Antipode is a Melbourne research-to-design studio. It helps organisations doing social, environmental and civic work explain what they do, connect with the people, and decide where to go next.
Antipode works with public agencies, NGOs, universities and research institutes. Their work is rarely simple. It might be research that needs to reach people outside academia, an organisation going through change, a service that needs rethinking, or a public issue like climate that’s hard to talk about well. The studio’s role is to help make sense of it and turn it into something clear, useful and well made.
As founder, I lead every project myself. Each one starts with understanding: talking to the people involved, looking at the evidence, and working out what the real problem is. From there I design everything from strategy and identity to the reports, campaigns and digital tools people actually use. You work directly with me throughout, and I bring in trusted specialists when a project needs them.
What the studio does:
Research and co-design : Audience and stakeholder research, Workshops and facilitation, Co-design and participatory methods, Evidence synthesis
Strategy and narrative : Strategy and positioning, Brand story and messaging, Creative development, Speculative design
Design and communication: Brand identity and design systems, Research communication, Reports and publications, Information design and data visualisation, Campaigns, Websites and digital content, Writing and editing, Photography and media.
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
Justin Westgate PhD, director
Justin is a designer, strategist and researcher with more than 25 years’ experience across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
He has led design and communications for NGOs, local government, research organisations and cultural institutions. That includes serving as Design Manager at the international development agency Christian Aid in the UK, Campaigns and Communications Officer at the National Tertiary Education Union, Australian, and as a climate action specialist at Auckland Council.
Alongside this, Justin has held research and teaching roles at Swinburne University, AUT and the University of Auckland, where he co-led a Marsden-funded project on climate governance and AI futures. He has also been a Visiting Research Fellow at Goldsmiths, University of London. His research combines social inquiry with creative methods such as co-design, speculative design and futures thinking.
Justin holds a PhD in human geography and postgraduate degrees in design and sociology. He is equally at home with research teams and policy makers as with designers, which is what lets him turn complex knowledge into work people understand and act on.