Typically, these engagements begin with a design facilitation workshop, which begins the LUCID Framework, and serves as technique to bring the Cognetics designers up to speed on a project quickly and form an initial design concept.

Cognetics involvement can be targeted to meet a specific need or to follow a project through its complete cycle through release. A series of deliverables are matched to each stage in the design cycle:

• Design concept to initial sketches
  Paper prototypes, or storyboards, are used to explore the design concept and illustrate the key screens in the program. Details of information architecture, navigation and screen layout are all included. The storyboards can be reviewed by the entire team, and used for early usability testing to ensure that the design concept matches user expectations.
  
  Sample Storyboard (PDF )

• Visual Design
  Cognetics can create stimulating visuals that focus people’s attention without distracting them. The visual designs for the projects featured on this site were created by Cognetics' visual designers. Our interfaces have won many awards for their simplicity, functionality, and visual appeal.
  
  
• Key screen prototype
  Once the storyboards have been approved, a key screen prototype is used to apply a visual design and translate the sketches into high-fidelity screen layouts. These prototypes are created in HTML, Visual Basic, Authorware or whatever rapid-development environment is most appropriate. If possible, some minimal navigation capabilities are included, so navigation through the architecture can be tested. Cognetics can produce the complete visual design or work with a marketing department to translate product-branding work into the screen. Once again, this work can be reviewed by the entire team and used in usability testing.
  
  
• High-fidelity prototyping
  When a detailed high-fidelity prototype is part of the project plan or required for usability testing, the Cognetics development department provides high-fidelity prototyping skills in Visual Basic, Delphi, Authorware, Delphi, Front Page, Lotus Notes and other rapid development environments.
  
  
• Detailed screen specifications
  After the prototype, all of the screens, template or dialogs in the program must be created and specified for the development team. Specification documents include detailed screen layouts, a description of all controls on each screen, navigation rules and graphical elements.
  
  
• Style guides
  Cognetics can create style guides which can be used as standards for further development or for other related applications. These guides provide rules for the use of controls as well as design principles and templates, which have been developed.
  
  
• User Assistance and rollout material
  Help – both embedded and extrinsic – is written and connected to the main interface. Cognetics works with help authors experienced in writing for the screen. Cognetics can also produce introductory presentations, demo versions of the program and other rollout and training material.