Figma
Web-based design application with collaborative features and component systems
Ui Design Tools And Prototyping
UI Design Tools and Prototyping
Section titled “UI Design Tools and Prototyping”Prototyping and Design Tools
Section titled “Prototyping and Design Tools”Prototyping and designing user interface can be accomplished with simple tools before moving into Unreal Engine implementation.
Free Web-Based Options
Section titled “Free Web-Based Options”Photopea.com: A free image editor program accessible through web browsers. Perfect for:
- Creating simple shapes for UI template planning
- Broad overview layouts and flow planning
- Labeling UI elements for better organization
- Detailed and specific individual widget designs
Professional Design Applications
Section titled “Professional Design Applications”Advanced tools designed specifically for UI/UX prototyping:
InVision
Professional prototyping platform with advanced interaction capabilities
Penpot
Free and open source alternative with full UI design capabilities
Design Process Workflow
Section titled “Design Process Workflow”Progressive Detailing Approach
Section titled “Progressive Detailing Approach”- Start Simple: Use basic shapes for broad overview and flow planning
- Add Labels: Label UI elements for better planning and communication
- Increase Detail: Get more specific with individual widgets and interactions
- Implementation Planning: Think about how design translates to UMG components
Planning Benefits
Section titled “Planning Benefits”Planning out your user interface early can save immense amounts of time during development. Consider both:
- Visual Design: How the interface will look and feel to players
- Technical Implementation: How the design will be built using widget components in Unreal Engine
Design Considerations for UMG
Section titled “Design Considerations for UMG”When prototyping, think about:
- Which UMG components will be needed for each element
- How modular components can be reused across different screens
- What data needs to be displayed and where it comes from
- How user interactions will work (buttons, sliders, input fields)
- Responsive design for different screen sizes
Component Mapping
Section titled “Component Mapping”During the design phase, consider how your mockup elements translate to UMG:
Visual Elements:
- Backgrounds → Image components or Borders
- Text → Text Block or Rich Text Block
- Interactive buttons → Button components
- Form fields → Editable Text components
Layout Structure:
- Grid layouts → Grid Panel or Uniform Grid Panel
- Linear arrangements → Horizontal/Vertical Box
- Layered elements → Overlay or Canvas Panel
- Scrollable content → Scroll Box
Interactive Elements:
- Dropdown menus → Combo Box components
- Toggle options → Checkbox components
- Value selection → Slider or Spin Box components
- Tabbed interfaces → Widget Switcher
This planning approach ensures smoother implementation and helps identify potential technical challenges before beginning development in Unreal Engine.