Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Fantasy is the stronger option for enterprises designing AI products, independent senior studio. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | Not published | 70+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Fantasy
Fantasy, originally Fantasy Interactive, has stayed independent since 1999 while most agencies its age sold to a holding company. Its studios in San Francisco and New York have worked for Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Ford, Google, and Samsung. What's changed lately is the type of work. LBB Online credits list a Salesforce digital ecosystem redesign in June 2026 and a BNY enterprise AI platform and design system in July 2026, and the studio's own essays now focus on generative software. Team size still isn't published.
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011; Bæck still runs it as CEO. Around 70 people work across Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London, and several hold computer-science PhDs, which shows in the work. Recent projects include conversational AI products with Sierra and decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio takes products from early exploration through launch instead of handing over a design phase and leaving.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Fantasy | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Fantasy | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Fantasy | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently owned since 1999, so there's no holding-company layer between you and the studio |
| + | Recent enterprise AI work, including a BNY AI platform and design system credited in July 2026 |
| + | Client history covering Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify |
| + | Offers full-stack engineering alongside research and experience design |
| - | No published team size, so delivery capacity is hard to judge |
| - | Marquee clients suggest enterprise pricing, and no minimum is published |
| - | The AI-platform portfolio is recent, with fewer finished case studies than its older consumer work |
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | Design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique |
| + | Recent AI and crypto work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| + | Offices in five European cities |
| + | Consumer clients like IKEA and Vipps alongside deep-tech work |
| - | No published pricing or minimum engagement |
| - | Europe-only offices give US clients limited working-hour overlap |
| - | Its AI- and crypto-heavy recent portfolio is a narrower fit for traditional industries |
Who should choose Fantasy?
A typical fit: consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand.
Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility.
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fantasy |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fantasy |
| 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: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Fantasy fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase.
Fantasy (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need AI feature design layered onto an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fantasy is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fantasy vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Fantasy better than Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fantasy's strongest advantage: independently owned since 1999, so there's no holding-company layer between you and the studio. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique.
How do Fantasy and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: Fantasy or Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Fantasy and Bakken & Bæck?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 70+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.