Antipode Studio was founded to help purposeful organisations bridge the gap between intent and impact.

Many of the teams shaping our social, environmental, and civic landscapes are immersed in vital, nuanced work. Our purpose is to bring strategic focus and creative clarity to that effort. We act as a collaborative partner, helping leaders define their narrative, build distinctive brand identities, and translate complex ideas into clear, compelling public engagement.

Organisations operating across public, civic, and social spheres are regularly tasked with navigating institutional transitions, translating dense research, and addressing emergent challenges. We partner with leaders, researchers, and public institutions to help make sense of these operating landscapes – bridging internal ambition and external delivery. Our purpose is to ensure vital work is backed by coherent strategy, resilient architectures, and compelling design.

We view design as an upstream problem-solving discipline and a crafted medium. We work across three interrelated practice areas:

  • Strategic design: Framing challenges, mapping stakeholder and service pathways, and structuring initiatives from conceptual intent into actionable roadmaps.

  • Brand and narrative systems: Defining core positioning, purpose-led messaging frameworks, and versatile visual systems that build long-term organisational equity.

  • Public engagement and communications: Turning deep research and community insights into clear, accessible touchpoints.

Feel free to get in touch.


Current and previous clients:
Auckland Regional Transport Authority / Australian Centre for Culture Environment and Space / Brain Research NZ / Centre for Brain Research / Connected Media Trust / Cycling Advocates Network / Department of Conservation / Diabetes Projects Trust / Global Climate Change Week / Gravida: Centre for Growth and Development / Greenpeace NZ / Fisher Gallery / High-Value Nutrition (National Science Challenge) / Koi Tu: Centre for Informed Futures / Liggins Institute / MindBody Trust / Ministry of Education / Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment / New Zealand Geographical Society / North Shore City Council / NZ Association of Psychotherapists / NZ Peace Foundation / Papakura District Council / Papakura Museum / PhotoForum NZ / Screen Industry Guild Aotearoa NZ / South Pacific Whale Research Consortium / Te Punaha Matatini / Touch Compass Dance Trust / University of Auckland / Waitemata District Health Board / Youthline NZ

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Justin Westgate PhD, director

Justin is a strategic design lead, creative director, and transdisciplinary researcher with over 25 years of international experience across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

His practice sits at the intersection of creative strategy, social innovation, and systems inquiry. Justin has led design and communications initiatives for local government, civic bodies, research entities, NGOs, and cultural institutions—including serving as Design Manager for the UK-based international development agency Christian Aid. Across Australia and New Zealand, he has contributed to collaborative initiatives including Social Design Sydney, Intersect NZ, and Global Climate Change Week, alongside lecturing and examining across university design programmes.

Justin holds a PhD in Human Geography alongside advanced degrees in design and sociology, combining analytical depth with hands-on creative craft to help mission-led organisations navigate complex challenges and communicate with purpose.