We are obsessive about discovering, quantifying and solving User Experience challenges. When a design solution can better connect people, business and information, that is a good thing.

We spend most of our time working on...

We work both individually and together within large organizations with a focus on real-world metrics to create tangible ROI. Because - more than ever - the experiences people have with products and services matter. Small (and/or even incremental) changes can make a big difference to an organizations bottom line.

Work samples are best understood within the context of a full UI spec. Unfortunately, posting a clients' full deliverables online for any anonymous person to view is not an option — but feel free to simply contact us for a password, which will give you access to several sample deliverables.

	Coming Soon. [ 2009 -> Current Project ]
	Cross platform (web, desktop, tv and phone) product UI redesign. Bringing them out of the 1990's and into more modern and consistent interaction design paradigms. [ 2008 -> Current Project ]
	A social networking application - web site and mobile app. [ 2007 -> Current Project ]
	Ground-up experience design for an eco-system of property management, travel planning and CRM portals. Quintess is essentially a private travel concierge for the ulta-wealthy. [ 2004 -> Current Project ]
	Interaction design for a financial reconciliation application, delivered via a web / desktop hybrid (SSB) application. [ 2007 ]
	Prototyping and testing of new security systems to meet upcoming Federal regulations. [ 2006 ]
	Information Architecture & Interaction Design for portal consolidation and personalization. [ 2005 -> 2006 ]
	IA / ID for consumer and small business account management portals. [ 2003 -> 2005 ]
	Older project info is available upon request. [ 1995 -> 2003 ]

While we are not back-end developers, we do understand the basics of several different application platforms.

We often create clickable prototypes and then integrate those page templates into backend systems. We have specific experience integrating into JSP, J2EE, PHP, Ruby on Rails, Flash, Flex and a few other less comon platforms.

We know enough to modify core functions and tweak any page rendering problems on code held within a repository, we can do this without breaking things along the way.

What good is it to sell something that looks hot in photoshop, yet is unrealistic to write the code for? We are not fans of any waterfall style approaches. To us, engineering teams are critical stakeholders and partners when designing a system. When the User Experience deliverable is completed, it should be a handshake without any surprises, not a hand off.

We are comfortable working within an existing front-end design team or handling the entire font-end User Experience.

We can take a project from beginning to end and then back again...

• DISCOVERY: Contextual inquiry, conceptual modeling, use cases and stories, card sorts.
  
  
• DESIGN: UCD and PAID methodologies with story boards and wire frames, using Visio, InDesign, Photoshop, Axure, Mindjet, HTML and CSS for rapid prototyping.
  
  
• INTEGRATION: Working our prototypes and deliverables into a development environment.
  
  
• REFINEMENT: User Testing, development of pattern and component libraries, Multivariate testing, Analytics [including Omniture & Tea Leaf], SEO/SEM [Organic and Paid]).

Lastly, our deliverables wont put you to sleep. Contact us for a sample.
 

Integration With Existing Teams

Our typical project style is a "long term leases" (of just Mike or Dan) where most team members don't realize we are consultants. We are integrated members of their organization — invested in solving their business problems.

Flexible Methodology

Every application has its own unique User Experience challenges. Therefore, we see each new project as a fresh opportunity to apply our experience and skills in new ways. In other words - although we are familiar with Agile, RUP, Waterfall, etc... we are not stuck on any one snooty methodology or technology to get the job done. We will adapt to the ways of the organization we are working within.

Mike Rothermel
14 years experience as an Information Architect and Interaction Designer.
Specialties:	Financial applications, profiling and personalization.
Phobias:	Misaligned pixels, viruses, unclear error messaging.
Dan Pfeiffer
The fastest prototyper and all-around hacker West of the Mississippi.
Specialties:	Prototyping, building, testing and drinking caffeine.
Phobias:	Messy CSS files, run-time errors, unstructured code.

Of course, when appropriate, we come on-site for meetings. But we also have our own offices and we do our best work in our own space, on our own equipment.

For quick collaboration, we are never more than 3 clicks away, often more accessible than employees in your own building. We use the best tools available (WebEx, Acrobat Connect, and several others) along with high-end video conferencing services for impromptu face-to-face conversations.

If you are looking for the best rate in town, there is always someone who will sell their time for less, but will they produce the same quality results? Our pricing is less than any "agency" and we also guarantee you will feel good approving our invoice, ask Mike for details.