Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Frog (3.7/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Frog is the stronger option for enterprises needing digital plus physical product design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 70+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) and the software on it within one team, a pairing most firms on this list dropped years ago | 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, enterprise consulting engagements | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Frog
frog started in Germany in 1969 as Esslinger Design and moved through Aricent and Altran before Capgemini folded it into Capgemini Invent. Capgemini then merged Fahrenheit 212, Idean, and June21 into the frog brand, which puts the practice at roughly 2,000 people across 35 studios. Physical product work is what separates it here. frog still designs IoT devices, car interiors, and medical hardware alongside the software that runs on them, and very few firms on this page can say the same. No restructuring or leadership news specific to frog had surfaced as of November 2026.
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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Frog | 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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Connected hardware and IoT product design, Automotive or smart-home interface design | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Frog | |
|---|---|
| + | Hardware-plus-software design across IoT, automotive, and medical devices |
| + | 35 studios give genuine multi-region coverage for global programs |
| + | Five decades of design history to pull case studies from |
| + | Capgemini Invent's technology consultants are available when a project grows past design |
| - | You're hiring a Capgemini Invent brand, and procurement will treat it like one |
| - | Several absorbed agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) now share the name, so team continuity between projects can vary |
| - | Consulting-firm overhead slows small, fast projects compared with a boutique |
| 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 Frog?
A typical fit: connected hardware and IoT product design.
Designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) and the software on it within one team, a pairing most firms on this list dropped years ago. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Frog |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Frog (Not published) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Frog fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected hardware and IoT product design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Automotive or smart-home interface design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Frog 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.
Frog (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need automotive or smart-home interface design. If your situation matches that, Frog is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Frog better than Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Frog's strongest advantage: hardware-plus-software design across IoT, automotive, and medical devices. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: design and computer-science research in one team, unusual for a boutique.
How do Frog and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Frog uses project-based, enterprise consulting engagements 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: Frog or Bakken & Bæck?
Frog 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 Frog and Bakken & Bæck?
Frog's primary differentiator is: designs physical hardware (IoT, automotive, medical devices) and the software on it within one team, a pairing most firms on this list dropped years ago. 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 (2,000+ vs 70+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.