Huge Inc vs Deeplocal: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Deeplocal (3.9/5) edges ahead of Huge Inc (3.5/5) overall. Deeplocal is the better choice for brands needing working hardware prototypes, not just software. Huge Inc is the stronger option for large enterprise brands, big-agency scale mid-transition. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Huge Inc vs Deeplocal: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| HQ | Manhattan, NYC, USA (relocated from Brooklyn Oct 2025) | Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| Team size | ~1,240 | ~75 |
| Rating | 3.5 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | One of the oldest agency names in this pool, freshly rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger | A Carnegie Mellon-spinoff studio that engineers and builds working hardware prototypes in-house, not just software mockups |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, React, Arduino/embedded systems |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
Huge Inc vs Deeplocal: overview
Huge Inc
Huge started in Brooklyn in 1999 under founders David Skokna, Sasha Kirovski, Gene Liebel, and Aaron Shapiro, spending most of its history inside Interpublic Group before AEA Investors bought it in December 2024 and merged it with Hero Digital. A relocation to Manhattan followed in October 2025. Post-merger, the combined agency runs around 1,240 people, with engagement sizes following large-agency norms rather than a published rate.
Deeplocal
Deeplocal spun out of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2006, building a studio around robotics, hardware development, electrical engineering, and industrial design alongside standard software and creative work. WPP Digital acquired the studio in 2017. At around 75 people, Deeplocal does most of its prototyping and production in-house, which shows up in a client list — Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Lyft, Nike, Toyota, Volkswagen, PNC Bank — that regularly asks for physical, working prototypes rather than mockups.
Services and capabilities: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Capability | Huge Inc | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Framework / platform | Huge Inc | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | ✓ | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Criterion | Huge Inc | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Dimension | Huge Inc | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
| Best use cases | Enterprise brand and digital product redesign, Large-scale web platform modernization | Connected-hardware or physical prototype design for a brand campaign, Automotive or consumer-electronics product design requiring in-house engineering |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Huge Inc vs Deeplocal: pros and cons
| Huge Inc | |
|---|---|
| + | 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies |
| + | Post-merger headcount (~1,240) supports significant delivery capacity |
| + | Covers brand, product, and web design/development under one roof |
| + | Recent Hero Digital merger brings additional capabilities into the brand |
| - | Sold to private equity firm AEA Investors in December 2024 and merged with Hero Digital — a recent ownership change still settling |
| - | Long tenure inside Interpublic Group followed by a 2024 sale means less continuity than an independently owned company |
| - | Engagement sizes aren't published, complicating budget planning for smaller teams |
| Deeplocal | |
|---|---|
| + | In-house robotics, electrical engineering, and industrial design capability alongside software and creative work |
| + | Client list (Google, Netflix, Airbnb, Lyft, Nike, Toyota, Volkswagen, PNC Bank) spans tech, consumer, and automotive |
| + | WPP Digital backing since 2017 provides access to a larger global network when needed |
| + | Two decades of continuous operation since its 2006 Carnegie Mellon spinout |
| - | A ~75-person team caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
| - | Hardware-and-prototype focus is a narrower fit for clients needing pure software UI/UX work |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
Who should choose Huge Inc?
A typical fit: enterprise brand and digital product redesign.
One of the oldest agency names in this pool, freshly rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Who should choose Deeplocal?
A typical fit: connected-hardware or physical prototype design for a brand campaign.
A Carnegie Mellon-spinoff studio that engineers and builds working hardware prototypes in-house, not just software mockups. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility.
Decision matrix: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Huge Inc |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Deeplocal |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Huge Inc (Not published) vs Deeplocal (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Deeplocal |
| 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: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
| Use case | Huge Inc fit | Deeplocal fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise brand and digital product redesign | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Large-scale web platform modernization | Strong | Limited | Huge Inc |
| Connected-hardware or physical prototype design for a brand campaign | Limited | Strong | Deeplocal |
| Automotive or consumer-electronics product design requiring in-house engineering | Limited | Strong | Deeplocal |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Huge Inc vs Deeplocal
Deeplocal (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A Carnegie Mellon-spinoff studio that engineers and builds working hardware prototypes in-house, not just software mockups.
Huge Inc (3.5/5) is worth a look if you need large-scale web platform modernization. If your situation matches that, Huge Inc is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Huge Inc vs Deeplocal FAQ
Is Huge Inc better than Deeplocal?
Deeplocal (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Huge Inc's strongest advantage: 26 years of enterprise digital design history and case studies. Deeplocal's strongest advantage: in-house robotics, electrical engineering, and industrial design capability alongside software and creative work.
How do Huge Inc and Deeplocal differ in pricing?
Huge Inc uses project-based, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Deeplocal 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: Huge Inc or Deeplocal?
Huge Inc is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Huge Inc and Deeplocal?
Huge Inc's primary differentiator is: one of the oldest agency names in this pool, freshly rebuilt through a 2024 AEA Investors acquisition and Hero Digital merger. Deeplocal's primary differentiator is: a Carnegie Mellon-spinoff studio that engineers and builds working hardware prototypes in-house, not just software mockups. They also differ in team size (~1,240 vs ~75), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Consumer products, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.