IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
IDEO (4.0/5) edges ahead of Spaceberry Studio (3.8/5) overall. IDEO is the better choice for large enterprises running multi-year, cross-functional design transformation programs with substantial budgets.. Spaceberry Studio is the stronger option for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | IDEO | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2016 |
| HQ | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA | Ukraine (also London, UK) |
| Team size | 500–1,000 | 12–50 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Best for | Large enterprises running multi-year, cross-functional design transformation programs with substantial budgets. | Budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract. |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) | Monthly subscription (dedicated designer) |
| Min. engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Framer, Webflow |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio: overview
IDEO
IDEO was formed in 1991 through the merger of David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design, and is widely credited with popularizing human-centered design as a discipline. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with roughly two dozen studio locations worldwide, IDEO runs large, multi-year strategy and transformation engagements for enterprise clients including Apple (the original Apple Mouse), Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. Engagement minimums reported in industry roundups start around $300K, pricing individual startups and smaller teams out of most engagements (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable exact figures).
Spaceberry Studio
Spaceberry Studio was founded in 2016 as 'MainCode Agency' and rebranded to Spaceberry in 2020; 2016 is used as the founding year here since it is the same continuous team and entity. Headquartered in Ukraine with an additional London, UK location, the studio reports 12–50 employees depending on source. Spaceberry offers subscription-style UI/UX design for SaaS, AI, and mobile apps — one of two subscription-model comparators in this roster alongside Eleken, giving budget-conscious teams a lower-commitment entry point.
Services and capabilities: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Capability | IDEO | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Framework / platform | IDEO | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Criterion | IDEO | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Dimension | IDEO | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise-wide digital transformation strategy and design, Large health system patient experience redesign | Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription, AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio: pros and cons
| IDEO | |
|---|---|
| + | Decades-long track record originating and refining human-centered design methodology |
| + | 24 studio locations worldwide gives genuine multi-region delivery capacity |
| + | Deep enterprise transformation case studies with recognizable global brands |
| + | Strategy and design capability spans far beyond a single product line |
| - | $300K+ typical engagement minimum prices out startups and most mid-market teams |
| - | Scale and process overhead can slow decision-making compared to boutique studios |
| - | Generalist enterprise consulting focus means less specialist depth on any single product-design niche than boutiques built specifically around it |
| Spaceberry Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry in this roster |
| + | Focused specifically on SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than spreading across many verticals |
| + | London, UK location alongside its Ukraine base gives some geographic diversification |
| + | Continuous operation since 2016, including through its 2020 rebrand from MainCode Agency |
| - | Smallest reported team size band (12–50) among the boutiques in this list, limiting capacity for large programs |
| - | Rebranded from MainCode Agency in 2020, meaning some pre-2020 case studies may be under the earlier name |
| - | Subscription-only model may not suit clients who prefer a single fixed-price contract with a defined end date |
Who should choose IDEO?
IDEO is the right choice for large enterprises running multi-year, cross-functional design transformation programs with substantial budgets..
The originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide and decades of enterprise transformation case studies. Minimum engagement starts at $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
Who should choose Spaceberry Studio?
Spaceberry Studio is the right choice for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract..
One of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription-style engagement model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. Minimum engagement starts at $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | IDEO |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | IDEO |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Spaceberry Studio |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
| Use case | IDEO fit | Spaceberry Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise-wide digital transformation strategy and design | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Large health system patient experience redesign | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio
IDEO (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide and decades of enterprise transformation case studies. It is best for large enterprises running multi-year, cross-functional design transformation programs with substantial budgets..
Spaceberry Studio (3.8/5) is the better choice when budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract.. If your situation matches those criteria, Spaceberry Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio FAQ
Is IDEO better than Spaceberry Studio?
IDEO (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO is better for large enterprises running multi-year, cross-functional design transformation programs with substantial budgets.. Spaceberry Studio is better for budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams that want a lower-commitment monthly subscription instead of a large fixed-price contract..
How do IDEO and Spaceberry Studio differ in pricing?
IDEO uses project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Spaceberry Studio uses monthly subscription (dedicated designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $4.5K/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: IDEO or Spaceberry Studio?
IDEO 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 IDEO and Spaceberry Studio?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide and decades of enterprise transformation case studies. Spaceberry Studio's primary differentiator is: one of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription-style engagement model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. They also differ in team size (500–1,000 vs 12–50), minimum engagement ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.