Balsamiq great planning phase mock up tool
March 08, 2016

Balsamiq great planning phase mock up tool

Courtney Famiglietti | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Balsamiq

Currently Balsamiq is used by multiple departments within our organization. Technology, Marketing, Web Team, to make a few. It helps us to set up mock ups quickly to assess acceptance of the planning project phase, to further refine requirements based on an agreed upon working model.
  • Balsamiq allows for quick prototypes for everyone to be on the same page
  • Has useful templates to leverage quickly
  • Allows users to link to other pages, to mimic true functionality
  • Due to the low fidelity, users don't get hung up on color, style, etc.
  • Publishable to locations others can view, if they have the application
  • Would be great if Balsamiq had numerous options for publishing out to users that don't have the application.
  • Continuously updating tools would be helpful, as technology is constantly evolving
  • Ability to post on a secure cloud location, would be helpful, so you could share across networks, etc.
  • Saves lots of time using templated items. Instead of spending a week building in PowerPoint, I could get mock ups setup within hours.
  • Allows other users to manipulate add in their own ideas, build upon, etc. Saves time from rebuilding from scratch
  • Saves time from coming up with colors, style, etc. As they have super down and dirty templates.
I also leverage PowerPoint for more detailed, high fidelity. Balsamiq has its purpose for the initial planning phases of design. Where PowerPoint allows for much more detail, being able to add in own images seamlessly, ability to update library of stock template tools, etc. I feel like Balsamiq is good what it is used for, which is just a quick mock up, but nothing too in depth or past that. Great for user testing, as it can be published out to html, where users can actually simulate clicking on items, where they'd expect things to be, etc.
Balsamiq is well suited for the initial planning phases of a project because of its low fidelity. Would be great if there was more developed in this application to display browser functionality aside from tabs, carousels.