UX studio
No interface work begins until the research phase is closed — a Budapest rule.
Founded 2013 | Budapest, Hungary | 60–71 employees
product-designux-researchweb-design
What is UX studio?
David Pasztor founded UX studio in Budapest, Hungary in 2013; the team has since grown to 60–71 people depending on source. The entire firm runs on research coming first, applied specifically to B2B SaaS products complex enough that jumping straight into interface design would be a mistake — a methodology genuinely comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach.
UX studio works primarily with clients in SaaS / B2B software sectors. Its primary differentiator is: A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products.
UX studio tech stack and services
FigmaDovetailMazeMiro
| Service area |
|---|
| Product Design |
| UX Research |
| Web Design |
UX studio pricing
Short answer: UX studio uses a fixed project, dedicated team pricing approach. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable).
| Engagement model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed project | From $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) | Well-defined scope |
| Dedicated team | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
UX studio does not publish a public rate card. Contact them directly via their website to get project-specific pricing.
UX studio pros and cons
| Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|
| +A genuine research-first specialty, evidenced by the firm's own published case studies, not just marketing copy | -Exclusive B2B SaaS focus means less fit for consumer, healthcare, or fintech-specific projects |
| +Over a decade of continuous operation (since 2013) under its founding team | -The research-first approach can extend project timelines for clients wanting to move straight to UI |
| +Focused specifically on B2B SaaS, giving real depth in untangling complex product workflows | -$20K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) is mid-tier, not the cheapest option here |
| +60–71 person team is large enough for multi-workstream engagements while staying boutique in culture |
UX studio vs alternatives
How UX studio compares to the other top Product Design firms.
| Company | Best for | Key difference | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenomenon Studio | Repeat-client rate proof, one senior team throughout. | Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support | 4.8 | Full comparison |
| IDEO | Enterprises, multi-year, multi-business-unit transformation. | The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Frog | Enterprises needing digital plus physical/hardware design. | Still designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) alongside software, inside Capgemini Invent's enterprise consulting scale | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| R/GA | Large brands, product design plus brand strategy. | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| Accenture Song | Regulated enterprises, design within tech transformation. | 36 studios and 2,000+ specialists operating inside Accenture — the largest global footprint and compliance coverage in this list | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Work & Co | Premium brands, design plus production-grade engineering. | A client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) that outpaces its ~425-person headcount, delivered through an engineering-heavy design-and-build model | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Huge Inc | Large brands, big firm mid-ownership-transition. | One of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors | 3.6 | Full comparison |
| MetaLab | Funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack research-to-systems. | A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| SPCSHP | Consumer brands, design plus creative storytelling. | A quarter-century of creative digital work (JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung, BMW) under a 2024 rebrand from Big Spaceship to SPCSHP, now backed by MSQ | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| SYPartners | Large orgs, design within culture/strategy transformation. | A transformation consultancy — not a pure product-design shop — with a client list (Obama Foundation, Starbucks, IBM, Airbnb) most boutiques on this list can't approach | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Ramotion | Startups/mid-market, brand identity plus product design. | Combines brand identity work with UX/UI and app development for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Projects by IF | Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. | A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Fireart Studio | Startups/mid-market, design plus full development. | 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients backed by an independently-verified 'Leading UX Design Team' Clutch recognition | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Qubstudio | Fintech, logistics, healthcare — MVP to enterprise redesign. | Currently Clutch's #1-ranked UX/UI firm worldwide for 2026, with Red Dot Design Award recognition layered on top | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Excited | SaaS/fintech teams, top-ranked specialist, accessible rates. | A sustained Top 5 global UX firm ranking on Clutch, with about 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Gapsy Studio | Fintech, SaaS, healthcare — perfect-rated boutique. | A perfect 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards, from a firm that doesn't publish its own headcount | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| Goji Labs | Startups, entrepreneurs, nonprofits — strategy-led, accessible. | A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly serves nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs, not only funded startups | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Eleken | SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer. | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| UXDA | Banks/fintech, exclusively financial-services UX. | The only firm in this list exclusively focused on financial services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Onething Design | Multi-vertical companies, one firm across five industries. | Covers five distinct industries — BFSI, consumer, enterprise, healthcare, automotive — from one team with both US and India delivery presence | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Halo Lab | E-commerce/web-app teams, #1 Dribbble-ranked firm. | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Momentum Design Lab | Clients wanting a long-tenured Silicon Valley firm. | Nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation, one of the oldest firms in this list by founding date | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Spaceberry Studio | Budget-conscious SaaS/AI/mobile teams, low-commitment subscription. | One of the most accessible entry points in this list via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| The Gradient | Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster. | A deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale | 4.2 | Full comparison |
UX studio FAQ
What is UX studio?
No interface work begins until the research phase is closed — a Budapest rule.
How much does UX studio charge?
UX studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). A discovery call is required to get project-specific quotes.
What tech stack does UX studio use?
UX studio works with Figma, Dovetail, Maze, Miro. Primary industries served include SaaS / B2B software.
Is UX studio right for enterprise?
B2B SaaS, research-first before UI. 60–71 team size. Key consideration: Exclusive B2B SaaS focus means less fit for consumer, healthcare, or fintech-specific projects.
What are the best UX studio alternatives?
The best alternatives to UX studio depend on your use case. Top options are:
- Phenomenon Studio: roughly half of clients return for a second engagement — a repeat-business rate the firm attributes to keeping one senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support
- IDEO: the firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide
- Frog: still designs physical hardware (iot, automotive, medical devices) alongside software, inside capgemini invent's enterprise consulting scale
Compare UX studio with other Product Design firms
UX studio vs Phenomenon Studio UX studio vs IDEO UX studio vs Frog UX studio vs R/GA UX studio vs Accenture Song UX studio vs Work & Co UX studio vs Huge Inc UX studio vs MetaLab UX studio vs SPCSHP UX studio vs SYPartners UX studio vs Ramotion UX studio vs Projects by IF UX studio vs Fireart Studio UX studio vs Qubstudio UX studio vs Excited UX studio vs Gapsy Studio UX studio vs Goji Labs UX studio vs Eleken UX studio vs UXDA UX studio vs Onething Design UX studio vs Halo Lab UX studio vs Momentum Design Lab UX studio vs Spaceberry Studio UX studio vs The Gradient
Verify all details directly with UX studio before making a decision.