SPCSHP vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.2/5) edges ahead of SPCSHP (3.8/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster. 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 The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | SPCSHP | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2000 | 2016 |
| HQ | Brooklyn, NY, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | Not published (historically ~50+) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 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 deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
SPCSHP vs The Gradient: 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.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year, though its 55 Clutch reviews imply several years of delivery history; 2016 is used here as an estimate consistent with that track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the firm keeps itself intentionally small — 11–50 people — a self-imposed cap it frames as necessary to keep senior attention on every engagement rather than scaling into account-management layers. Client names include Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, and Dubai Financial Market, an unusually strong list for a firm operating at this size, built around an explicitly AI-native design practice.
Services and capabilities: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
| Capability | SPCSHP | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | SPCSHP | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
| Criterion | SPCSHP | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
| Dimension | SPCSHP | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Consumer brand digital product design with a creative-storytelling emphasis, Campaign-adjacent product design for a media or entertainment brand | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
SPCSHP vs The Gradient: 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 |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small firm |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the firm frames as preserving senior attention per project |
| + | 55 Clutch reviews imply a substantial track record despite the unconfirmed founding year |
| - | Founding year is not confirmed in available sources beyond an implied multi-year track record |
| - | Deliberately small team (11–50) by design limits capacity for very large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, requiring a direct conversation for budget planning |
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 The Gradient?
A typical fit: AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform.
A deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
| 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 The Gradient (Not published) |
| 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 The Gradient
| Use case | SPCSHP fit | The Gradient 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 |
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: SPCSHP vs The Gradient
The Gradient (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale.
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 The Gradient FAQ
Is SPCSHP better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.2/5) 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. The Gradient's strongest advantage: notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small firm.
How do SPCSHP and The Gradient differ in pricing?
SPCSHP uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer 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: SPCSHP or The Gradient?
The Gradient 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 The Gradient?
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. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, AI-native firm with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (Not published (historically ~50+) vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Media & entertainment vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each firm before making a decision.