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Reviews (1-17 of 17)
OmniGraffle is my company’s tool of choice for creating workflow diagrams across teams and with non-design stakeholders. While the design team uses other tools, such as Balsamiq and Sketch, to do design-specific work, OmniGraffle is what we use to work with other teams, such as Strategy, Instructional Design, and Research. We also use it for mapping out content models, envisioning and designing frameworks, creating technical diagramming, and mapping out site maps. We use OmniGraffle to get on the same page before we get deep into our product design workflows.
- The ability to easily map out process flows for users of a wide range of tech comfort levels—The design is intuitive enough for even people with lower tech comfort levels to visually chart process flows. We have never had to do significant onboarding for less tech-savvy colleagues—this is a huge timesaver!
- Collaborative mind mapping—OmniGraffle is a great platform to get together with people and brainstorm ideas in the early stages of a project, then link ideas together to create visual relationships to inform business and product design decisions.
- Communicating strategy to stakeholders—Communicating the complexities of a workflow to stakeholders is a lot easier and more effective, with a diagram that clearly shows the relationships between factors rather than showing them a PowerPoint that, because of its slide-by-slide nature, makes it difficult to consistently show how different factors play into an overall workflow.
- There could be more scaffolding to support new users in getting to know how to best use all of the many features and tools it provides.
- There could be more support for printing. Many of our process flows extend beyond just one page, and OmniGraffle is rather finicky about printing multipage documents.
- We could use this tool more effectively if there was the ability to have real-time team collaboration. Document handoffs can be a point of missed communication, so it’d be great if we could ever have the option of working together in the same place at the same time.
We're a full strategy/design/development shop, and our team is heavily tilted towards Macs. Although the design team has shifted to production-focused tools like Sketch for most of their early stage deliverables, the Strategy team makes heavy use of Omnigraffle for wireframing, roughing out and documenting content models and site maps, etc. On the development site, most of our architects have settled on Omnigraffle for technical diagramming as well — it's not the 800lb Visio gorilla, but it does everything we need it to.
- For us, mapping and content model documentation are Omnigraffle's sweet spot. It has enough presentation/styling control to ensure a clean, consistent look that's compatible with the rest of our corporate branding, but lets us focus on the core challenge of communicating complicated relationships and processes to stakeholders.
- For wireframing, a few specific features make OmniGraffle particularly useful. Its "sketch" line and fill styles make it easy to throw together some boxes-and-lines mockups that convey basic layout and priority decisions about a new design without implying a particular stylistic treatment. For higher fidelity mockups, it supports a large library of free and commercial UI shapes for OSX, IOS, Android, Windows, Bootstrap, and generic Web sites. Building out a set of shapes/components for quick wireframing and sharing them across an organization is easy, too.
- Although the large library of reusable "shapes" makes it possible to build stuff like entity-relationship diagrams, flowcharts, and UML diagrams, it lacks Visio's ability to alter a shape's appearance/behavior by adding metadata to the shape itself. (I.E., changing color when a shape has a particular tag added to it). It is possible to add metadata to shapes, and OmniGraffle's advanced scripting support makes it possible to make custom plugins that automate color/style changes, but baking data-driven features right into the app would be a welcome addition.
- Import/Export has improved dramatically over the past several versions, but export in formats like SVG and DXF is still a little too fussy to use for precise CAD work. If you need to spit out PDFs, PNGs, and occasionally import/export simple Visio files, it's fine.
- Although OmniGraffle has a solid iPad version, exchanging files between the desktop and iOS versions requires "OmniSync," a passable but clunky file-sharing solution that's specific to Omni* products. I understand that Apple makes it difficult for non-App-Store products to use iCloud effectively, but it's still disappointing.
February 07, 2019
THE diagramming software tool for OS X
I use OmniGraffle the same way that others use Micrfosoft Visio, primarily for technical diagrams for my documentation. In my particular case, I am the only person using it, and that is because I came into this position as a user of Apple products for years and continue to use it at home. This department uses all Windows notebooks for Windows server support. The bad news for me is that there isn't a version that runs on a PC, so if I'm working on a drawing in Visio at the office and want to take it home and work on it, I can import it into Visio, but complex arcs don't import cleanly due to its algorithms for computing sine and co-sine values during the import.
- OmniGraffle is fairly simple to use, but the one thing I think it does best is working with curved lines, particularly if you are using some of the available arc templates. Drop an arc onto your page, then tell it the dimensions it needs to be, and viola! Done. Manipulating the arcs is as simple as clicking and dragging offset points.
- OmniGraffle has also done an excellent job in stirring up the creative minds of many people who create templates and tools to work with OmniGraffle (not that Microsoft hasn't done so either), and managed to get the bulk of those into well organized repositories.
- What it all boils down to for me is: it just works. One doesn't need to have a computer science degree to work with it either. It is as simple or complex as you want it to be.
- The ability to import Visio drawings is important to a lot of people. However, if one is importing a Visio drawing that has a complex arcs in it, they are not going to import properly. You end up with a drawing in OmniGraffle that doesn't look like it does in Visio - the arc lines are all off.
- If one has a very complex diagram that needs to fit on one page but extends close to the margins, you could end up getting a little frustrated because the program keeps wanting to drag another page into the fray.
- It may be something very simple to do, but I haven't yet found out how to specify exact page sizes for my drawings. If I just take the default, I'll get an 8/5" x 11" portrait page and have to focus on ensuring everything fits right. On the other hand, if I create a large page to start with because I know it isn't all going to fit on one letter-size page, resizing the page when I'm done is not a pretty picture.
November 15, 2018
Easy way to outline concepts you need to communicate to others
I use OmniGraffle to map out ideas and concepts that require a flexible, large format medium for organizing content. For example, if I'm currently using OmniGraffle to map out a messaging framework for internal use. It helps me easily link ideas together and create hierarchies, which would be difficult using a presentation tool like PowerPoint or keynote. If you need a way of getting abstract ideas on paper and exploring relationships among them, OmniFocus is a great tool for that.
- Mind mapping. You can easily link ideas together and OmniFocus can automatically arrange them in a presentable format.
- Wireframing. If you're working on simple design concepts, it's a great way to show ideas to designers.
- Outlining process flows. If you're outlining a process, such as marketing automation, it's perfect.
- No support for team collaboration. I would really like to see a way to share files to iCloud so that others can access and edit.
- Better print settings. If you're trying to print a document across many pages, it's not easy to make this happen.
- No ability to pre-configure settings. For example, I have to manually change the unit of measure from "inches" to "pixels" when I create a new document, would like the ability to change that fundamentally.
February 01, 2018
OmniGraffle is simply the best choice for modelling on the Mac
OmniGraffle is rapidly becoming the modeling tool of choice for the organisation; we are seeing broadening adoption of the product across the whole organisation.
We were looking for a Mac-compatible modeling tool - similar to Visio for the PC - and OmniGraffle was by far the best choice on the market.
We were looking for a Mac-compatible modeling tool - similar to Visio for the PC - and OmniGraffle was by far the best choice on the market.
- Ease of use and time to adopt software
- Multi-device support
- Scripting capability
- High-end modelling product
- More templates stencils and samples
- Data integration
September 14, 2017
Omnigraffle is a good, if limited, tool
We use Omnigraffle for some basic early wire framing of applications and for creation of workflow diagrams. It's stencil libraries enable quick creation of diagrams and documents since you're not having to draw everything from scratch.
- Creating diagrams and workflows
- Creating Static Wire frame drawings
- Creating Specification documentation for an application
- There is no capability for creating prototype or interactions, I've starting moving away from using Omnigraffle for wire frames for this reason as there are other tools that accomplish this while enabling interactive features.
- It is difficult to create charts
- Stability isn't where I'd like it to be. Although I don't ever lose much work due to how MacOS autosaves regularly, I do see crashes and weird glitches more often than I do when using my other productivity tools.
September 13, 2017
Is there still a place for OmniGraffle in your design flow?
OmniGraffle is used by the product experience design team to produce detailed annotations that are too difficult to convey via a prototype. Often the more subtle aspects of a UI, experience, or interface are difficult to convey to developers, OmniGraffle allows us to instruct them on the nuance of the design without overly complicating the prototypes.
- Annotations - OG excels!
- It is a very easy tool for users to ramp up on.
- The ability to script and export assets from the tool is excellent.
- It would be nice to be able to export screen assets directly to InVision.
- I wish coding interactivity in OG was easier and simpler.
- I wish the tool intrinsically understood the distinction between screens and annotations without having to add actions or settings.
March 20, 2017
Omnigraffle, a good tool for writers and songwriters
I mainly use OmniGraffle in order to structure texts when they are in work in progress status, from lyrics to poetry or novels. It helps me to structure my thoughts and ideas, and to find the best logic in the thematics used in the texts. I can keep references to the topics I intend to speak about, such as texts, images or links. By reorganizing them in different ways, Omnigraffle gives me a global vision which helps to find the best flow.
- Structuring a novel is a very difficult exercise, as it is the basis on which everything will be built. Omnigraffle allows you to visualize a dramatic progression, and keep in mind the various references and situations I want to see appearing throughout the history I'm writing.
- It is often important to switch phrases or select different verses in a song, Omnigraffle makes it easy to visualize the different options.
- Promotion is a vital part in the life of artistic projects. Creating a strategy and explaining it is easier when you can have a more flexible tool than PowerPoint for example.
- Well, let's dream and imagine a 3D version of the software, which would allow you to have different points of view on a situation.
- Several panels on the same page would be nice in order to compare different versions of a project.
- A historical visualization of the evolution of a project would be nice too.
September 07, 2016
OmniGraffle is great for wire frames and process diagrams
OmniGraffle is a great tool for creating static wire frames which can be used for requirements validation and user interface and experience design. Typically OmniGraffle is used by UX designers to create wire frames for development, but is easy enough for business analysts and project managers to use if needed. It's relatively inexpensive and delivers a big ROI.
- Allows users to create low to high fidelity wire frames to validate requirements.
- Allows developers to understand exactly what the UI needs to look like, along with the ability to include notes on the UX.
- There are a number of stencils and other templates to help get started. It's quick and easy to use, and fast to learn.
- The static wire frames are always an issue with any UI/UX tool. OmniGraffle users have to be very detailed in their design and notes so that a developer understands the click-through functionality.
- OmniGraffle is not available for a PC - it's iOS only, which will create a problem if you're not a Mac user.
- It would be nice if OmniGraffle was capable of importing a page or text file so the user doesn't have to create everything from scratch.
March 18, 2016
Great product with untapped potential
We use OmniGraffle on a regular basis for flowcharts, behavioral flows, site map trees etc. This is being used in our digital department and it helps address some of the low visibility issue we have on some web projects as a whole.
- Great template interface that one can drag and drop onto the canvas.
- Very quick and easy to use interface that I would consider a low learning curve unlike others.
- Would like to have more dynamic interaction tools that cover all that happens in the digital sphere from mobile, web page, or even touch.
- More high end professional template assets. Simply improve the UI designs for most and keeping them current with what is being considered modern.
March 11, 2016
Omnigraffle for Flows and basic wireframing
Omnigraffle primarily used as a Visio replacement. It works well for flows and charts, as well as basic graphics. I have also used it for wireframing activities, but recently changed to using Axure RP or Sketch for wireframing and design activities as they have more flexibilities in those domains. Omnigraffle does offer much better visuals (as of 2014) than Visio.
- Diagrams flowcharts: you can do anything that Visio does, only quicker, easier, and better looking.
- Wireframing: while I prefer other tools now, Omnigraffle has a robust user community and offers free/paid widget sets for web, mobile, and desktop application wireframes.
- Basic interactions: Omnigraffle allows for masters and basic hotspot interactions. If you only need to show simple functionality, Omnigraffle can work.
- Interactions: each new visual must be on a completely new page (as of version 5). There isn't a good way to set up simple on-page interactions (i.e. show/hide of a widget).
- Defaults: while the default setting for the widgets are nice looking, they can look a little cartoony sometimes.
November 14, 2016
Great tool for behind-the-scenes
I use OmniGraffle from time to time when creating user flows and basic journey maps. It is not a required tool at my company or in my department.
- Diagram creation - It's easy to make and organize various boxes.
- Wireframing - The use of guides helps keep everything aligned. The multiple pages helps keep all the screens in a project organized.
- Brainstorming - It's possible to quickly draw up a digital representation of a pathway or user journey to share with my team.
- The interface could be more beautiful.
- OmniGraffle isn't quite as intuitive or beginner-friendly as some other design tools (e.g., Sketch 3).
We use Omnigraffle for charting out website and user flows. This includes flow charts, information architecture and more. To my knowledge, it is only used by our department.
Omnigraffle helps us create a total picture of what a website project will look like, how many pages there will be, and how users will interact with it. We then use this to discuss with stakeholders for feedback and iterations.
Omnigraffle helps us create a total picture of what a website project will look like, how many pages there will be, and how users will interact with it. We then use this to discuss with stakeholders for feedback and iterations.
- Flow charts. You can set up a grid and import libraries.
- User Journey. You can map out how a user will interact with a website. Everything is click and drag, and creating arrows etc. is fast and easy.
- I use the arrows function a lot, and I find it is very particular. I wish the process was easier. If i don't use OmniGraffle for a month or two and come back I feel like I need to learn it again.
- I'd like to auto-resize things according to the grid I set. Perhaps this is already a feature?
- How a file is saved is actually a bit confusing at first. It always saves copies I think?
OmniGraffle was one of tools that suggested by a department level. As a designer, we used Omnigraffle a lot particularly in the phase of discovering user needs and understanding user flow, and customer journey. I think it provides a very convenient way to create a flow chart and sitemap. Also I liked the feature of copying a diagram or any artifacts I made from Omnigraffle and pasting them as an image to any presentation tools. It was very convenient that I didn't have to worry about readjusting size or image resolution. Overall, it helps create a quick diagram and big landscape of our product and easily to share with team members.
- There are good templates that I can use.
- Easy to create and modify objects, text, and arrows.
- Converting from Omnigraffle to other formats which make it easy to use the contents anywhere.
- Cost is a bit expensive.
- Sync with other wireframing, prototyping, graphic tools would be great. Specifically, if it can be converted to .ai or .svg (vector graphic tool) to customize the look and feel of diagrams more, then that would be great.
- Collaboration & real-time feedback sharing functionality would be great.
March 11, 2016
A few adjustments and this is a GREAT tool!
OmniGraffle is being used by our organization to build wireframe sketches. These sketches are shared with our clients during the beginning phase of a project. This makes it fairly easy for us to update the wireframes sketches based on any edits the client may have. Once the wire frames are approved we proceed to build out the interactions and pass to the creative department so they can use the wireframes as a reference when they create the graphics for the product.
- Placeholders! I love how there are endless stencils to choose from and download for OmniGraffle.
- I love how easy it is to connect elements in OmniGraffle down to the pixel. The connectors are also helpful when building flowcharts and user stories for user experience.
- The double click to enter text on any shape makes it super convenient to quickly put together a flow chart! I love that I do not need to create a shape and then drop in a text box and place it over the shape to enter text.
- One feature i would love to see on OmniGraffle is the ability to see the pixel distance when I'm trying to place shapes next to each other. Working in UX, i'm always trying to wireframe down to the pixel, this gives the client and the other departments a clearer understanding of how the end product dimensions will look like.
- Preloaded digital platform dimensions would be great. I know there are stencils we can use, but it would be great if i can click on a new canvas and choose between iPhone 6, iPad, desktop 1024, etc. It would make the prototype process much easier when I'm design for these platforms.
- A bigger canvas. Why not have a unlimited canvas so I can build user flows without always having to readjust the canvas size. I like to open the program and just dive right in and start designing without spending time trying to guess how big the canvas should be.
March 14, 2016
Omnigraffle for Wireframing and Flows
Wireframing
- Wireframing
- Quickly getting down UX flows
- Easily document and share information architecture
- More detailed mods and plugins!
- Ability to share mocks with non-omnigraffle users. Possible a way to publish a wireframe to a url that I could send to clients or engineers
- More options to animate/visually describe transitions
March 08, 2016
My thoughts on Omnigraffle
Me and my team use Omnigraffle to diagram user flows and create site maps. It is also used for brainstorming and visual note taking.
- Creating hierarchy diagrams
- It's quick to open, throw ideas down and interact with.
- Too many options
- It is hard to style diagrams
- It is sometimes too linear
OmniGraffle Scorecard Summary
About OmniGraffle
OmniGraffle is a wireframing tool for Mac users.
Categories: Prototyping, Diagramming
OmniGraffle Technical Details
| Operating Systems: | Unspecified |
|---|---|
| Mobile Application: | No |