Fantasy vs Big Human: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Big Human (4.0/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Big Human is the better choice for Startups/consumer brands, small senior studio, product builders. 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 Big Human: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | New York, NY, USA (remote team) |
| Team size | Not published | 10–49 (Clutch listing) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce | A compact, senior remote team that has worked on consumer hits like HQ Trivia and Vine and also builds its own startups |
| 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, Node.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
Fantasy vs Big Human: 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.
Big Human
Big Human is small on purpose. Clutch lists 10–49 employees and a 2010 founding date (other sources say 2011), and the team works remotely from a New York base. That scale hasn't kept it off large accounts: Whistle, Rockefeller Center, Gemini, and Netflix appear in its portfolio, and the studio worked on HQ Trivia and Vine. Its 12 Clutch reviews average 4.9, with 2026 reviews covering rebrands for a fan platform and an AI concierge product. Pricing and minimums stay unpublished.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Capability | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Big Human
| Criterion | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Big Human
| Dimension | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup, Brand-plus-product design bundle for a media or entertainment client |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs Big Human: 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 |
| Big Human | |
|---|---|
| + | Worked on consumer products HQ Trivia and Vine, and incubates its own startups |
| + | Client list includes Whistle, Rockefeller Center, Gemini, and Netflix |
| + | 4.9 Clutch rating, with 2026 reviews covering brand and AI product work |
| + | Small team keeps clients in direct contact with senior people |
| - | Only 12 Clutch reviews, a thin sample compared with most boutiques here |
| - | 10–49 employees caps capacity for large programs |
| - | Founding year differs by source (2010 vs. 2011), and pricing isn't published |
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 Big Human?
A typical fit: consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup.
A compact, senior remote team that has worked on consumer hits like HQ Trivia and Vine and also builds its own startups. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs Big Human
| 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 | Big Human |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs Big Human (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 Big Human
| Use case | Fantasy fit | Big Human 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 |
| Consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Brand-plus-product design bundle for a media or entertainment client | Limited | Strong | Big Human |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs Big Human
Big Human (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A compact, senior remote team that has worked on consumer hits like HQ Trivia and Vine and also builds its own startups.
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 Big Human FAQ
Is Fantasy better than Big Human?
Big Human (4.0/5) 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. Big Human's strongest advantage: worked on consumer products HQ Trivia and Vine, and incubates its own startups.
How do Fantasy and Big Human differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Big Human 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 Big Human?
Big Human 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 Big Human?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. Big Human's primary differentiator is: a compact, senior remote team that has worked on consumer hits like HQ Trivia and Vine and also builds its own startups. They also differ in team size (Not published vs 10–49 (Clutch listing)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Consumer products, Media & entertainment).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.