Projects by IF vs UX studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UX studio (4.3/5) edges ahead of Projects by IF (4.0/5) overall. UX studio is the better choice for B2B SaaS, research-first before UI. 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 UX studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Projects by IF | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2013 |
| HQ | London, UK | Budapest, Hungary |
| Team size | Not published | 60–71 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Dovetail, Maze |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
Projects by IF vs UX studio: 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.
UX studio
David Pasztor founded UX studio in Budapest, Hungary in 2013; the team has since grown to 60–71 people depending on source. The entire firm runs on research coming first, applied specifically to B2B SaaS products complex enough that jumping straight into interface design would be a mistake — a methodology genuinely comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach.
Services and capabilities: Projects by IF vs UX studio
| Capability | Projects by IF | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Projects by IF vs UX studio
| Framework / platform | Projects by IF | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Projects by IF vs UX studio
| Criterion | Projects by IF | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $20K (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 UX studio
| Dimension | Projects by IF | UX studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Financial services / fintech | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Public-sector or government digital service design, Trust-and-safety product design for a technology platform | Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign, Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Projects by IF vs UX studio: 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 |
| UX studio | |
|---|---|
| + | A genuine research-first specialty, evidenced by the firm's own published case studies, not just marketing copy |
| + | Over a decade of continuous operation (since 2013) under its founding team |
| + | Focused specifically on B2B SaaS, giving real depth in untangling complex product workflows |
| + | 60–71 person team is large enough for multi-workstream engagements while staying boutique in culture |
| - | Exclusive B2B SaaS focus means less fit for consumer, healthcare, or fintech-specific projects |
| - | The research-first approach can extend project timelines for clients wanting to move straight to UI |
| - | $20K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) is mid-tier, not the cheapest option here |
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 UX studio?
A typical fit: complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign.
A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products. Minimum engagement starts at $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: Projects by IF vs UX studio
| 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 | UX studio |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Projects by IF (Not published) vs UX studio ($20K (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 UX studio
| Use case | Projects by IF fit | UX studio 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 |
| Complex B2B SaaS product research and redesign | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Discovery-phase UX research before a full product build | Limited | Strong | UX studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Projects by IF vs UX studio
UX studio (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products.
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 UX studio FAQ
Is Projects by IF better than UX studio?
UX studio (4.3/5) 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. UX studio's strongest advantage: a genuine research-first specialty, evidenced by the firm's own published case studies, not just marketing copy.
How do Projects by IF and UX studio differ in pricing?
Projects by IF uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UX studio uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $20K (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 UX studio?
UX 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 Projects by IF and UX studio?
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. UX studio's primary differentiator is: a research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 60–71), minimum engagement (Not published vs $20K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.