Cactuslab is a multimedia studio founded by Karl von Randow and Matthew Buchanan, formerly of new media company WebMedia. Over the past six years, we have worked on a wide variety of projects for a diverse client list.
We pride ourselves on designing and building attractive, functional, accessible and portable solutions that adhere to published web standards where possible. We have experience in most major Internet technologies, with particular expertise in HTML, DHTML, XHTML, CSS, Flash, QuickTime, Windows Media, JavaScript & AJAX, PHP, JSP, Java (J2EE), XML, online game development, database design and implementation, and secure e-commerce.
Karl manages the development of Cactuslab's server-side and dynamic technologies, ensuring their successful integration with the design and business requirements of each project. Karl has ten years experience in website and software development.
Matthew oversees the front-end design considerations and HTML build of each project. He has sixteen years digital design experience in both print and new media, including two years as founding art director of NetGuide magazine, and has spent the last nine years working mainly on web-related projects. He has one of those new tumblelogs that are all the craze.
Cactuslab gets a bit of attention from here and there (see below) and was the first New Zealand firm to have its design work accepted into the world-renowned CSS Zen Garden, showcasing the application of cascading stylesheets to existing content.
Recognition for Cactuslab
Best Blog at Qantas Media Awards for Hard News (May 2007)
Best Columnist-style Site and Best Light Entertainment site at Qantas Media Awards for Spare Room (May 2007)
CSS Glance for our website (May 2007)
Tutorial Blog for our website (Apr 2007)
Design Walker for our website (Mar 2007)
Design Meltdown for our website (Nov 2006)
Andy Denton for our portfolio (Nov 2006)
Andy Budd for our portfolio (Oct 2006)
TUANZ Innovation Award (finalist) for Healthpoint (Sep 2006)
CSS Bloom for our website (Sep 2006)
CSS Mania for our website (Sep 2006)
Web Creme for our website (Sep 2006)
CSS Blast for our website (Sep 2006)
Ahua for our website (Aug 2006)
NetGuide Web Award for Public Address (Apr 2006)
Macromedia Site of the Day for Virtual Bodyjam (Mar 2006)
SxSW Interactive (finalist) for 95bFM (Mar 2006)
Design Shack for 95bFM (Oct 2005)
Computerworld Excellence Award for Healthpoint (Jul 2005)
Screenfluent for our website (Jul 2005)
Screenspire for our website (Jul 2005)
Stylegala for our website (Apr 2005)
CSS Beauty for our website (Apr 2005)
CSS Beauty for Convention Management (Jan 2005)
Stylegala for Convention Management (Oct 2004)
NetGuide Web Award for Public Address (Nov 2003)
Macromedia Site of the Day for our website (Jun 2002)
NetGuide Web Award (finalist) for 95bFM (Nov 2001)
SxSW Interactive (finalist) for 95bFM (2001)
Absorb for Eastern HiFi, Reload, Spare Room, CMSL, 95bFM ...