Design Philosophy
When you hear the word "designer," what do you think of?
Graphic artists? Interior decorators? Fashion innovators?
Sure, all those jobs are part of the design puzzle. The bigger picture, though, isn't solely focused on appearance. At Solvent, design is a robust process that marries form to function.
Great design, in its broadest sense, begins with a clear understanding that something must be done to invent or improve something. Being able to clearly state the problem is the first step in the design process.
Once you identify the need, then you can brainstorm ideas and research the resources required to solve the problem. It doesn't matter whether you need to create a web site, establish corporate identity, or develop a manufacturing system. Solvent specializes in designing solutions in all kinds of business environments.
We also understand that in complex creative projects, there's more to solving a problem than writing it out on paper. Real-world solutions often involve training and implementation, evaluation, and a healthy dose of fine-tuning. Solvent is committed to completing all the phases of the design process so that our clients' satisfaction is guaranteed.
Agile Development
As designers, we want to provide an ideal interactive experience for you.
That's why we have adopted the principles of the
agile (software) development movement and adapted them to our design processes.
In a nutshell, as agile "designers," Solvent abides by these ideals:
- Simplicity. The most elegant designs are concise and easy to understand.
- Intuitive user experience. Any person who interacts with the solution should be able to find the information they want without complicated steps or convoluted navigation.
- Comprehension. Although it's tempting to accept things at face value, we realize that asking "Why?" is best way to discover the real root of a problem.
- Close cooperation between clients and designers. Even the most explicitly outlined plan will require modification as the process unfolds. We embrace this fully and recognize the value of client direction when priorities or circumstances inevitably change.
- Working solutions are delivered in incremental iterations and short time frames. In large scale designs, the client should always see the work in progress rather than watch the designer disappear only to reappear months later with work that's no longer viable.
- Continuous attention to technical excellence. Although an operator may never view the code behind the software, we want our programming to be stunningly clear and well-commented. Solvent also strives to help clients clean and normalize all data for accuracy and efficiency.
Services
Solvent has a full range of services from custom development to training.
- FileMaker Development — Design and building applications; interfaces, plugin installation and integration, module work, and custom functions.
- Co-Development — Helping you develop your solution by walking you through the entire process.
- FileCare™ — Monthly or quarterly file maintenance, secure off-site backup and emergency restoration service.
- SolventCare™ — Cost effective continued development or training that fits in any budget.
- Software — Purchase your FileMaker software through Solvent and get free installation.
- Software Updates — We keep track of what updates you need and will notify you when it's time for an update at no cost to you.
- Training — From users to developers training is an essential part of learning.
