iPhone app prototyping for anyone
It's a problem we hear about often: You've got an app idea, and it seems like the next big thing. But you don't know how to explain it, and you're not a coder... so how do you get something in front of people for feedback?
Luckilly, Apple provides a number of tools that enable non-technical founders to get a visual representation of their app and workflow, without needing to know how to code.
Use Apple's Own Templates with Keynote
Apple provides templates for Sketch, Photoshop and (possibly the easiest to start with) Keynote. That's right, you can use that slide-deck knowledge you've gained over the years to mock out a UI for your iPhone app!
Check out this video from Apple's WWDC conference that shows you how to prototype in Keynote.
Use Sketch with Apple's Design Library
Sketch is particularly powerful if you're looking to make a clickable prototype with realistic-looking animations. Check out their documentation and demo video to get a better sense of how their prototypes work.
There are a also a ton of free resources available that can help you move even faster with Sketch, including fully-built, customizable app templates that let you drag, drop and customize to get a prototype together from pre-existing parts. Check out some examples at Sketch App Resources.
These are by far the cheapest and lowest investment up front. If you have a ton of ideas and want to just see what sticks, then definitely check these templates out.
Read the documentation
Apple provides an incredible amount of documentation for how apps are expected to work on iOS, and it's definitely worth the time to really understand their Human Interface Guidelines. But beyond just text, guidelines and suggestions, they also provide some great videos that cover all aspects of designing and prototyping mobile apps.
Show it around
Get your prototype in front of anyone who's willing to take a look, and listen closely to their feedback. Even seasoned product teams are often surprised at the reactions to their first version of a new app!