IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
IDEO (3.8/5) edges ahead of Spaceberry Studio (3.6/5) overall. IDEO is the better choice for enterprises funding multi-year design transformation. Spaceberry Studio is the stronger option for budget-conscious SaaS/AI/mobile teams, low-commitment subscription. 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 | 3.8 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | The firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later | One of the most accessible entry points in this pool via a subscription model rather than a large upfront 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
Ask where the term "human-centered design" entered mainstream business vocabulary and the answer usually traces back to IDEO — formed in 1991 from the merger of David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design. Three decades on, the firm still runs roughly two dozen studios out of its San Francisco Bay Area base, with a client history that includes the original Apple Mouse alongside long relationships with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. That legacy comes at enterprise prices: industry roundups cite typical engagement minimums near $300K (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable).
Spaceberry Studio
Spaceberry Studio started in 2016 as 'MainCode Agency,' rebranding to Spaceberry in 2020 — 2016 is used as the founding year here since it's the same continuous team and entity. Based in Ukraine with an additional London office, the company runs 12–50 employees depending on source, selling subscription-style UI/UX design for SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than quoting fixed-price projects — one of two subscription models in this pool alongside Eleken.
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 | Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy, 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 | |
|---|---|
| + | The firm most credited with mainstreaming human-centered design as a business term |
| + | Roughly 24 studios worldwide support genuine multi-region delivery |
| + | Landmark case studies (the original Apple Mouse, P&G, PepsiCo) span decades and industries |
| + | Strategy and organizational-transformation capability extends well past interface design |
| - | A $300K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) rules out startups and most mid-market budgets |
| - | Consultancy-scale process can move slower than a boutique studio |
| - | Broad enterprise-consulting positioning trades away the depth boutiques bring to one specific niche |
| Spaceberry Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry here |
| + | Focused specifically on SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than spreading thin across many verticals |
| + | London, UK location adds geographic diversification alongside its Ukraine base |
| + | Continuous operation since 2016, spanning its 2020 rebrand from MainCode Agency |
| - | Smallest reported team-size band (12–50) among the boutiques in this pool, limiting capacity for large programs |
| - | Rebranded from MainCode Agency in 2020, so some pre-2020 case studies may appear under the earlier name |
| - | Subscription-only model may not suit clients preferring a single fixed-price contract with a defined end date |
Who should choose IDEO?
A typical fit: multi-business-unit design transformation strategy.
The firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later. 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?
A typical fit: ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription.
One of the most accessible entry points in this pool via a subscription 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy | 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 (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later.
Spaceberry Studio (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team. If your situation matches that, Spaceberry Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Spaceberry Studio FAQ
Is IDEO better than Spaceberry Studio?
IDEO (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO's strongest advantage: the firm most credited with mainstreaming human-centered design as a business term. Spaceberry Studio's strongest advantage: subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry here.
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 company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between IDEO and Spaceberry Studio?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the firm most credited with mainstreaming the term 'human-centered design,' still running roughly two dozen studios worldwide three decades later. Spaceberry Studio's primary differentiator is: one of the most accessible entry points in this pool via a subscription 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 company before making a decision.