kylejlarson

I usually start with pen/paper because I find it the fastest to get a bunch of ideas out. Then from there I'd go with whatever tool you think will be most efficient. I personally use Balsamiq because it's really quick & easy (drag/drop) and then if my first wireframes need drastic changes it's still quick to change. I'm then taking these wireframes to clients or teammates to review and improve before focusing on design. If you're going to end up using a design tool for a high-fidelity version you can use Sketch or Illustrator for wireframes, the only downside is getting too focused on pixel perfection at an early stage. I like keeping the process pretty flexible, sometimes you can pass a wireframe to a front-end dev if you've got a solid style guide, other times you want a high-fidelity design or a prototype.

Completely agree with you. Once you've got the methods & thinking down you can apply that to any tool. And often the best tool is the one that helps you communicate & test the fastest.

Thanks for the feedback! Obviously that'll be pretty unique to each individual's circumstances, but ideally I can cover some pointers on things like this in the blog on the site, or work in some some tips that are specific to the goals you might create to help point people in the right direction.