Work & Co vs Fantasy: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Work & Co (3.8/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Work & Co is the better choice for premium brands, design paired with strong engineering. 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.
Work & Co vs Fantasy: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Work & Co | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 | 1999 |
| HQ | Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY, USA | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) |
| Team size | ~400 (at the 2024 Accenture acquisition) | Not published |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | An engineering-heavy studio whose client list (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) outsizes its ~400-person team, now part of Accenture Song | Independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
Work & Co vs Fantasy: overview
Work & Co
Five co-founders started Work & Co in Dumbo, Brooklyn, in May 2013: Gene Liebel, Felipe Memoria, Joe Stewart, Mohan Ramaswamy, and Marcelo Eduardo. Its client list is out of proportion to its size. Apple, IKEA, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, GoFundMe, Nike, and Disney have all hired a studio of roughly 400 people, largely because designers and front-end engineers ship together on the same team. Accenture announced its acquisition in January 2024, and the studio now operates within Accenture Song while keeping its own brand and careers site.
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.
Services and capabilities: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Capability | Work & Co | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Framework / platform | Work & Co | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Criterion | Work & Co | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Dimension | Work & Co | Fantasy |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
| Best use cases | Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand, E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Work & Co vs Fantasy: pros and cons
| Work & Co | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list of Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, and Disney is rare for a studio of about 400 people |
| + | Designers and engineers ship together, so there's no hand-off to a separate build vendor |
| + | Offices across the US, Europe, and Latin America |
| + | Long record of flagship consumer launches |
| - | Part of Accenture Song since Accenture's 2024 acquisition, the same parent as the Accenture Song listing here |
| - | No published minimum, though the client list points to premium pricing |
| - | Fewer fintech- or healthcare-specific case studies than vertical specialists |
| 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 |
Who should choose Work & Co?
A typical fit: flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand.
An engineering-heavy studio whose client list (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) outsizes its ~400-person team, now part of Accenture Song. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Work & Co |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Work & Co |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Work & Co (Not published) vs Fantasy (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Work & Co |
| 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: Work & Co vs Fantasy
| Use case | Work & Co fit | Fantasy fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Limited | Strong | Fantasy |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Work & Co vs Fantasy
Work & Co (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. An engineering-heavy studio whose client list (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) outsizes its ~400-person team, now part of Accenture Song.
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
Work & Co vs Fantasy FAQ
Is Work & Co better than Fantasy?
Work & Co (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Work & Co's strongest advantage: client list of Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, and Disney is rare for a studio of about 400 people. Fantasy's strongest advantage: independently owned since 1999, so there's no holding-company layer between you and the studio.
How do Work & Co and Fantasy differ in pricing?
Work & Co uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Fantasy uses project-based (not published) 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: Work & Co or Fantasy?
Work & Co 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 Work & Co and Fantasy?
Work & Co's primary differentiator is: an engineering-heavy studio whose client list (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) outsizes its ~400-person team, now part of Accenture Song. Fantasy's primary differentiator is: independently owned for 25+ years, with recent enterprise AI platform work for BNY and Salesforce. They also differ in team size (~400 (at the 2024 Accenture acquisition) vs Not published), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Consumer products, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.