Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

I think a better approach would be to fill in the gaps between what a graphic designer is used to (Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks), and the UI tools that the different platforms offer - Interface Builder and the XML Layout editor for Android.

Interface Builder is definitely visual enough for designers, but most of the "cool" effects for modern iOS apps can't be done purely through Interface Builder.

The Android Layout Editor in Eclipse has a lot more control over features, but I wouldn't expect graphic designers to start creating drawables in XML either.

My thoughts would be to work within the Photoshop ecosystem - a plugin that exported XIBs and Layout XML would probably be the easiest way to go.

Re: Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

#6

Post by alexobenauer » Thu, Aug 02, 2012, 5:41 PM UTC

JosephRedfern wrote: post #4

$200,000 doesn't seem an awful lot for 3 software engineers and a graphic designer, including premises, utilities and IT.

I'm pretty sure they're currently in YC. I do wonder then what the campaign is for.

Re: Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

#7

Post by alexobenauer » Thu, Aug 02, 2012, 5:42 PM UTC

jefflinwood wrote: post #5

This seems like it's going about solving mobile UI problems backwards. I think a better approach would be to fill in the gaps between what a graphic designer is used to (Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks), and the UI tools that the different platforms offer - Interface Builder and the XML Layout editor for Android. Interface Builder is definitely visual enough for designers, but most of the "cool" effects for modern…

I agree. CSS Hat currently does this for CSS (http://csshat.com/), but it would truly be great there was a "CSS Hat for native mobile" UI's.

Re: Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

#8

Post by carson » Thu, Aug 02, 2012, 5:43 PM UTC

I was thinking about something like this the other day. Nimbus has something similar I think http://blog.jeffverkoeyen.com/nimbus-chameleon

Re: Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

#9

Post by k33n » Thu, Aug 02, 2012, 5:47 PM UTC

89a wrote: post #2

Photoshop is awful for designing UIs

Great design has almost nothing to do with the tools used.

Re: Pixate promises app UI production in pure CSS

#10

Post by jefflinwood » Thu, Aug 02, 2012, 5:53 PM UTC

alexobenauer wrote: post #7

jefflinwood wrote: post #5

This seems like it's going about solving mobile UI problems backwards. I think a better approach would be to fill in the gaps between what a graphic designer is used to (Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks), and the UI tools that the different platforms offer - Interface Builder and the XML Layout editor for Android. Interface Builder is definitely visual enough for designers, but most of the "cool" effects for modern…

I agree. CSS Hat currently does this for CSS ( http://csshat.com/ ), but it would truly be great there was a "CSS Hat for native mobile" UI's.

That tool is almost exactly the type of thing I was thinking of. Thanks for sharing!