Our Story

// As one of the first 'new media design' companies in NZ, Phosphor Essence was named to emphasise our commitment to 'new media', or media which is primarily interactive and viewed on screen.

Phosphor is a substance that can accept energy in one form and emit the energy in the form of visible light. Phosphors make up the RGB pixels which display images on computer screens and TV's.

In 1994 in New Zealand, Interactive Media meant interactive kiosks, CD-ROM's, and the beginnings of the Internet, digital video and the hope of 'interactive TV'.

We were excited about the communication possibilities presented by new technologies, and we were lucky to have the input of team members who shared the excitement.

Phosphor Essence was founded by Cam Stewart and Cath Sample to develop a tourism information kiosk, 'See New Zealand'. Their combined skills and qualifications in art, design, programming, computer hardware and software led to a multi-disciplinary model which continues today:

We embrace both outstanding design and innovative use of technology - and encourage creativity in both areas.

In mid 1994 the directors of Image Centre became partners in Phosphor Essence Limited. Image Design was also formed in the process. The two companies worked together on several projects, including a multimedia CD-Rom for Anne Geddes, interactive presentations for Fletchers, an advertising-based retail kiosk, a digital video CD-ROM for Levis.

At Phosphor our interest was moving toward digital video and the Internet. Diverging goals led to the end of the partnership in 1996 and a new partnership with Colin Follas and Ken Booth of Tiger Films and VTR (Video Television Resources).

Our vision was to combine video and multimedia with the Internet.

The next two years flew past. We set up a web hosting platform which went offline every time a large truck drove by. Digital video, shockwave, HTML, NT, and ISDN were our obsessions. Our website was one of 54 listed on the New Zealand directories. We won an award for our first Shockwave. Associates wondered whether the Internet would be a passing fad.

An early attempt at updating kiosks via mobile phones, although subject to problems during bad weather, convinced us of the viability of networked kiosks.

In 1998 Cam and Cath bought Phosphor Essence and moved the company to premises in the Central Business District, where Centrex would halve the company's enormous ISDN bill. Over the next four years we continued to develop on all fronts, adding more designers and programmers to the team. Some highlights during that time were:

  • Healthywomen: a portable kiosk and website for the Ministry of Health, focused on bringing information about Breast and Cervical screening to women in all areas of New Zealand.
  • Calciyum.co.nz: an early 'Web 2.0' project which involved encouraging children to interact with and contribute to the site. One campaign allowed kids to submit their own videos and animations promoting Calciyum. Flash games promoting healthy bones and the development of new flavours were popular for several years.
  • Vista Cinema Kiosks - now distributed around the world and integrated into the Vista Cinema Software
  • Americas Cup - the official website. We developed and hosted the Americas Cup website up until the time the races started, when the site was transferred to hook in with Virtual Spectator.
  • The Moore Wilson Loyalty Kiosk - one of the first retail loyalty kiosks in New Zealand, and still going.

By the end of 2002 our premises in Auckland CBD had become too small and we moved to 27 Dacre St (Newton) in early 2003. Over the next 7 years we continued work with transactional kiosks and the web, gradually phasing out the development of interactive CD-ROM's, but continuing with Flash development for the web. We tested several content management systems, and after some years with Adobe Contribute, and a brief stint with .NET Nuke, we chose Umbraco.

Notable projects during the earlier years were:

  • Xtra - a kiosk software application which was installed on computers in retail stores to explain the benefits of the Internet and promote the ISP
  • Telstra Clear Installation CD for installation and set up of dial up.
  • Mazda Websites - the creation of the main Mazda NZ website over several years and versions and many smaller sites for specific models
  • Emirates Team NZ websites over 2 Amercias cup campaigns.
  • Pak'n'Save Loyalty kiosk - still going.
  • Tickle Kiosks and website. A kiosk for uploading photos from memory stick or CD to a website where they could be edited, shared online, and ordered as printed books.
  • Orams Marine Kiosks and Digital Signage - Custom software to connect to Orams database displaying boats on sale in the showroom.
  • Bayley's TV - custom digital signage connected to the Bayley's Real Estate database
  • Hubba - a standards compliant website for the Ministry of Health with a complex Flash game designed to show sexual health risks of social and sexual behaviour

In 2011 we moved to the current premises in Charlotte Street, Eden Terrace. This is the first premises we've had which doesn't require us to carry kiosks up and down flights of stairs!

The vision of combined technologies is now a reality, different from what we had imagined and still full of future promise.

Mobile and web applications, networked kiosks and digital signage combined with in-house business solutions provide as many opportunities for communication as can be imagined.