Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Projects by IF (4.0/5) edges ahead of Momentum Design Lab (3.9/5) overall. Projects by IF is the better choice for Tech/public-sector, trust- and policy-aware design. Momentum Design Lab is the stronger option for clients wanting a long-tenured Silicon Valley firm. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Momentum Design Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2002 |
| HQ | London, UK | Palo Alto, CA, USA |
| Team size | Not published | Not confirmed in available sources |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.9 / 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 | Nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation, one of the oldest firms in this list by founding date |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Enterprise transformation |
Projects by IF vs Momentum Design 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.
Momentum Design Lab
Momentum Design Lab has run out of Palo Alto, California since 2002, making it one of the oldest boutiques in this comparison by a wide margin — over a decade older than most of the Ukraine-founded firms elsewhere in the list. Team size isn't confirmed in available sources, and the firm doesn't lean on award-cycle marketing the way some newer boutiques do. What it offers instead is tenure: nearly a quarter-century as a UX/UI and product design specialist, based in the middle of the Silicon Valley ecosystem it serves.
Services and capabilities: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
| Capability | Projects by IF | Momentum Design Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
| Framework / platform | Projects by IF | Momentum Design Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | 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: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
| Criterion | Projects by IF | Momentum Design Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
| Dimension | Projects by IF | Momentum Design Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Long-term product design partnership with a Silicon Valley-based firm, SaaS product redesign requiring an experienced, tenured team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Projects by IF vs Momentum Design 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 |
| Momentum Design Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly 24 years in continuous operation since 2002, longer than most firms in this list |
| + | Palo Alto base gives direct proximity to the Silicon Valley startup and enterprise ecosystem |
| + | Long tenure implies a substantial (if not fully public) portfolio of production case studies |
| + | Positioned specifically as a product design specialist rather than a generalist agency |
| - | Team size is not confirmed in any available source, making capacity planning difficult without a direct conversation |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published |
| - | Less visible in recent industry award/ranking cycles than some newer, more marketing-active firms in this list |
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 Momentum Design Lab?
A typical fit: long-term product design partnership with a Silicon Valley-based firm.
Nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation, one of the oldest firms in this list by founding date. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Enterprise transformation.
Decision matrix: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design 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 | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Projects by IF (Not published) vs Momentum Design Lab (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: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
| Use case | Projects by IF fit | Momentum Design 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 |
| Long-term product design partnership with a Silicon Valley-based firm | Limited | Strong | Momentum Design Lab |
| SaaS product redesign requiring an experienced, tenured team | Limited | Strong | Momentum Design Lab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab
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.
Momentum Design Lab (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need SaaS product redesign requiring an experienced, tenured team. If your situation matches that, Momentum Design Lab is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Projects by IF vs Momentum Design Lab FAQ
Is Projects by IF better than Momentum Design Lab?
Projects by IF (4.0/5) 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. Momentum Design Lab's strongest advantage: nearly 24 years in continuous operation since 2002, longer than most firms in this list.
How do Projects by IF and Momentum Design Lab differ in pricing?
Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Momentum Design Lab uses fixed project 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: Projects by IF or Momentum Design Lab?
Projects by IF 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 Momentum Design 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. Momentum Design Lab's primary differentiator is: nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation, one of the oldest firms in this list by founding date. They also differ in team size (Not published vs Not confirmed in available sources), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.