Collaborative, concurrent wireframing tool: is there such a tool?
Hi all.
We've been using mockflow for a project for about a month now.
It's great for many things, but the one thing it can't do is concurrent, collaborative wireframing with multiple designers. Example: - Designer A and Designer B are both working on the same project file at the same time, concurrently. - The project contains many pages. - Designer A is editing Page 1. - Designer B is editing Page 2. - Designer A saves changes to Page 1. - Next, Designer B saves changes to Page 2. > Result: Designer B overwrites Designer's changes to Page 1 with his older version of Page 1 and newer version of Page 2.
We're looking for a tool that lets many designers work on the same project at the same time, like how it works with Google Docs.
Is there such a tool out there?
Tim..
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Hello,If you want a collaborative tool that allows simultaneous editing, use Adobe's Creative Suite. I have planned and researched this suite extensively and it is the only software I know of that allows this. It is a powerful tool for teams who want it.
Tess
On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 4:20 AM, timyeo <timyeo@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm very familiar with the scenario you are presenting.
The best solution available for wireframing is Axure. You have to set the master file on a centralized location, see their web site for more details on how to set it up properly. Once you do that, every designer have to check in and out (version control) each wire frame. And since it is version control, it is very easy to review earlier versions.
Hope this is helpful.
Enrique
On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 10:18 AM, tessa <tessalis@gmail.com> wrote:
I found the main difference between Axure and Adobe CS is the level of robustness. The CS has entry points for developers, designers, writers, prototypers, etc. Axure is a little less robust in the IxD tools and the connectivity to the tools others on the team may need or want to use.
I couldn't say which is best for you, your situation would dictate that. :~)
Tess
On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 9:18 AM, Enrique Sallent <esallent@gmail.com> wrote:
Take a look at this list of tools from Paul Hibbitts:
http://www.paulhibbitts.com/usability-ucd-ux-recommended-links-and-tools.html#CollaborativePrototyping
Also, Paul's slide deck on scenario-based collaborative design may be of interest:
http://www.slideshare.net/hibbittsdesign/sbd-techniques-collaboratively-envisioning-the-user-experience-5244512
Dmitry
-- Dmitry Nekrasovski | Senior User Experience Designer, Open Text http://dmitryn.com | twitter.com/dmitryn
On Fri, Oct 29, 2010 at 7:29 AM, timyeo wrote: > Hi all. > > We've been using mockflow for a project for about a month now. > > It's great for many things, but the one thing it can't do is concurrent, > collaborative wireframing with multiple designers. Example: > - Designer A and Designer B are both working on the same project file at the > same time, concurrently. > - The project contains many pages. > - Designer A is editing Page 1. > - Designer B is editing Page 2. > - Designer A saves changes to Page 1. > - Next, Designer B saves changes to Page 2. >> Result: Designer B overwrites Designer's changes to Page 1 with his older >> version of Page 1 and newer version of Page 2. > > We're looking for a tool that lets many designers work on the same project > at the same time, like how it works with Google Docs. > > Is there such a tool out there? > > Tim.. > >
I have been using axure's shared project functionality. And it works well for rapid prototyping.
It operates with a check-in check-out changes functionailty so people can't work on the same page.
downsides are copy can't be copy and pasted from prototypes (we need to create a separate doc for coders)
BUt it is a great product for user testing and iterating on projects with multiple designers.
Balsamiq can also do concurrent design if you use a file share, or even through DropBox.
http://balsamiq.com/
Hi all.
Thanks for your insight.
Ian Roberts: > I've read up about this feature in Balsamiq. It appears it works the same way as Mockflow (which is what we are using now). Essentially, if 2 people are working on the [same project, different pages], one party has to sit and wait while the other finishes up and saves. Otherwise, someone's changes will be overwritten.
Bill Barany: > I've been holding back on purchasing Azure simply because, for most projects, the capabilities of Azure are an overkill. Azure's probably worth the $589 pricetag, but I'm simply looking for a moderately sophisticated wireframing tool that allows concurrent co-editing. But thanks; we're definitely thinking hard about buying Azure.
Rachel Hungerford: > Thanks for the Cacoo.com tip. I've checked it out; as far as wireframe templates and UI widgets are concerned, their library isn't as extensive as I hoped. Also, one thing I really like about Mockflow is it allows you to layer your wireframes (e.g. having Template A for the global nav, all other templates will use Template A as a background layer. This way, if there is a change in the global nav, I just have to update 1 template and the change is reflected across all templates). Cacoo doesn't seem to be able to do that.
Thanks.
Tim..
On Oct 30, 2010, at 4:13 AM, Ian Roberts wrote:
> Balsamiq can also do concurrent design if you use a file share, or even through DropBox. > > http://balsamiq.com/ > >
I would love for this feature to show up in Visio or work better in Axure. Collaboration on drawings and concepts works VERY WELL in autocad where multiple users draw a huge drawing together. I'm tempted to use autocad for wireframes, but hold back because I need to deliver editable versions.
We have a similar need for collaborative tools, but also want:
-the ability for realtime collaborative drafting, so that teammembers (usually non designers/subject matter experts) at different locations can view and participate in the early drafting/whiteboarding process
- the ability to create custom reusable stencils.
We've identified iplotz, pidoco, protoshare, and justproto as possible candidates, if anyone using one of these tools would care to give an opinion, I'm all ears!