

Monophony answered 17/9, 2008 at 23:30 Comment(0)

S

4

I've been playing around with Balsamiq Mockups and it's OK for basic wireframes. I still prefer pen and paper sketches that are later refined in Photoshop when working on my own, but Balsamiq is useful when working in a team.

Supplant answered 18/9, 2008 at 10:19 Comment(0)

S

4

WireframeSketcher wireframing tool comes with fast and native UI on Mac. It works well with retina display too. There is a large built-in library of controls and extra stencils are available.

WireframeSketcher on Mac screenshot

Scarlet answered 25/10, 2012 at 13:31 Comment(1)

+1 for the effort of providing a screenshot – Helices 9/8, 2013 at 12:3

M

2

I very much like Omnigraffle, with stencils for UI design. More UI stencils are also available.

You might also check some other stackoverflow questions on this topic.

Maddie answered 17/9, 2008 at 23:45 Comment(0)

R

2

I'll be honest - I find Interface Builder just as fast as using Omnigraffle with (the aforementioned) stencils for prototyping desktop application UIs.

Plus the bonus is you get all of the available controls to look at.

Regelation answered 18/9, 2008 at 1:15 Comment(1)

I have to tell you I've done that a few times already, but seems... awkward? – Monophony 18/9, 2008 at 7:34

C

2

Speaking of Illustrator, InDesign is actually better because you can do multipage layouts and use master pages for constants like headers/nav etc...

Cistaceous answered 12/12, 2009 at 12:30 Comment(0)

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2

Axure just released Axure RP 5.6 for mac in Alpha. Great for websites and apps. http://axure.com/CS/blogs/axure/archive/2009/12/22/6104.aspx

You can also pair OmniGraffle with the free Web UX Template from Konigi.com

Borough answered 14/1, 2010 at 7:57 Comment(0)

D

1

All these answers, and nobody has mentioned the grandaddy of them all?

Use Adobe Illustrator!

Create your own stencils / reusable components in layers and share those between documents.

Depurate answered 24/9, 2008 at 3:46 Comment(0)

A

1

Sharpie and paper first.

Then MAYBE illustrator to show detail close-ups if necessary.

Argol answered 7/3, 2010 at 1:12 Comment(0)

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0

With anything except Interface Builder you're going to have to get the standard UI control templates from somewhere else or make them yourself.

I've been using Lineform, which turns out to be pretty good at specifying dimensions in Pixels (just select "Points / Pixels" as the Measurement Unit in Lineform Preferences). That was something I had trouble doing in older versions of OmniGraffle (haven't used it lately though).

Flory answered 22/9, 2008 at 19:56 Comment(0)

A

-3

Try Skitch. It seems to be one of the best kept secrets for simple drawing and image manipulation on the Mac. I heard about it recently on TMO Geek Gab podcast.

Addlepated answered 18/9, 2008 at 1:24 Comment(0)

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