Origin Interactive

MIKE LEWIS

Founder / Experience Director

After spending 10 years in the UK, working at one of Europe's leading digital media agencies, Mike brought his insight, passion and experience home to start Origin Interactive. Through Mike’s career as a designer he’s accumulated practical cross-industry experience working on brands like:- Virgin Atlantic, Virgin mobile, HMV, BP, Microsoft, DSTV, SKY, Softline Pastel, Nedbank to name a few.

Mike is driven by his commitment to advancing the User Experience Design (UXD) field in South Africa and is passionate about strengthening the relationship between clients and their users.

More so, about developing Origin into a world class brand known for delivering exceptional User Experience (UX) solutions. Focused on creating the ‘ideal’ environment to work in, he pushes the team to the limits of what can be ‘realistically’ achieved, and then some..! Mike loves working with like-minded people who increasingly push the boundaries of technology.

Since Mike’s return to SA he‘s developed a new found passion, to solve social problems through creative-thinking and technology. Through understanding the local problems people are faced with, we’re able to influence, improve and enrich locally people’s lives. ‘We can use our skills to impact the world around us’

Nothing excites Mike more than angry music, board sports, beer and technology! Hang on, and chocolate brownies!!

MAYA MONIODIS

Key Account / Project Manager

Maya joined Origin Interactive as our key account / project manager but she is also one of our keen brand custodians making sure the Origin brand is getting the tlc it deserves.

Maya has a strong Marketing and user experience background with over 9 years or marketing planning and project management experience in the Luxury goods, FMCG and Industrial sectors in South Africa, and 3 years of marketing strategy, user experience and account management experience in two of the top European digital media agencies in London, UK where she worked with various established brands including Deutsche Bank, Debenhams, BAT, Sony, and Reed Exhibitions.

Maya is passionate about brands and driven by making and keeping our clients happy because Happy clients = Happy world

She is also the favouritest mommy in the whole wide world to Alexander, Stefano and Stella, who never fail to tell her that she looks "so weird" when she forgets to put make-up on!

WYNAND KOK

UX / Front End Developer

Wynand joined the Origin team as a junior designer, but quickly made the transition to the seemingly - sometimes conclusively - dark arts of ux/front-end development. Since then, he's thrived off the challenges of building digital interfaces that do justice to all the hard work that goes into overcoming user-experience obstacles, and creating great digital experiences.

Wynand often needs to remind himself that he is currently enrolled in the MA course in Information Design at the University of Pretoria. Except when it comes handy. Like taking study leave. Or impressing girls.

DYLAN MEADON

Junior UX Designer

Dylan is a bright and talented member of our UXD team and is driven by furthering his skills, knowledge and experience in the fascinating world of UX design. He has a keen interest, advanced knowledge and experience in social media and when he is not designing amazing digital solutions he is kindly looking after our Origin online presence.

Not only does Dylan love keeping up to date with current trends, but seeks to discover future trends too. In his spare time he enjoys playing soccer, supporting local bands, and staying healthy by sitting at home watching TV series. Dylan would one day love to travel the world and not have to worry about work, but fortunately for you that's not happening any time soon!

JOELLE DRIVER/BATAILLE

Art Director / UXD Consultant

Joelle not only makes things pretty but ensures they also work wonderfully. Having spent 5 years in the UK and working for a top European agency, Joelle decided to pack her bags and fly home to escape the eternal winter that is London.

Joelle is most comfortable solving UX and Design problems and strives to keep her clients and their customers smiling. Her aim is to advance the User Experience Design field in South Africa through the great work done at Origin interactive, and to one day discover how to operate her rather unusable microwave properly.

GERMARI STEENKAMP

UX Designer

Germari found designing 'the Origin way' a lasting and enjoyable challenge. She excels in pixel-perfect design and fleshing out great digital experiences.

She especially enjoys the uniqueness of every project and finding suitable design solutions for each client. Germari has a degree in BA Communications (Graphic Design) from the North-West University. In her spare time she likes to paint or teach her cat tricks, but doesn't paint her cat doing tricks since that would be 'sad'.

JACQUELINE FOUCHÉ

UX Consultant

Jacqueline’s been interested in functional design for as long as she remembers. With her love for the visual arts and a certain pedantic streak, it’s no wonder she studied multimedia, planning digital projects and ended up in user experience design.

Jacqueline has over 6 years experience in planning large technically-challenging projects and she’s always championed the user. Her work evolved with the User Experience Design movement – in her opinion the only logical approach to create successful digital products. Her areas of specialisation are usability and information architecture - she loves planning large, user-friendly information spaces.

She has a lot of experience working with start-up companies in the travel industry, but also working for the likes of Flora, L’Oreal, PayPal and Bird’s Eye in the years she lived and worked in the UK.

Her favourite hobby is macro photography. She also makes jewellery, claiming that it helps her with her work, but it might just be because she likes playing with her jewellery torch.

NQOBILE TSHABALALA

Studio Manager

Nqobile Tshabalala, joined the Origin as our Studio manager / Office assistant. She has a Business Management degree from the University Of Zululand and 5 years experience at one of SA's biggest advertising agencies (TBWA/Hunt/Lascaris) where she worked as a junior strategic/insight planner and managed (among others) the Tiger Brands account.

She also has extensive Event Management experience and got to work on the FIFA World Cup 2010 draw with the SA Department of Arts and Culture.

Nqobile is passionate about brands and people's interactions and relationships with them on a day-to-day basis. She is also intrigued and fascinated by the world of digital and how it has transformed our lives. Driven by her quest to expand her interactive media knowledge and experience she saw Origin interactive as the perfect platform for her digital journey.

Nqobile, a.k.a. N.Q., was born and raised in Durban and she is very proud to be from the Kingdom of Zululand. In her spare time she likes to watch Japanese Anime, as she finds it fascinating and she reckons it's one way to learn a new language.