At GearFX.com, we employ a methodology that is common to any design or engineering problem. The following four phases describe our high-level design process that is applicable to any type of project you may have for us. Before designing anything, it is important that we first understand the client's business, values, and objectives. Market analysis and customer profiling will yield competitive advantages that can be leveraged for the best possible marketing position. This initial evaluation will help define and establish the criteria for a successful solution. We now take aim at the target requirements that were determined in the first phase of the project. Conceptual exercises like sketches, mock-ups, and navigation maps will help illuminate potential paths to meeting these criteria. Not all attempts will hit their target on the first try, but each successive attempt will build on information gained on the previous one until a bull's-eye is realized. Several different concepts and approaches will be explored before the most promising ideas are refined and prototyped for further evaluation. For web pages or interactive media, a home page and a few content-level pages deeper in the information hierarchy will be presented. Any technical functionalities can be simulated or demonstrated for review purposes, and implications for users and developers will be identified. Product design efforts will include concept renderings, 3D and physical appearance models, and possibly functional models that express specific product capabilities. Associated manufacturing, environmental, and human ramifications will be considered, and matrix analyses will be conducted to establish the relationships between the design criteria and each alternative design concept. An iterative and evolutionary design process will help us arrive at the most viable solution for your needs, and the most compelling concept will be further distilled and polished before beginning development of the final product. After a final concept has been approved, GearFX.com will work toward the development and implementation of the best solution. For web pages or interactive media, all graphics and code will be standardized and optimized for web publishing with consideration for browser/platform compatibility. Specific functionalities will be scripted while content development occurs concurrently using uniform templates. Any back-end capabilities will be developed as needed. For product designs, GearFX.com will consult with engineers to assure technical feasibility and address production concerns. Final product specifications and part/assembly drawings will be provided for rapid prototyping, and any optimization for manufacturing processes will be incorporated before the client commits to production. Following rigorous testing, client review, and any necessary adjustments, the final product will be deployed with appropriate maintenance documentation and support. At this time, GearFX.com will review the entire project with the client to ensure that all objectives and deliverables have been met.