IDEO vs Projects by IF: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Projects by IF (4.0/5) edges ahead of IDEO (3.9/5) overall. Projects by IF is the better choice for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. IDEO is the stronger option for Enterprises, multi-year, multi-business-unit transformation. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
IDEO vs Projects by IF: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | IDEO | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2016 |
| HQ | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA | London, UK |
| Team size | 500–1,000 | Not published |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide | 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, enterprise engagements (not published) | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
IDEO vs Projects by IF: overview
IDEO
Ask ten enterprise design leaders where "human-centered design" entered their vocabulary and IDEO's 1991 formation — merging David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design — comes up more than any other answer. The firm still runs close to two dozen studios out of its San Francisco Bay Area base, with a case-study list that includes the original Apple Mouse alongside Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. Industry roundups put typical engagement minimums near $300K (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) — a figure that puts IDEO firmly in enterprise-only territory.
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: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Capability | IDEO | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Framework / platform | IDEO | 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: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Criterion | IDEO | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Dimension | IDEO | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy, Large health system patient experience redesign | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
IDEO vs Projects by IF: pros and cons
| IDEO | |
|---|---|
| + | The firm most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline |
| + | Roughly 24 studios worldwide support genuine multi-region delivery |
| + | Landmark case studies (the original Apple Mouse, P&G, PepsiCo) span decades and industries |
| + | Strategy and organizational-transformation capability extends well past interface design |
| - | A $300K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) rules out startups and most mid-market budgets |
| - | Consultancy-scale process can move slower than a boutique firm |
| - | Broad enterprise-consulting positioning trades away the depth boutiques bring to one specific niche |
| 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 IDEO?
A typical fit: multi-business-unit design transformation strategy.
The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide. Minimum engagement starts at $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | IDEO |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | IDEO |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: IDEO ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) vs Projects by IF (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Projects by IF
| Use case | IDEO fit | Projects by IF fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Large health system patient experience redesign | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO 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.
IDEO (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need large health system patient experience redesign. If your situation matches that, IDEO is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Projects by IF FAQ
Is IDEO better than Projects by IF?
Projects by IF (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO's strongest advantage: the firm most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline. 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 IDEO and Projects by IF differ in pricing?
IDEO uses project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). 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: IDEO or Projects by IF?
IDEO 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 IDEO and Projects by IF?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide. 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 (500–1,000 vs Not published), minimum engagement ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) 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.