Projects by IF vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.4/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for E-commerce/web-app teams, #1 Dribbble-ranked firm. 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.
Projects by IF vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2014 |
| HQ | London, UK | Multiple offices across 3 time zones (Ukraine-rooted) |
| Team size | Not published | 130+ |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A design practice built specifically around trust, regulation, and policy work for technology-enabled organizations, with clients spanning Google to the UK Government | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Projects by IF vs Halo Lab: overview
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.
Halo Lab
Halo Lab doesn't publish an exact founding date — the firm states "12 years" of experience as of 2026, implying a start around 2014. What is verifiable: 130+ people across multiple offices in three time zones, Ukraine-rooted, holding a 4.9 Clutch rating, 70+ design awards, and the current #1 spot in Dribbble's global team rankings — a live signal that has to be defended continuously, not a badge earned once.
Services and capabilities: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Projects by IF | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Projects by IF | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Projects by IF | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Projects by IF vs Halo Lab: pros and cons
| 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 |
| Halo Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal |
| + | 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating make it one of the most consistently recognized firms here |
| + | 130+ person team spans multiple offices and three time zones, supporting larger programs |
| + | Broad service coverage from complex web apps through marketing sites, e-commerce, and mobile |
| - | Exact founding year isn't confirmed — the '12 years as of 2026' claim implies ~2014 but isn't independently verified |
| - | Ukraine-rooted origins carry the same regional-continuity considerations as other firms in this list |
| - | Its broad service range trades some singular specialization against fintech- or research-focused boutiques |
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.
Who should choose Halo Lab?
A typical fit: e-commerce platform redesign.
Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Projects by IF |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Halo Lab |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Projects by IF (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| 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: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
| Use case | Projects by IF fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public-sector or government digital service design | Strong | Limited | Projects by IF |
| Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Strong | Limited | Projects by IF |
| E-commerce platform redesign | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Marketing site plus product design bundle | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Projects by IF vs Halo Lab
Halo Lab (4.4/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating.
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
Projects by IF vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Projects by IF better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.4/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Projects by IF's strongest advantage: purpose-built around trust and regulation-aware design, a genuine specialty few boutiques on this list offer. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal.
How do Projects by IF and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Halo Lab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Projects by IF or Halo Lab?
Halo Lab 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 Projects by IF and Halo Lab?
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. Halo Lab's primary differentiator is: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 130+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.