Simplifying Design Presentation Through Browser Technology

Mockup Generator is a web application that solves a common frustration for designers: creating professional mockups shouldn’t require expensive software, complex workflows or downloaded assets. This tool brings mockup creation directly into the browser, making it accessible to designers and non-designers alike.

The Problem

As a designer presenting work to clients, mockups are essential for showing designs in realistic contexts. However, the traditional process is frustrating:

• Quality issues - Many free mockups are low-quality
• Complex workflows - Requires downloading, unpacking and Photoshop
• Accessibility barriers - Not everyone has access to professional design software
• Time-consuming - Applying designs to multiple mockups is repetitive

The Solution

A browser-based application where users can:

• Upload designs directly from their browser
• Automatically apply designs to multiple high-quality mockups
• Download results instantly without additional software
• Access mockups organized by category (Devices, Print, Social Media)

This democratizes mockup creation, giving non-designers access to professional-looking presentations while streamlining workflows for experienced designers.

Technical Implementation

Core Technology Stack

Frontend Framework:

• SvelteKit - Modern reactive web framework for optimal performance
• Skeleton - UI component library for consistent design system
• WebGL - Hardware-accelerated perspective transformation

Perspective Transformation

The most challenging technical aspect was transforming uploaded images to fit mockup perspectives. Two approaches were tested:

Initial Approach:

• OpenCV via WebAssembly - 8.6 MB library
• Powerful but heavy bundle size
• Slower initial load times

Final Approach:

• WebGL with perspective-transform library - Only 7.6 KB
• Custom transformation matrix calculations
• Client-side processing for instant results
• Over 1000x size reduction while maintaining quality

Key Features

Must-Have Features (Implemented):

• High-quality mockup library
• Category-based organization (Devices, Print, Social Media)
• Image cropping tools
• Background color customization
• Instant browser-based transformation

Future Feature Ideas:

• Video mockups
• 3D mockups with AR preview
• Automatic mockup selection based on upload
• Watermark/copyright marking
• API for third-party integrations
• Figma, Photoshop and InDesign plugins
• Bulk upload functionality
• Multi-language support
• Dark mode

Competitive Analysis

Analyzed 15 existing solutions including Artboard, Canva, Mockuuups, Placeit and Smartmockups. Key findings:

• Most require registration or payment
• Free options have watermarks or quality limitations
• No truly easy-to-use, free alternative existed

Market Gap: Free, high-quality, browser-based mockup tool

Design Iterations

Typography:

• Selected DM Sans for body text
• Mazius Display Extra-Italic for headlines
• Tested multiple combinations for optimal readability

Color Evolution:

• Shifted to neon color palette for better contrast
• Made mockups more recognizable through color coding
• Improved visual hierarchy on landing page

Layout Refinements:

• Removed testimonials section
• Added “Why free?” section addressing user concerns
• Emphasized USPs (Unique Selling Points) globally
• Redesigned header with multiple variations

Technical Challenges

Performance Optimization:

• Loading times when switching between mockups
• Currently limited to medium-resolution downloads (full HD coming)
• Preview rendering can be slow with large uploads
• Category switching triggers re-rendering (caching needed)

Mockup Rights:

• Current mockups are third-party sourced
• Long-term plan: migrate to self-produced mockups for better licensing
• Some mockups have unnatural white overlay surfaces

WebGL Integration:

• Successfully replaced 8.6 MB OpenCV with 7.6 KB custom solution
• Transformation matrix calculations optimized for browser performance
• Maintained quality while drastically reducing bundle size

Design System

Wireframing and Planning

Initial wireframes and user flow mapping

Low-fidelity wireframes created with Octopus.do

Project brainstorming and ideation phase

Visual Design Development

Comprehensive visual moodboard establishing design direction

Typography exploration with DM Sans and Mazius Display

Final landing page design with neon color palette

Proof of Concept and Testing

Testing perspective transformation quality

Working prototype running locally

Example output - poster mockup transformation

User Flow

1. Upload design image
2. Browse mockup categories
3. Select desired mockups
4. Customize (crop, background color)
5. Download transformed results

The Result

Mockup Generator demonstrates how modern web technologies can replace complex desktop software with accessible browser-based tools. The project successfully:

• Eliminates software barriers to mockup creation
• Reduces 8.6 MB dependency to 7.6 KB through smart technology choices
• Provides free alternative to expensive mockup services
• Streamlines designer workflows with instant browser-based results

What I Learned

This project taught me the importance of technology selection in web applications. Choosing WebGL with a lightweight transformation library over OpenCV/WebAssembly resulted in 1000x size reduction while maintaining functionality.

The competitive analysis showed me how to identify genuine market gaps. While many similar tools existed, none combined free access, quality mockups and ease of use in a browser-based package.

Building with SvelteKit and Skeleton demonstrated how modern frameworks can accelerate development while maintaining code quality. The component-based architecture made iterating on designs quick and maintainable.

Mockup Generator proves that powerful design tools don’t need to be expensive or complex. Sometimes the best solution is the most accessible one.