SPCSHP vs Eleken: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Eleken (4.1/5) edges ahead of SPCSHP (3.8/5) overall. Eleken is the better choice for SaaS teams, subscription embedded designer. SPCSHP is the stronger option for consumer brands, design plus creative storytelling. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
SPCSHP vs Eleken: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | SPCSHP | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2015 |
| HQ | Brooklyn, NY, USA | Distributed team, roots in Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Not published (historically ~50+) | 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A quarter-century of creative digital work (JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung, BMW) under a 2024 rebrand from Big Spaceship to SPCSHP, now backed by MSQ | A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Design systems/Storybook, Miro |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
SPCSHP vs Eleken: overview
SPCSHP
Michael Lebowitz founded Big Spaceship in Brooklyn in 2000, building a creative digital firm known for early-2000s work with JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung Galaxy, BMW, and NBC. UK marketing group MSQ acquired the firm in October 2024, and it now operates under the name SPCSHP — a rebrand recent enough that some case studies and press still reference the original name. The firm's roots are in interactive creative and brand storytelling rather than pure enterprise product design, a lineage that still shows in its client work.
Eleken
Eleken traces to 2015 with roots in Kyiv, Ukraine, operating today as a distributed team reported anywhere from 40+ to 100+ designers depending on source. Rather than a fixed project fee, the firm sells a subscription — roughly $6,599/month for a dedicated full-time designer, part-time also available — a genuinely different pricing model from the fixed-price and T&M norm found elsewhere in this list. SaaS-only by design, Eleken holds a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects, covering complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial or low-code/no-code products.
Services and capabilities: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Capability | SPCSHP | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Framework / platform | SPCSHP | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Criterion | SPCSHP | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Dimension | SPCSHP | Eleken |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Consumer brand digital product design with a creative-storytelling emphasis, Campaign-adjacent product design for a media or entertainment brand | Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap, Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
SPCSHP vs Eleken: pros and cons
| SPCSHP | |
|---|---|
| + | A quarter-century of continuous operation since its 2000 founding as Big Spaceship |
| + | Named client work spans JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung Galaxy, BMW, GE, Microsoft, and Google |
| + | MSQ backing since October 2024 provides access to a larger marketing and creative network |
| + | Creative-and-brand-storytelling roots differentiate it from purely process-driven enterprise design firms |
| - | Rebranded from Big Spaceship to SPCSHP in 2024 — recent enough that some public case studies and reviews still reference the old name |
| - | Acquired by MSQ in 2024, so clients are hiring into a larger network rather than an independent studio |
| - | Team size isn't published in current sources, making capacity planning harder without a direct conversation |
| Eleken | |
|---|---|
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies |
| + | Subscription pricing gives predictable monthly cost instead of a large fixed-price contract |
| + | SaaS-only focus, including complex B2B, AI, data, and geospatial products, builds real vertical depth |
| + | Part-time subscription option available for teams that don't need a full-time designer |
| - | Reported team size varies widely by source (40+ to 100+), making capacity planning imprecise |
| - | SaaS-only positioning rules it out for consumer, healthcare, or brand-led engagements |
| - | Subscription pricing can cost more than a fixed-price project for a short, well-defined engagement |
Who should choose SPCSHP?
A typical fit: consumer brand digital product design with a creative-storytelling emphasis.
A quarter-century of creative digital work (JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung, BMW) under a 2024 rebrand from Big Spaceship to SPCSHP, now backed by MSQ. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Eleken?
A typical fit: embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap.
A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. Minimum engagement starts at $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | SPCSHP |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: SPCSHP (Not published) vs Eleken ($6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | SPCSHP |
| 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: SPCSHP vs Eleken
| Use case | SPCSHP fit | Eleken fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer brand digital product design with a creative-storytelling emphasis | Strong | Limited | SPCSHP |
| Campaign-adjacent product design for a media or entertainment brand | Strong | Limited | SPCSHP |
| Embedded product designer for an ongoing SaaS roadmap | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Complex B2B or AI product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Eleken |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: SPCSHP vs Eleken
Eleken (4.1/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects.
SPCSHP (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need campaign-adjacent product design for a media or entertainment brand. If your situation matches that, SPCSHP is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
SPCSHP vs Eleken FAQ
Is SPCSHP better than Eleken?
Eleken (4.1/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. SPCSHP's strongest advantage: a quarter-century of continuous operation since its 2000 founding as Big Spaceship. Eleken's strongest advantage: 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ completed projects and 70+ published case studies.
How do SPCSHP and Eleken differ in pricing?
SPCSHP uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Eleken uses subscription (dedicated full-time or part-time designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $6,599/month (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: SPCSHP or Eleken?
Eleken 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 SPCSHP and Eleken?
SPCSHP's primary differentiator is: a quarter-century of creative digital work (JetBlue, YouTube, Samsung, BMW) under a 2024 rebrand from Big Spaceship to SPCSHP, now backed by MSQ. Eleken's primary differentiator is: a SaaS-only subscription embedded-designer model (~$6,599/month) with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects. They also differ in team size (Not published (historically ~50+) vs 40+ to 100+ (approximate; reported figures vary by source)), minimum engagement (Not published vs $6,599/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Media & entertainment vs SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.