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Balsamiq Design Patterns Website/Portal...
Camp this into the big idea column...
It would be great to one day have a website devoted to sharing designs created by people (like you) using Balsamiq Mockups. It would be similar to UI Patterns, except you could download each user submitted mockup bmml file. Each design would have a threaded discussion for people to openly share ideas and collaborate on design. Perhaps it could be powered by the Confluence wiki.
This would be a community powered site, and would exploit the power of Balsamiq Mockups, but most importantly would promote reuse and awareness of good design.
Even better would be to build a UI Pattern Mockup explorer right inside Balsamiq. This might be similar to inserting clipart from MS word. It goes out to the Design Patterns Website and provides a nice built-in window that lets you search and select mockups to import directly into your mockup.
Have Fun!
It would be great to one day have a website devoted to sharing designs created by people (like you) using Balsamiq Mockups. It would be similar to UI Patterns, except you could download each user submitted mockup bmml file. Each design would have a threaded discussion for people to openly share ideas and collaborate on design. Perhaps it could be powered by the Confluence wiki.
This would be a community powered site, and would exploit the power of Balsamiq Mockups, but most importantly would promote reuse and awareness of good design.
Even better would be to build a UI Pattern Mockup explorer right inside Balsamiq. This might be similar to inserting clipart from MS word. It goes out to the Design Patterns Website and provides a nice built-in window that lets you search and select mockups to import directly into your mockup.
Have Fun!
I’m thankful
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Inappropriate?Michael, it's amazing how much we think alike. I have thought about that quite a bit before...imagine also having the option to get feedback on your UI from "guest UX luminaries"...that would be cool.
I have tried to gauge people's interest in such a tool by "seeding" these forums with this topic: http://getsatisfaction.com/balsamiq/t... - and your recent http://getsatisfaction.com/balsamiq/t... topic fits the same category.
Unfortunately, as you can see, people are not jumping all over it, so I have put the "online mockups community" project on the back burner.
I think the main hurdle for such a site is that people are not willing to share their design ideas so early in the process...for fear of someone running off with their idea perhaps?
Anyways, I haven't given up on the idea, it's near the bottom of my TODO list but it's still there! :) -
Inappropriate?Ever hear the old saying... "I don't know how I lived without it"?
Whoever thought we needed a better search engine than AltaVista? Did the world really need another smart phone such as the iPhone? Did we really need a DVR like Tivo? Was there a demand for another mockup tool?
No - But brilliant visionaries took a chance and changed the world.
It's a common paradigm. People don't always know (or can articulate) what they need and want. If you just listen to what people need, then your just a follower.
Henry Ford famously said, "If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses."
I have always had the attitude of "Build it and they will come". Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is the spirit in which Balsamiq Mockups was born.
I think you got something here that can really impact the way we design. It certainly has changed my design habits. -
Inappropriate?Hi Michael, Peldi,
I posted a feature wishlist on Balsamiq website through its feedback form. I have a very similar idea of having "Packs" of mock ups. But not community driven for now. To have a community platform is a nice idea but i think that is going to be too much to start with.
I think for now "Packs" will serve the purpose for many users like me. By "Packs" i mean ready made mock ups. For example, every website will have a registration page and it really does not make sense for me to create a registration page mock up every time. Rather i would simply use a registration mock up from the "Packs" library.
The Balsamiq library will already have mock ups for commonly used "pages" on various sites. And even we can have widgets that are communally used on web. Like almost every e-commerce website will have "top rated" "most purchased" "Newest Collection" sections. This also holds true for all social networking sites, dating sites etc. So it would be really nice if we have these widgets already available in balsamiq. Because creating these widgets is a pain and eats up lot of time. So probably Peldi you can hire some one who is creative and creates these widgets and pages for you and you can simply add them on the widget panel and release a new build :)
I think for now this will work great and will save lot of time for frequent users like me! Also this is the best way to quickly add new features, keep people engaged while you are working on real solid features like community support and stuff.
What say :) ..
Kushan
mightytechy@gmail.com
PS: Also recently lot of people wanted to create a clone of Balsamiq or wanting to have similar product. I guess you have done fantastic job. You must have done something great that people want to clone you :D So Congratulations!1 Comment
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This is one of the best points
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Hi Kushan, I was planning on introducing "UI control packs" when I do an "iPhone dev pack" and a "mobile pack" in a few months. Someone also asked for a "basic shapes" pack, and your "social networking / dating sites" pack seems to fit right in.
In the meantime, you can create your own library (one common component per bmml file) and import them as needed (importing just adds to your current mockup, doesn't wipe it clean).
Re: clones. That's really flattering! :) -
Inappropriate?Before finding this amazing product, I had been devoted to OmniGraffle, and, in fact, published a number of "stencils" at Graffletopia (for iPhone wire frames and Flex). How about a "stencil" concept, maybe just web, desktop and mobile to start with, or something...
I'm very excited about adding my own library to this already wonderful product.
Thanks again! -
Inappropriate?Hi Michael, Peldi
I typed my suggestion on Notepad before heading over to this place to post it and this topic came up as "related". I am still copy-pasting the entire suggestion because I think I need the "satisfaction". :-). Here goes:
Hi
I love your product and use it at my workplace.
I think it would be great if you could allow users to submit their own shapes/UI controls etc. to you and you could create custom "Toolkits" that other people could use. This is just the next step from the inclusion of the image import feature.
I am sure this would free you from meeting the demands for an infinite variety of new UI elements and will simultaneously expand the community using Mockups.
For similar implementations of the idea please see:
http://www.dabbleboard.com/toolkits
http://sketchup.google.com/community/...
I am confident that people can send you shapes/UI elements in whatever format you desire. There are lots of great designers out there!
Wish you have a great 2009.
Cheers
Vinayak -
Inappropriate?Hi all, a little update. I am almost done setting up a new server with XWiki and Mockups for XWiki to dedicate to the "Balsamiq Mockups Community Portal". I just need to reskin it a bit, write a Terms of Service document and we'll be able to unveil it soon. Let's shoot for Jan 31st at the latest.
I’m excited about this!
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Inappropriate?This idea is now a reality: http://www.mockupstogo.net/
Announcement blog post here: http://www.balsamiq.com/blog/?p=617
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