Developed at the DesignLab at UW–Madison, the acronym CAT represents three kinds or stages of design work.
Conceptual
Aesthetic
Technical
Conceptual
What kind of project are you making? What do you need to know about the particular medium/genre?
What is your project about? — What is the main idea, argument, or information you are trying to convey?
Who is your audience? — Is it your instructor? Your classmates? A community group? A high school class?
What are your goals or purpose? – To convince? To persuade? To inform? To call to action?
Aesthetic
What is the look or style or vibe of your work?
Do the images, graphics, colors, contrast, and structure communicate your ideas and purpose?
Are your design decisions consistent and coherent?
Or, when your decisions aren't consistent, why aren't they?
Do your design decisions connect with your intended audience?
Are your decisions meaningful to your intended audience?
Technical
If you used images — are they clear and properly scaled? (not pixelated, etc.)
If you used text — is it written at the appropriate level for the intended audience? Is it legible (both size and font)? Does it contrast with any backgrounds?
If you used sound — Is the audio clear and crisp? Are the sound levels balanced? Are the transitions unnoticeable?
If you used video — Is the orientation appropriate for the venue/viewing device? Is the picture clear?