Catalyst Group

 

345 7th Avenue
11th Floor
New York, NY 10001

Metro Area: New York (NY--NJ--CT)

 

Phone: (212) 243-7777

Fax: (212) 243-7077

Email: ngould@catalystnyc.com

Personnel
Nick Gould, CEO
Peter Hughes, Founder and Principal Consultant

www.CatalystNYC.com

Catalyst Services | About Us
Our Clients | Our Blog

Cofactors (blog)

Twitter 

 

Company Description

User-centered research and design firm dedicated to helping companies connect their business objectives to the needs and expectations of their customers. Our methods are grounded in classic usability principles while remaining flexible enough to respond to each client's unique needs and objectives. With deep roots in human-factors engineering and industrial design, Catalyst is highly skilled in the qualitative evaluation of websites and software, utilizing tools and methodologies, such as: lab-based usability testing, expert usability evaluations, and contextual analysis & interviews. Our understanding of user-centered design allows us to provide significantly enhanced value in terms of the creation of research programs, analysis of the results, & recommendations for design improvement.

Affiliations: UPA, IXDA

Facility Details

Rooms: Catalyst utilizes a cutting edge, proprietary testing lab to capture participant video without one way glass. Catalyst uses high quality picture-in-picture video in digital format that allows DVDs to be burned immediately following test completion.

Building type: Office Building

Location: Urban - Centrally Located

Travel time from airport: 30 min.

View map & get directions | Find a hotel (by hotels.com)

 

Market Research Specialties

Types of Research
Research Techniques & Services
Audiences, Industries & Market Specialties
 

Market Research Resources

Case Study

Wait, I can do what? (A study of Amazon and Netflix on-demand video services)

by Catalyst Group

This report shares findings on the user experience for Netflix and Amazon On-Demand movie services. Follow the process of Catalyst Group from stated objectives through observations and insights. Read Case Study »

Case Study

Online Dating: Usability Study Report

by Catalyst Group

This study evaluated two top online dating sites for usability - eHarmony and Match.com. Users shared their experiences and perceptions of the two sites in interviews and eye-tracking research was conducted. The results were interesting and pointed out issues with technology facilitating emotional connection and chemistry between users. Read Case Study »

Case Study

eReader Showdown – Kindle 2 vs. Sony eReader

by Catalyst Group

This report compares the user experience of the Amazon Kindle 2 versus the Sony eReader, looking at aspects such as physical design, interface design and shopping experience. Catalyst Group details their objectives, methodology, insights and observations. Read Case Study »

Case Study

Google vs. Bing – Search Engine Preference

by Catalyst Group

This study compares user impressions of the Google and Bing search engines. Catalyst Group shares feedback from participants and eye tracking data regarding advertising space. Read Case Study »

Case Study

Beyond Red and Blue: Insights into the Design of Presidential Candidate Websites

by Catalyst Group

So much has been made of the role of the Internet in the 2008 presidential election. In particular, the Obama campaign made some impressive claims about the success of BarackObama.com in fund-raising and organization of supporters. Even on the most superficial level, the two candidate sites have a lot in common in terms of structure and content. But, to our eyes, there are many differences in terms of the design approaches taken by the two organizations. We wondered how ordinary voters might see these differences, so we conducted a comparative usability study of the two sites. Read Case Study »

White Paper

Putting the "trust" back in Bank & Trust

by Catalyst Group

Catalyst Group performed both quantitative and qualitative research to compare consumer perceptions of "trust" in terms of banks. Specific institutional websites were compared using eye-tracking studies and interviews. Read White Paper »

Case Study

Eye Tracking Study: Friends List Layouts

by Catalyst Group

This eye tracking report from May 2009 looks at the usability and design of friends lists on social networking sites Facebook and LinkedIn. Read Case Study »

White Paper

Net Rage: A Study of Blogs and Usability

by John Franklin, Catalyst Group

Catalyst’s proprietary test of the usability of blogs sheds light on a variety of user-experience related design challenges associated with blogs’ potential to become a mainstream medium for Internet users. Read this white paper to learn more insights gained from this usability study. Read White Paper »

Case Study

Extra Credit: An Eye Tracking study of Credit Card Websites

by Catalyst Group

This study takes a look at three major financial services websites: chase.com, capitalone.com, and discovercard.com. The goal was to gain some understanding of what company makes it easiest (and most difficult) for users to complete the crucial task of “applying for a new credit card”. The study was structured to gather and compare eye tracking data during task completion relating to several metrics. Read Case Study »

Article

Site Design Should Reward Frequent Users

by Catalyst Group

Site Design Should Reward Frequent UsersThis report takes a look at interface design challenges and opportunities of catering websites for new and repeat users. Read this article for practical, experience-driven advice and tactics for building websites that survive and succeed. Read Article »

White Paper

Screen Size Matters: Best Practices for Designing Websites to Match Browser Resolution

by Catalyst Group

Designing your website for various screen resolutions can be tricky but warrants serious consideration. Catalyst Group present different methods for addressing screen resolution, including optimization techniques for a hybrid approach. Read White Paper »

 
To: [Put here the company name]
Subject: Request for information
  * required fields
Your Email:*
Your Name:*
Your Title:
Company:
Enter your inquiry or comments in the box below:*
Not a researcher? Take surveys!
 Please do NOT use this form to sign up for surveys, inquire about focus group participation, apply for a job or sell products or services. Such mesagess will be disregarded.