MetaLab vs Projects by IF: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
MetaLab (4.1/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. MetaLab is the better choice for funded SaaS/fintech, full-stack research-to-systems. Projects by IF is the stronger option for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
MetaLab vs Projects by IF: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | MetaLab | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2016 |
| HQ | Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first) | London, UK |
| Team size | 160+ | Not published |
| Rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems | 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 | Fixed project, dedicated team | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
MetaLab vs Projects by IF: overview
MetaLab
Andrew Wilkinson founded MetaLab in 2006; since January 2017 it has operated as a subsidiary of his holding company Tiny, worth disclosing since the firm is no longer independently owned. From Victoria, British Columbia, a remote-first team of 160+ people across 17 countries has designed products for Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. Engagements run full-stack — research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems handled by one team rather than split across vendors.
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: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Capability | MetaLab | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Framework / platform | MetaLab | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Criterion | MetaLab | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Dimension | MetaLab | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | SaaS product design from research through design system, Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
MetaLab vs Projects by IF: pros and cons
| MetaLab | |
|---|---|
| + | Portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — exceptional for a 160-person firm |
| + | Remote-first across 17 countries enables round-the-clock delivery coverage |
| + | Full-stack engagement model spans research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems in one team |
| + | Nearly two decades under the same founding brand |
| - | Became a Tiny subsidiary in 2017 — worth disclosing even though the founding team and brand remain |
| - | Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) is out of reach for early-stage startups |
| - | High-profile client roster can mean longer lead times for new engagements |
| 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 MetaLab?
A typical fit: SaaS product design from research through design system.
A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, 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: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | MetaLab |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | MetaLab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: MetaLab ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) vs Projects by IF (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | MetaLab |
| 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: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
| Use case | MetaLab fit | Projects by IF fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Strong | Limited | MetaLab |
| 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: MetaLab vs Projects by IF
MetaLab (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems.
Projects by IF (4.0/5) is worth a look if you need trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform. If your situation matches that, Projects by IF is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
MetaLab vs Projects by IF FAQ
Is MetaLab better than Projects by IF?
MetaLab (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. MetaLab's strongest advantage: portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — exceptional for a 160-person firm. 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 MetaLab and Projects by IF differ in pricing?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $150K+ (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: MetaLab or Projects by IF?
MetaLab 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 MetaLab and Projects by IF?
MetaLab's primary differentiator is: a Slack/Uber/Coinbase/Midjourney-caliber portfolio built by a 160-person firm, delivered full-stack from research through design systems. 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 (160+ vs Not published), minimum engagement ($150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Enterprise transformation, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.