Psychoactive® is an International award-winning digital agency building beautiful, interactive web experiences. We deliver digital branding, strategy, design and development for brands & organisations who want to push the boundaries of the web.
We’re Digital Amphibians: just as frogs breathe both water & air, we breathe design & innovation. We’re not just a web design, development, or advertising agency - we’re a digital incubator - constantly hatching fresh and beautifully intuitive ways to stimulate the Metamorphosis of projects & brands.
(in a brand or organisation) the process of transformation from an old or immature website to a beautiful, interactive web product or experience in three distinct stages: Branding & Strategy, Design, and Development.
“The organisation’s digital presence went through the process of metamorphosis”
"their project experienced metamorphosis from a low traffic website to an award winning work of art"
Late 2018: via Andrew Hillstead the word metamorphosis is redefined to align with Psychoactive Studios’ process of transformation.
In this embryonic stage of project development, discovery sessions inform brand, business, and content strategy. Brand identity, guidelines, collateral, and logo concepts sync with design, motion, and art direction as the look and feel is formulated. User journey maps, storyboards, concept art, and prototypes rapidly grow, fertilising the foundations of a strong user experience (UX).
Whether you’re a startup, non-profit, SME, or enterprise business, we’ll dissect your organisation's needs/challenges and ensure your project or campaign is built strong and set for success.
With vital structures established, your project's design begins to hatch. Moulting from its strategic framework, your product or experience begins to emerge from its wireframed shells. Extending its beautiful, Psychoactive® considered user interface, we encourage collaborative review of the work. With sturdy communication and regular updates, you’ll be able to monitor the creation of navigational and informational components, call to actions, illustrations, and other useful 2D and 3D assets.
Pinched and prodded, tried and tested, your project is carefully crafted by some of the world's most talented and detail oriented artists and designers. Animated with beautifully considered interactions, motion graphics, and special effects, your project begins to move and flow.
Approved design specimens are then developed into mobile responsive websites and web apps. From interactive corporate websites, product promotions, marketing machines, ecommerce extravaganzas, landing pages, and storytelling experiences, to React and WebGL integrations, our award winning Webflow design agency specialises in developing immersive web products and experiences.
Championed by ultra-fast hosting and meticulously fine tuned quality assurance testing, projects reach the end of their incubation period, fully mature and ready to thrive. Yet deployment is just another stage of Metamorphosis. Psychoactive’s support and update services will stimulate growth as we continue to improve and refine your digital presence.
In this embryonic stage of project development, discovery sessions inform brand, business, and content strategy. Brand identity, guidelines, collateral, and logo concepts sync with design, motion, and art direction as the look and feel is formulated. User journey maps, storyboards, concept art, and prototypes rapidly grow, fertilising the foundations of a strong user experience (UX).
Whether you’re a startup, non-profit, SME, or enterprise business, we’ll dissect your organisation's needs/challenges and ensure your project or campaign is built strong and set for success.
With vital structures established, your project's design begins to hatch. Moulting from its strategic framework, your product or experience begins to emerge from its wireframed shells. Extending its beautiful, Psychoactive® considered user interface, we encourage collaborative review of the work. With sturdy communication and regular updates, you’ll be able to monitor the creation of navigational and informational components, call to actions, illustrations, and other useful 2D and 3D assets.
Pinched and prodded, tried and tested, your project is carefully crafted by some of the world's most talented and detail oriented artists and designers. Animated with beautifully considered interactions, motion graphics, and special effects, your project begins to move and flow.
Approved design specimens are then developed into mobile responsive websites and web apps. From interactive corporate websites, product promotions, marketing machines, ecommerce extravaganzas, landing pages, and storytelling experiences, to React and WebGL integrations, our award winning Webflow design agency specialises in developing immersive web products and experiences.
Championed by ultra-fast hosting and meticulously fine tuned quality assurance testing, projects reach the end of their incubation period, fully mature and ready to thrive. Yet deployment is just another stage of Metamorphosis. Psychoactive’s support and update services will stimulate growth as we continue to improve and refine your digital presence.
Imagine your dream website. Vibrant, user-friendly, and exceeding expectations. Our award-winning design team brings that vision to life using Webflow. We don't just talk collaboration – we weave it into every step, from new builds to seamless migrations of existing sites. With us, you have a one-stop shop for all your Webflow needs.
We thrive on innovation, perpetually exploring the unknown to bring novel ideas to life. Our habitat is filled with all kinds of creative creatures, where we foster exploration and experimentation, ensuring our clients' projects are at the forefront of digital evolution.
Mastery is our pursuit of perfection. We delve deep into the anatomy of design and development, dissecting every element to achieve excellence. Our team’s expertise allows us to create environments where digital assets thrive and mature gracefully.
Clear and effective communication is the cornerstone of our ecosystem. We believe in humanising technology, making complex processes understandable, and nurturing strong relationships with our clients to ensure their visions are realised.
Passion drives us. Our fervour for design and innovation is the lifeblood of Psychoactive. We are dedicated to our craft, and this passion is reflected in the transformative experiences we create.
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Established in 2018, Psychoactive emerged from the innovative groundwork laid by Andrew Hillstead’s Master’s thesis, which delved into the potential of simulating psychedelic therapy. This pioneering research explored the integration of neurofeedback devices, mixed reality (AR/VR) hardware, and psychedelic-like digital audio-visual experiences, aiming to induce a mind-state that facilitates trauma release.
The insights and inspirations drawn from this academic exploration propelled Andrew to create Psychoactive Studios. Here, he leverages modern web technology to transcend traditional web boundaries, crafting immersive experiences that captivate and engage audiences.
Our ecosystem fosters a wide range of amphibious inhabitants. With Webflow brand strategists, designers, developers, and digital marketing experts, Psychoactive is home to some of New Zealand’s finest creative talent. We also collaborate with team members across Australia, Germany, the United States, and other parts of the world, creating a diverse and vibrant community.
At Psychoactive Studios, our design methodology is encapsulated in the UX Design Pyramid. Functional, Reliable, and Usable are the foundational levels expected from any agency. These are the must-haves, ensuring that the product works as intended. Convenient, Pleasurable, and Meaningful are the levels that only the best agencies can deliver. Achieving these requires true craftsmanship and experience. These elements are more subjective and focus on delivering an exceptional user experience.
The apex of our pyramid delivers a meaningful user experience, adding significant value. This involves:
A meaningful experience fosters a strong relationship between the product, the brand, and its users, leading to higher retention and brand loyalty. At Psychoactive, we ensure our products are not just functional and enjoyable but also significant in the users' lives.
Convenience focuses on making the user experience quick and easy. We ensure:
Convenience means users can complete tasks simply and efficiently, aligned with their mental models.
Reliability is about providing a predictable and accurate user experience. Psychoactive focuses on:
By prioritising reliability, we build trust in our products to perform consistently and effectively.
A delightful experience goes beyond functionality and usability. At Psychoactive, we create:
Creating a delightful experience helps form a positive emotional connection with users, increasing satisfaction and loyalty.
Usability ensures users can achieve their goals efficiently. Our designs are intuitive, minimising the learning curve. We emphasise:
A usable product from Psychoactive is straightforward, allowing users to achieve their objectives with minimal effort.
The foundation of our pyramid ensures that the product works as intended, meeting basic requirements for functionality and accessibility. At Psychoactive, we prioritize:
Our meticulous approach ensures a solid groundwork for more advanced UX elements.
The apex of our pyramid delivers a meaningful user experience, adding significant value. This involves:
A meaningful experience fosters a strong relationship between the product, the brand, and its users, leading to higher retention and brand loyalty. At Psychoactive, we ensure our products are not just functional and enjoyable but also significant in the users' lives.
A delightful experience goes beyond functionality and usability. At Psychoactive, we create:
Creating a delightful experience helps form a positive emotional connection with users, increasing satisfaction and loyalty.
Convenience focuses on making the user experience quick and easy. We ensure:
Convenience means users can complete tasks simply and efficiently, aligned with their mental models.
Usability ensures users can achieve their goals efficiently. Our designs are intuitive, minimising the learning curve. We emphasise:
A usable product from Psychoactive is straightforward, allowing users to achieve their objectives with minimal effort.
Reliability is about providing a predictable and accurate user experience. Psychoactive focuses on:
By prioritising reliability, we build trust in our products to perform consistently and effectively.
The foundation of our pyramid ensures that the product works as intended, meeting basic requirements for functionality and accessibility. At Psychoactive, we prioritize:
Our meticulous approach ensures a solid groundwork for more advanced UX elements.
Share your project idea with us!
Should the partnership vibe not align,
we’re glad to share some valuable insights.
