iPhone app review: iDiagram and mobile wireframing

Have you ever been hit by inspiration while away from your computer, or even a pen and paper? Have you ever felt the urge to sketch wireframes, information architectures, user flows, etc. while walking to work, or riding the bus? iDiagram allows you to capture those brilliant ideas on the go.

I’ve actually been hunting for a good app for mobile wireframing, and until this point my options were limited to the various and sundry “paint, draw, doodle” apps that were basically glorified versions of MS Paint. iDiagram has many of the features I’ve been looking for: customizable shapes and text blocks, a line tool, an export option, landscape mode, plus a grid system that shapes will align to automatically!

Here’s a quick sketch I made of a landing page for a mobile provider:

There are limitations of course. Shapes cannot be filled with colors or textures. Sadly, there is no Undo command either, because at times it can be tricky when trying to manipulate shapes (especially if your fingers are not exactly… dainty). But for what iDiagram lacks in finesse, in makes up for in sheer utility. You can:

• Bring an object to the front or back of other objects
• Re-size and re-edit shapes by double-tapping
• Turn the grid on and off
• Save diagrams as JPEGs to your photo album (which you can then email wherever you like)
• Organize diagrams by creating search-able sets and folders

iDiagram was released on September 28, and is a product of Nexar Software Studios, who seem to specialize in apps for the Productivity category such as iNote, iCalc, and iSheet (also very useful). iDiagram is available in the App Store for $4.99.

Please feel free to comment with any other fun apps that could be used for experience design!