Leon Barnard

UX expert @ GDIT

I am a UX Specialist with a Master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction. I love working cross-functionally to deeply understand user needs and deliver goal-oriented solutions.

My superpower lies in distilling complex information into clear, practical design and content that empowers users and elevates brand recognition.

My specialties include: UX/UI Design Leadership, Product Strategy & Vision, User-Centered Design, Agile/Lean UX, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Content Strategy & Creation, Mentorship & Team Management, SaaS, HTML & CSS.

I'm a co-author of Wireframing for Everyone.

How to start a wireframe project in 6 steps

New to the UX world and wireframing? Learn how to start a wireframe by mapping ideas with low-fidelity tools—keeping the focus on usability, flow, and collaboration.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

How to present wireframes to stakeholders: A step-by-step guide

Once you’re done with your wireframes, you’ll need to present them to get someone’s approval. Learn 3 effective strategies to get buy-in and move forward.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Wireframing for everyone, the book, is here!

We wrote a book to help everyone participate in the design process! It’s about better ways to make wireframes and use them with your team. Order your copy now.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Common website mistakes and how to fix them

Learn how to improve your website’s user experience! For each mistake you’ll learn what usually happens and why, what it looks like, and what to do about it.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Five steps to creating great wireframes

Good wireframes solve real problems and lead to strong products. From writing out the scenario to gathering inputs, here is a proven path to a great website or app.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Why wireframes are still relevant

Why you should wireframe, what’s the right level of detail, where prototypes and sketches fit in, and how to make them a great communication tool for non-designers.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

The two phases of wireframing: ideation and validation

Make sure your wireframes address 2 questions: What are some ways we can solve our customers' problem? How do I know if this idea actually solves it?

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

How to use wireframes with design systems

Using a design system, or pattern library, can free you from needing to create high-fidelity prototypes, and allows you to go from wireframe to working code.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Using wireframes with agile user stories

A step-by-step guide on how to use wireframes in your Agile User Stories. Tips: add just enough detail and focus on what developers really need to know.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Working from home: frequently asked questions

The 5 most common questions or comments we've received about working from home. 'How does your boss know that you're actually working?' is the first one 😊

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

How wireframes can improve communication with freelance developers

Working with freelance developers has its challenges. The collaborative nature of wireframes is perfectly suited to help you communicate your idea with them.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Wireframing tips for getting unstuck

Recognizing being stuck is the first step to getting unstuck. Here are 2 easy techniques with 11 practical strategies to help you break free from designer's block.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

How game designers rapidly prototype ideas using Balsamiq

Read how 5 game designers use Balsamiq wireframes and other rapid prototyping techniques in their workflow to work faster and smarter.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Bridging the gap between content and design with wireframes

In a marketing project, getting content creators and designers to work together using wireframes can align expectations and improve communication and feedback.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

In case you missed it: New hidden powers in Balsamiq Mockups 3

Finally getting to work on features that have been on the back-burner forever is a great way to rejuvenate developers and reward long-time customers. After a slow year of public releases in 2014 while we re-wrote our pr...

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

UX quotes library

Dozens of inspiring quotes and practical tips to help you improve your wireframes, design delightful user interfaces, and create better products.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Soft skills for UX designers

Empathy, common sense, negotiation and diplomacy: with these soft skills in your toolbox, you can go from being a good designer to being an effective one.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Three techniques for creating better wireframes

Simple tips to level up the wireframes of your software, website, or app: get into the wireframing mindset, take your time, and create several in-between concepts.

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

How we got here: the road to Balsamiq Mockups 3

The release of Balsamiq Mockups 3 was the biggest release in our history since the original product launch in 2008. For this release we took a leap of faith and went nearly an entire year without releasing any real prod...

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

The user experience gap

Here at Balsamiq, we hear a lot of stories about people using our application to build great user experiences. We are so proud to be a part of the UX revolution that has taken place over the last ten years. There's no do...

Leon Barnard
By Leon Barnard

Design tips for a more effective nonprofit website - Webinar

Even if you can’t afford to hire a designer, your nonprofit website can be impactful. Learn some easy-to-follow tips to make it stand out from the crowd.

Creating your first wireframe

Never made a wireframe before? This page is for you.

How to use wireframes with agile user stories - Webinar

Learn how wireframes can be used with user stories to help designers balance the piecemeal nature of Agile development with the big picture of UI cohesiveness.

User testing your iPad wireframes

How to test your wireframes with users on an iPad.

Creating a mobile application

How to create a mobile application's wireframes, step by step.

Template-based UI design with wireframes - Webinar

In this webinar, we discussed the importance of templates, how to include them in your wireframes during the design process, and what they look like in action.

User experience as a career - Webinar

In this free webinar we explain what User Experience is, types of UX roles, what are the most useful skills, and common frustrations of trying to land a job in UX.

Introduction to user interface design through wireframes

This easy-to-follow course is intended for Product Managers, Entrepreneurs, and other non-designers who want to feel comfortable in the world of UI design.

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