Axure RP
Axure RP Pro is a dedicated tool for prototyping web sites, web applications, for a rapid creation of wireframes and specifications for applications and web sites. It’s based on concepts known from Visio and web design tools, and elegantly combines the best of the two worlds. It is a software tool that encompasses several information architecture deliverables in the one software package.
The main functional elements that Axure can do is create
- Annoated Wireframe
- HTML Prototypes
- Specification Documents
I’ve not gone much into using it but the software seems real interesting as I delve into it, the things it can do.
The other day, I was wondering about developing a wireframe for the DesignChef competition and I came to stumble on this wonderful software.
This is a basic tool for any interaction designer. I never knew such things existed before. I’d been using softwares like CorelDraw, Photoshop, or Illustrator or others of that kind to work on my prototypes. However, axure really makes it simple to create a full working HTML prototype real quickly.
Developing a prototype using such softwares are easy and if needs be, changes can be done in a flash. The widgets, with its drag and drop feature is quiet convenient and fast. The sitemap makes the controlling the navigation pattern simple and easy. The interaction pane helps you with page linking. Say if you’ve a button, and the page leads to a particular page when it is clicked – these structure is controlled using the Interaction Pane. With the Masters Pane, you can create master pages widget, which are essential for creating common headers , navigation or footers etc. These master widgets can be dragged and dropped to anywhere you want on the pages of the prototype and any changes on the master page will be reflected on each and every page. The page Notes and Interaction gives you options to put comments and descriptions making the page more meaningful!
Other prototyping tools include Balsamiq and iPlotz. I’ve not been able to get my hands on them, but sure I do believe they are great tools too. But sure enough, some UX designers think sketches still is a powerful tool for any UX designer or Information Architect. Sure enough, T Scott Stromberg has a point here in this article at 404 User Experience Design!!
Interesting enough, try a hand out yourself and share your experience of these softwares with me…
