Catalyst FAQs

Q.  Let's get right to the point, is this going to cost me a lot?

A.  No!  Less than you think.  Most importantly, our services are designed to be adjustable to meet the unique needs and budget of each client.  The beauty of our modular service offering is that you can employ only the services that will make the most impact on your bottom line.  Catalyst can offer you a program of usability activities that will make the most sense for you given your specific objectives and your time and budget constraints.  One thing is for sure, it won't cost anything to get in touch and find out more about what we have to offer. 

Q.  At what point in my development process would I hire Catalyst?

A.  Probably now.  The idea behind our service offering is that we can add value to the design and development process at various points along the way.  Early on, we can help you define the requirements for a successful user experience and create an interface that effectively satisfies these requirements.  If you're already past this point, our User Testing services are a great way to validate a design in process before committing to a launch.  If you're site or application is already live, a Usability Evaluation is a great way to begin to define priorities for a redesign.  Let's face it, there's never a bad time to call us.

Q.  Does Catalyst only work on websites?

A.  No way.  Our work has run the gamut from websites of all stripes to intranets, extranets, and all manner of applications.  Wherever a user is accessing or interacting with information or functionality, we can help.  The roots of our experience go back to traditional human factors engineering and industrial design.  In the pre-Web years, Catalyst principals worked to design and analyze hardware components, character-based applications, and Windows-based applications.   

Q.  Can Catalyst do graphic design and HTML coding?

A.  Absolutely.  Over the years, many of our clients have asked us to help to implement the interfaces that we have designed.  In most cases, we will work with one of our graphic design and production partners to deliver these services.  We have relationships with several excellent firms that are intimately familiar with our processes and deliverables. 

Q.  Ok, I'm interested.  Who should I call?

Great!  Nick Gould, our CEO, is waiting for your call.  You can reach him at (212) 243-7777 ext. 203.