There's no two ways about it: designing a website from scratch is a tall order. But if you're thinking of starting with user-centered design, you're on the right track. Of course, we would say that. But consider the facts:

• Beautiful images and colors ultimately will mean little if your visitors can't do what they need to on the site - and therefore leave and/or tell others about their experience.

• Tight, evocative copy might never be read if it cannot be found.

• Powerful back-end databases and related applications may have been expensive to create - but if it isn't easy to use them, they will lie fallow.

• A site that's designed for end-users AND for business performance, however, can increase loyalty and de-position the competition.

At Catalyst, we always start with the fundamentals. What is the site for? Is it business-to-business leads? Selling consumer products? News? It's important to clearly define at the outset the rationale for investing in a site. Equally important is considering the way people will behave when they encounter your interface. Our process builds on the information and intelligence we gather from these and far more detailed queries - and then creates brand and interface blueprints. With these schematics, you can detail and develop both function and aesthetics in a collaborative process ranging from identity to interaction architecture to visual design. The result: a streamlined process that incorporates both rigor and creativity. Contact us to learn more - or click through to the Services section of our website to see the full range of our capabilities, any or all of which might be applicable to designing a site from scratch.