Tools I use: PointOuts.com

I've been thinking about writing this for some time. Why? Because PointOuts is a project I am currently working on (we've just hit beta). I was worried how it might not be ready and stuff like that. But heck, I alone am using it since it was a work demo and it was one of the most effective tools in its own development. What is the stuff and why did we build it in the first place?

What is it - it is a widget or website for uploading a picture and adding markers and comments to it. Uploaded pictures can be shared by email or a simple link. The widget can be implemented into everything from a website to any bug tracking or support ticket system.

And now the hard question - why?
Well, the project started simply from need to have a good tool to communicate bugs and save time lost on writing and reading bug reports. Especially if those writing the bugs were not programmers themselves or didn't work on that particular project. Later on we realized the potential of the tool itself and decided to put more effort and time into the project and share it with the world.

First on the table was redesign to make it more accessible, more understandable and more looking like a real finished product. I was thinking about its use and how to make it more responsive, made a mock-up with Balsamiq, uploaded it into our working version, annotated to tell the idea behind every element and its functions and position, sent to the project manager and devs. They went through it, made comments on the concept, I adjusted and another round went around until the last one was just attached to the "do it" task for the developer...

That is where I realized that thinking about it entirely as bug / issue tracking add-on was kind of missing a lot of the potential and we should broaden the perspective. So right now we are preparing more functions and tools to made it much more effective feedback design tool (like to upload new version to the same document as a new page). However, even now it has great use as I can just send a client a link and only thing he needs to have is a browser - and he can write it right inside the doc.

To try it just check out: http://pointouts.com, its free, awesome and I will be totally happy for any feedback I'll get. Still a beta though, bugs can happen...

Tools I use: Balsamiq Mockups

When you take on the shoes of a designer, you need a rapid wire-framing tool. Unless you want to make a ton of useless work that is going to be remade again, again and again of course.
The first steps in design for someone else is to get an idea, present it and get it approved. As things rarely go as smoothly between step two and three you need to rework the idea and refit it to the needs of the project.

Just like anyone else I start with a simple sketch. This part becomes complicated when you and your client, or people who will make it happen, are not in one building or even the same continent. That is when Balsamiq's tool comes in. It is basically a vector drawing tool with a myriad of small customizable tools like "web page" or "button" or "video". It helps me throw the idea on the "paper" in a few minutes in a presentable way where I can just "print" out the .png, mail it to the client and get a feedback.

When the feedback comes I will just load up the original .xml and rearrange it the way it is needed. After few rounds of this I will end up with an approved model and can actually make it happen. Using the xml is one of the things that really won me - I can just save up the text on the google drive and when I am on the device that doesn't have the tool, I can just simply fire up their web demo, import the xml and work as usual. This tool does a lot of work for me. Definitely recommended.

Check out on the http://www.balsamiq.com