Category — Wireframe Software

Through prefab screen elements (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) information architects can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces within minutes. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that will later be overhauled anyway.

The pidoco° screens design software consists of three main modules which complement each other perfectly. In combination, they accelerate the interface design process and optimize the general workflow in all stages of interactive web design.
Clickable wireframes are quickly sketched with the Prototype Creator (just by drag&drop) and can later easily be shared and reviewed by colleagues, test users or clients. If there is need for even more in-depth feedback on individual aspects of the use cases, just use the clickable wireframes to perform a one-on-one remote usability test where moderator and test user are connected remotely by a shared screen and an integrated phone. All modules are aimed to increase productivity of the interface design process and ease communication within the team

But even if screen designs have already been made in some hi-fi graphics software (e.g. InDesign, pidoco° can add value to the work flows by bringing interactivity to static screens. Adding ‘click areas’ to the finished screenshots enhance the collaboration and interaction capabilities of a former static screenshot. Colleagues, clients and test users can now easily be integrated in the designs process and online discussions can be held. Just like web conferencing, but with real-time editing never seen before!

Through prefab stencils (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) interface designers can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces within minutes. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that will later be overhauled anyway.

For the people who are into interface design, Rapid Paper Prototyping is old school! But ever considered doing screen design on screen?

With pidoco’s web-based interface design software, interaction designers and screen developers can save valuable time, enhance the creative process and build better interfaces for the internet.

Rapid Paper Prototyping has already been known to be the solution to get a web-application started. The basic concepts of the layout will be put on paper and tossed around in the team. This prototype will then go through an iterative design process by integrating feedback from colleagues or even clients. This paper prototype will eventually act as a rough guide for the whole project – from start to finish. Some screen-designers even use these basic sketches for performing usability tests. Revealing usability issues in the prototyping phase can save a lot of money, since later alterations in the so called ‘finished’ web project are minimized.

However, there are some drawbacks to Rapid Paper Prototyping.  Prototypes are only scanned to add to the document servers and also difficult to collaborate on in larger teams. Transforming paper prototypes into clickable wireframes for testing use cases is also a time consuming task as we all know!

That is why many companies create their concepts directly in MS PowerPoint or InDesign and have them distributed to the relevant sources. True, that way one can share the data more effectively but it is not really more dynamic than making copies of a piece of paper handing it to the team. The Visio-type static wireframes still do not show the real capabilities for test user excitement:  links, dynamic menus and combo-boxes etc. cannot be reproduced effectively and need to be explained individually in long text. Again, more time and effort has to be invested to get the message across.

The pidoco° screens design software consists of three main modules which complement each other perfectly. Together, they enhance the interface design process and optimize the general workflow in all stages of collaborative web design.

Digital prototypes are quickly sketched with the Prototype Creator (just by drag&drop) and can later easily be shared and reviewed by colleagues, test users or clients. If there is need for even more in-depth feedback on individual aspects of the web concept, just use the clickable wireframes to perform a easy to set up remote usability test where moderator and test user are connected remotely by a shared screen and an integrated phone. All modules are aimed to increase productivity of the interface design process and ease communication within the team.

But even if screen designs have already been made in some high-fidelity graphics software (e.g. InDesign, pidoco° can add value to the process by bringing interactivity to static screens. Adding ‘click areas’ to the finished screenshots enhance the collaboration and interaction capabilities of a former static screenshot. Colleagues, clients and test users can now easily be integrated in the developers team and online discussions can be held. Just like web conferencing, but with real-time editing never seen before!

Our conclusion of wireframing software: It’s got the look and feel of pen and paper, but adds interactivity (making wireframes clickable) and accelerates developing speed through re-usable elements and layers. Many (real-time) collaboration features enable interface designers to new ways to work with higher efficiency, leaving more time for the creative process that really counts.

Through prefab interface elements (e.g. radio buttons, links, navigation items, controls etc.) information architects can create clickable and animated web or software interfaces within minutes. Without any programming skills, interface designers can focus on the web concept and use cases, site structures and the overall layout of the site, instead of getting lost in details that only matter at a later stage of the project.

The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9241-XX tries to standardize the usability of designs for human computer interaction. In brief it says, that every user interface (such as websites, machine controls etc.) should follow best practices in effectiveness, efficiency and contextual user satisfaction.
On such an abstract level, almost everybody agrees, that this might be of help, keeping these aspects in mind when designing user interfaces (or at least it doesn’t ‘damage’ creativity). But do you think it is worth further narrowing the usability standards? And if so, to what extend? Isn’t usability and user experience in the eye of the beholder, depending on your target audience?

So do ISO norms on usability help you as an interaction or interface designer or do usability standards limit you? Does that mean that there is a best practice for a website, that there is the best website for every single purpose? What about innovative interface controls and usability design patterns? And does Apple follow usability standards or does Apple create them?

Personally I haven’t made up my mind whether there is a contradiction of norms and creativity (e.g. design) or not. So what do you think? What are your experiences with these ISO norms?