This paper introduces an empirical multi-group study for investiga ting the experienced use of visual and multimodal interaction metaphors for designing interfaces. The study aimed at comparing the efficiency of multimodal interaction using voice-instruction and speech along with limited use of the mouse and the keyboard against the efficiency of using visual -only interaction metaphors for using interface-design environments. Efficiency of these interaction metaphors was compared in regard to task accomplishment time and frequency of error-occurrenc e. In order to carry out this comparative investigation, three experimental interface design toolkits (TVOID, OFVOID, and MMID) were built from scratch. TVOID and OFVOID interacted with the user visually only using typical and time-sa ving interaction metaphors. The third environment MMID added another modality through vocal and aural interaction. Then, these environments were tested independently by three gr oups of experienced users. Each group consisted of 40 users. The results showed that the use of vocal commands and speech with limited use of the mouse for completing tasks was more efficient in terms of shortening task accomplishment time and reducing the number of errors than the use of the typica l and time-saving visual-onl y interaction metaphors: graphical menus, toolbar, toolbox, properties-table, hot-keys, scrollable-tags, instant-menus, textual-help, and textual messages.