There’s a moment in every product’s journey when you realize: we’ve outgrown our old clothes. They still fit, technically. But they’re worn-in, a little frayed. And while they remind you of where you’ve been, they don’t quite reflect where you’re going.
For 15 years, Balsamiq has been the fastest way to turn rough ideas into clear direction. But we started hearing something we couldn’t ignore: Balsamiq feels old.
Not the philosophy (speed and clarity never go out of style). But the way we presented ourselves? That needed to evolve.
So, we decided it was time for a design update. Our goal was to better reflect what Balsamiq has always been about: helping teams think visually and move forward with confidence.
Why we did this
When we first launched, our brand was intentionally understated. Our founder, Peldi, even describes our old logo as “programmer art.” We didn’t focus on looking polished, we focused on making wireframing effortless.
And that worked. Our fat-marker wireframes stood out, people loved them, and Balsamiq became the wireframing tool.
But as product teams evolved, so did the expectations around their tools.
The software world went all-in on “all-in-one.” Every tool tried to be everything—one platform to design, collaborate, project manage, prototype, and maybe even make you a coffee.
Suddenly, product teams were drowning in bloated tools, slow processes, and decision fatigue.
Then AI came along, and while teams could do more—were they making the right decisions? The need for clarity, for speed, for visual thinking didn’t go away.
We’ve always believed it, but now it’s clearer than ever: wireframing isn’t just for designers anymore. It’s a critical tool for product managers, engineers, and business minds who need to align teams and make decisions quickly.
So we asked ourselves: If we were launching Balsamiq today, how would it look? How would it feel?
How we approached it
We didn’t want to change Balsamiq for the sake of it. We wanted to make sure that any updates we made stayed true to what people love about the tool. Here’s what we focused on:
- We started with our customers. Through Jobs To Be Done research, we got clear on what product teams need today: speed, simplicity, and a tool that helps them work visually, without distraction.
- We refined our brand identity. A new logo, typography, and color palette bring more warmth and clarity to the experience while keeping the playful, hand-sketched feel.
- We modernized our UI. We rebuilt our interface using Tailwind, making Balsamiq smoother, more responsive, and ready for the future.
- We reorganized our templates. Teams can now jumpstart their wireframes with ready-made UI components, flows, and entire screens.
- We revamped our website and Help Center. It’s now easier to find best practices, documentation, and support when you need it. Every page was redesigned, and the whole site has improved information architecture.
- We made internal improvements. Behind the scenes, we strengthened our infrastructure and adopted new ways of working (including EOS and data analytics) to help us iterate faster and make better decisions.
The result: A more modern Balsamiq
If you log into Balsamiq (or poke around this website), you’ll notice:
- A refreshed brand. The new look reflects what Balsamiq has always been—clear, iterative, and built for speed.
- A smoother, faster UI. The same lightweight workflow you love, now with a modernized interface that stays out of your way.
- A new sketch style. A pen-inspired stroke joins our classic fat marker and clean presentation modes, giving you more ways to express ideas.
- More intuitive starting points. A revamped template library (now in-product) helps teams move even faster.
- Stronger performance and security. Under-the-hood improvements mean fewer slowdowns, better security, and a foundation for future growth.
It’s full of easter eggs too
The new logo represents iteration, back-and-forth collaboration, and sketching ideas with confidence. The illustrations and photography are all custom made in-house, and built off real stories shared by our customers.
It’s a fresh start, built on 15 years of experience and a strong foundation. And it’s only the start of this next chapter.
What this means for you
If you’re a longtime Balsamiq user, everything you love is still here, just cleaner and more enjoyable to use.
It’s kind of like when you redecorate your home.
If you’re new to Balsamiq, now’s the perfect time to jump in. Whether you’re mapping out an MVP, planning a new feature, or aligning your team, we’ve made it easier than ever to get started.
We’d love your feedback
We designed this update to help you move faster and work more confidently. Well, and address the whole “Balsamiq looks old” thing.
Click around and try the new Balsamiq. Let us know what you think!
