Work with us · Cygnus · from Albireo to Deneb

# How we work

The same four steps we use on our own apps.

Notice, Focus, Craft, and Ship and tend. Client work runs in the same order, to the same standard, as Trinetra and Urban Hood.

The four steps · 01 to 04

## One star for each step.

We are named after Cygnus, the swan. Each step is one of its stars. Here is what happens at each one, what you get, and where you come in.

Step 01 of 04 · β Cygni · Albireo · the double star

### Notice

Every product starts with a real problem. Yours, or one we have felt while building our own apps.

What happens

We get precise about who the product is for and the problem they have. It should fit in one sentence, without hedging.

What you get

Positioning and messaging, a name if you need a new one, and a direction for the visual identity.

How you're involved

You bring what you know about your users. We ask who the person is before we ask how big the market is.

Typical duration

1 to 2 weeks

![Pilgrims on the Godavari ghats in Nashik during Kumbh](https://caygnus.com/_astro/kumbh-godavari-ghats.Ipuw7cHG_1297Qu.webp)

On Trinetra: We grew up in Nashik, and we started by talking to people: pilgrims at the ghats, shopkeepers who had given the same directions for decades, residents who had not seen half the city. They all said a version of the same thing. Nashik has more to it than what gets shown.

Step 02 of 04 · η Cygni

### Focus

We cut scope until the product does one thing well. Features earn their place. Nothing ships by default.

What happens

We cut scope before any screen is designed. Good ideas that are not essential yet wait until later.

What you get

A focused v1 scope, where every feature is there for a reason, and a list of what waits.

How you're involved

You make the final call on what stays in v1. We give you our reason for every cut.

Typical duration

1 to 2 weeks

![Trinetra home screen with a short list of places and categories](https://caygnus.com/_astro/01-home-discover.C5nn8suH_2o8yNI.webp)

On Trinetra: We stopped trying to list everything in Nashik and curated instead. A short, honest list beats an exhaustive one nobody trusts.

Step 03 of 04 · γ Cygni · Sadr

### Craft

We design and build with care: calm interfaces, honest copy, and details that respect the person using them.

What happens

Design and engineering run as one thread. Deployment is set up at the start of the build.

What you get

User flows, high-fidelity interface design, a reusable design system, prototypes to test with real users, and web or native mobile builds.

How you're involved

You test prototypes with your users, and you always know where the work stands without having to ask.

Typical duration

6 to 10 weeks

![Trinetra settings screen with the language control in the main list](https://caygnus.com/_astro/03-language-settings.T9PXHw4B_Z1Uic2t.webp)

On Trinetra: Language sits in the main settings list, with 23+ Indian languages. A pilgrim who reads Marathi, Tamil or Bengali never has to get by in English.

Step 04 of 04 · α Cygni · Deneb

### Ship and tend

We release early, listen closely and keep improving. A product is a commitment that lasts well past launch day.

What happens

We release a smaller, honest v1 early, then correct it against real use with small, timely changes.

What you get

A shipped, live v1, a codebase built to be handed over, and a roadmap for what comes after launch.

How you're involved

You decide whether we keep going after launch. If we do, it runs as a monthly retainer.

Typical duration

About 2 weeks to launch, then monthly if you continue

![Trimbakeshwar temple near Nashik](https://caygnus.com/_astro/trimbakeshwar-temple.BhcjBQB__ZJyA9v.webp)

On Trinetra: Trinetra is live on Google Play. We are still adding places, and still talking to the people who use it.

Working rhythm

## You should never have to ask where things stand.

The studio is in Bengaluru, India. We work with founders and businesses worldwide.

One team

The people who set the positioning also design the screens and write the code.

Studio time zone

India Standard Time (UTC+5:30)

Overlap with US and EU

About four hours a day with Europe. US calls are booked ahead, in our evening.

Meetings

A weekly review call and a short written update

Tools

Figma, GitHub, Slack, Google Meet

Replies

Usually within a couple of days

Handover

## Built to be handed over.

We hold your code to the standard we hold our own apps to, because we keep living with those.

### A codebase built to be handed over

Clean, documented and ready for your next engineer. It meets the standard we hold our own apps' code to.

### Deployment from day one

CI/CD and deployment are set up at the start of the build, so launch week is about the launch.

### We can keep building

Support and continuing product work after launch, if you want us on it. It runs as its own engagement, on a monthly retainer.

Step one

## Start with a real problem.

Tell us what you are building and who it is for. We read every message and reply ourselves. Prefer to talk? Book a 20-minute call.

[Start a project](https://caygnus.com/contact) · [Book a 20-minute call](https://caygnus.com/contact#book-call) · [hello@caygnus.com](mailto:hello@caygnus.com)

[How pricing works](https://caygnus.com/pricing) [Common questions](https://caygnus.com/faq#working-with-us)

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Source: https://caygnus.com/how-we-work
