Huge Inc vs Projects by IF: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Projects by IF (4.0/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.6/5) overall. Projects by IF is the better choice for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large brands, big firm mid-ownership-transition. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs Projects by IF: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | London, UK |
| Team size | ~1,240 | Not published |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors | 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 | Project-based, retainer | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
Huge Inc vs Projects by IF: overview
Huge Inc
David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro founded Huge in Brooklyn in 1999. Most of its history ran inside Interpublic Group, until AEA Investors bought the firm in December 2024 and merged it with Hero Digital; a Manhattan relocation followed in October 2025. Post-merger, the combined firm runs around 1,240 people, with engagement sizes that follow large-agency norms rather than a published rate card.
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: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Capability | Huge Inc | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Dimension | Huge Inc | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs Projects by IF: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies |
| + | Post-merger headcount (~1,240) supports significant delivery capacity |
| + | Covers brand, product, and web design/development under one roof |
| + | Recent Hero Digital merger brings additional capabilities into the brand |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent ownership change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned firm |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, complicating budget planning for smaller teams |
| 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 Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
One of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
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: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs Projects by IF (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Projects by IF |
| 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: Huge Inc vs Projects by IF
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | Projects by IF fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| 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: Huge Inc 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.
Huge Inc (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs Projects by IF FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than Projects by IF?
Projects by IF (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies. 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 Huge Inc and Projects by IF differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, 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: Huge Inc or Projects by IF?
Huge Inc 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 Huge Inc and Projects by IF?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the largest, longest-running digital firms in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors. 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 (~1,240 vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Enterprise transformation, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.