Accenture Song vs Projects by IF: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Projects by IF (4.0/5) edges ahead of Accenture Song (3.9/5) overall. Projects by IF is the better choice for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. Accenture Song is the stronger option for regulated enterprises, design within tech transformation. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Accenture Song vs Projects by IF: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Accenture Song | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2016 |
| HQ | London, UK (Fjord origin; now part of Accenture) | London, UK |
| Team size | 2,000+ | Not published |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 36 studios and 2,000+ specialists operating inside Accenture — the largest global footprint and compliance coverage in this list | A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Financial services / fintech, Automotive & mobility | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
Accenture Song vs Projects by IF: overview
Accenture Song
Fjord launched independently in London in 2001, sold to Accenture in 2013, and now operates under the Accenture Song banner (formerly Accenture Interactive) with 2,000+ design and innovation specialists across 36 studios and named clients like HSBC, Vodafone, and BMW. Worth understanding before comparing this firm to an independent one: design here is one workstream inside a much larger enterprise transformation engagement, not a standalone service.
Projects by IF
Sarah Gold founded Projects by IF in London in 2016, building a strategic design practice around a specific problem: helping technology-enabled organizations design for trust at scale. That focus — spanning product and experience design, digital strategy, regulation and policy work, and technology architecture — has produced client relationships with Google, the UK Government, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, an unusual combination of big tech and public-sector work for a studio this size.
Services and capabilities: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Capability | Accenture Song | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Framework / platform | Accenture Song | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Criterion | Accenture Song | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Dimension | Accenture Song | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Financial services / fintech, Automotive & mobility | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Bank or telecom digital transformation with an embedded design workstream, Enterprise-wide design system rollout across business units | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Accenture Song vs Projects by IF: pros and cons
| Accenture Song | |
|---|---|
| + | 36 studios and 2,000+ specialists form the largest global footprint of any firm in this list |
| + | Deep regulated-industry client relationships (HSBC, Vodafone, BMW) |
| + | Backed by Accenture's broader technology, data, and compliance consulting practice |
| + | Two decades of interaction-design heritage carried over from Fjord |
| - | Design work is delivered inside a larger consultancy engagement, not as an independent boutique service |
| - | Pricing and scale are less accessible to startups or small product teams |
| - | Shares a parent company with Work & Co elsewhere in this list, worth noting when comparing the two |
| Projects by IF | |
|---|---|
| + | Purpose-built around trust and regulation-aware design, a genuine specialty few boutiques on this list offer |
| + | Client list combines big tech (Google) with public-sector work (UK Government), demonstrating range within its niche |
| + | Founder-led since 2016 under CEO Sarah Gold, giving a consistent point of view across engagements |
| + | Services span product design through policy and regulatory design, useful for regulated or public-facing products |
| - | Team size isn't published in available sources, making capacity planning harder for large programs |
| - | Trust-and-policy specialization is a narrower fit for clients wanting pure visual or brand design |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
Who should choose Accenture Song?
A typical fit: bank or telecom digital transformation with an embedded design workstream.
36 studios and 2,000+ specialists operating inside Accenture — the largest global footprint and compliance coverage in this list. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Financial services / fintech, Automotive & mobility.
Who should choose Projects by IF?
A typical fit: public-sector or government digital service design.
A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Accenture Song |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Accenture Song |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Accenture Song (Not published) vs Projects by IF (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Accenture Song |
| You need staff augmentation or team extension | Neither; consider alternatives that offer staff aug |
| You need consulting before committing to a build | Both may offer discovery engagements |
Use case fit: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
| Use case | Accenture Song fit | Projects by IF fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank or telecom digital transformation with an embedded design workstream | Strong | Limited | Accenture Song |
| Enterprise-wide design system rollout across business units | Strong | Limited | Accenture Song |
| Public-sector or government digital service design | Limited | Strong | Projects by IF |
| Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Limited | Strong | Projects by IF |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Accenture Song vs Projects by IF
Projects by IF (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government.
Accenture Song (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise-wide design system rollout across business units. If your situation matches that, Accenture Song is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Accenture Song vs Projects by IF FAQ
Is Accenture Song better than Projects by IF?
Projects by IF (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Accenture Song's strongest advantage: 36 studios and 2,000+ specialists form the largest global footprint of any firm in this list. Projects by IF's strongest advantage: purpose-built around trust and regulation-aware design, a genuine specialty few boutiques on this list offer.
How do Accenture Song and Projects by IF differ in pricing?
Accenture Song uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Accenture Song or Projects by IF?
Accenture Song is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each firm before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Accenture Song and Projects by IF?
Accenture Song's primary differentiator is: 36 studios and 2,000+ specialists operating inside Accenture — the largest global footprint and compliance coverage in this list. Projects by IF's primary differentiator is: a design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government. They also differ in team size (2,000+ vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Financial services / fintech vs Enterprise transformation, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.