Media: Production, Design & Development.
Inspired by design - creative simplicity

HISTORY 

Kimia was launched in 2000 by Neil Ulyate as primarily a web development and graphic design company. In 2007 we started development of our own CMS system "XEO" and added our own hosting solution for our customers. By 2010 we had broadened our scope of services, catering for Tablet and Smart Phone application design and development including digital Media services. In 2012 we added Smart TV application development to our list of services as well.

In the last 13 years Kimia has been responsible for more than 90 corporate brands, 370 website development projects, numerous mobile device applications and many graphic design projects in digital and print including media production of several digital magazines and management of a news channel and media applications.

"In an ever-changing design and development environment, we maintain the same principles of design and development that has made our company so successful".

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

 

  • In 2010, Kimia conceptualised, designed and developed South Africa's first digital html web based live streaming magazine application for iPad and Galaxy tablets "onMag".
  • In 2012, Kimia conceptualised, design and developed in partnership with Samsung and onMag the world's first magazine application for a "Smart TV", called "onTV".

THE COMPANY NAME 

"Kimia" was chosen as the company name based on the history and relevance of the word. In its origins Kimia is a Persian word for alchemy (al-kimia), an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals into gold and in ancient Persian poetry Kimia means "rare" or "unique". This word then made its way to Africa and was used in Swahili (influenced by Arabic) to describe a circular casting net used to catch rare and unique tropical fish. We felt that this word summed up our slogan and encompassed our vision:

"Turning ordinary ideas into refined designs, because everything starts with an idea but requires a vision to make it a reality".
Neil Ulyate (Managing & Creative Director)
Neil Ulyate (Managing & Creative Director)

Founder 

In late 80's, Neil Ulyate began his career as a detail designer in the architectural and interior design industries. By the early 90's he was working in the illumination and home automation industry as a designer and was elected, an "Affiliate Member of the Institute of Illumination Engineers of South Africa".

By the middle of the 90's Neil was invited the give a series of lectures at BHC school of design on the integration of home automation into the design of a modern home.

Towards the latter part of the 90's Neil found his calling getting involved with graphic and web design.

After developing a search engine directory he won a televised amateur web design competition for his development and design of that directory.
This lead to creation of Kimia.