Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. Phenomenon Studio is the better choice for repeat-client rate proof, one senior team throughout. 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.
Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2019 | 2016 |
| HQ | Europe (entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland) | London, UK |
| Team size | 70+ | Not published |
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 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 | 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, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Webflow, React | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF: overview
Phenomenon Studio
A repeat-engagement rate is one of the more honest signals a design firm can offer, because it reflects what happened after the invoice was paid, not before. At Phenomenon Studio, founded in 2019, roughly half of clients return for a second project — a result the firm attributes to keeping the same senior team across strategy, design, development, and post-launch support, rather than handing a project between separate vendors partway through. That team numbers 70+ specialists based in Europe, with legal entities in the USA, Estonia, and Switzerland, working across SaaS, fintech, healthcare, and EdTech. The firm has shipped 120+ products for clients that have collectively raised over $500M, backed by a 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance monitored by Compliancy Group, and Nielsen Norman Group UX certification.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Capability | Phenomenon Studio | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Framework / platform | Phenomenon Studio | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Criterion | Phenomenon Studio | 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Dimension | Phenomenon Studio | Projects by IF |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | A company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth, A SaaS platform needing one senior team from strategy through launch | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF: pros and cons
| Phenomenon Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Roughly half of clients return for a second engagement, an honest post-project signal |
| + | One senior team spans strategy through post-launch, removing the hand-off risk of switching vendors mid-project |
| + | 5.0 Clutch rating with Top 1000 Company 2025 and Top Design Company USA 2026 recognition |
| + | HIPAA compliance independently verified and monitored by Compliancy Group |
| + | Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification and four-tier Webflow Experts partner status |
| + | 120+ shipped products behind a combined $500M+ in client fundraising |
| - | The discovery-first process front-loads time before visible design work begins |
| - | No product or growth marketing services — a separate firm is needed for post-launch growth work |
| - | No published rate card; pricing requires a discovery call |
| 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 Phenomenon Studio?
A typical fit: a company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth.
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. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, EdTech.
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: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Phenomenon Studio |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Phenomenon Studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Phenomenon Studio (Not published) vs Projects by IF (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Phenomenon Studio |
| 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
| Use case | Phenomenon Studio fit | Projects by IF fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| A company evaluating design firms by repeat-client rate, not just portfolio breadth | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| A SaaS platform needing one senior team from strategy through launch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. 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.
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
Phenomenon Studio vs Projects by IF FAQ
Is Phenomenon Studio better than Projects by IF?
Phenomenon Studio (4.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Phenomenon Studio's strongest advantage: roughly half of clients return for a second engagement, an honest post-project signal. 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 Phenomenon Studio and Projects by IF differ in pricing?
Phenomenon Studio uses project-based, full-cycle engagements (fixed scope or retainer — not published; contact for quote) 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: Phenomenon Studio or Projects by IF?
Phenomenon Studio 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 Phenomenon Studio and Projects by IF?
Phenomenon Studio's primary differentiator is: 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. 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 (70+ vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published 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.