R/GA vs Deeplocal: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Deeplocal (3.9/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.6/5) overall. Deeplocal is the better choice for brands needing working hardware prototypes, not just software. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands wanting design bundled with brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Deeplocal: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | ~75 |
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades | A Carnegie Mellon-spinoff studio that engineers and builds working hardware prototypes in-house, not just software mockups |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, React, Arduino/embedded systems |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
R/GA vs Deeplocal: overview
R/GA
R/GA spent 23 years as an Interpublic Group asset before completing an independent buyout in March 2025, backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — recent enough that clients should ask directly how the transition has gone. Founded in New York City in 1977, the firm now operates from ten countries, including Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. Its long-standing pitch — digital product design fused with marketing and brand strategy — still drives its work for large consumer and enterprise platforms.
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: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Capability | R/GA | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Criterion | R/GA | 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: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Dimension | R/GA | Deeplocal |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | 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 |
R/GA vs Deeplocal: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | Still stabilizing operationally after a recent (2025) private-equity-backed ownership change |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique studios |
| - | Scale and pricing suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Deeplocal |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Deeplocal (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Deeplocal
| Use case | R/GA fit | Deeplocal fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Deeplocal FAQ
Is R/GA better than Deeplocal?
Deeplocal (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. Deeplocal's strongest advantage: in-house robotics, electrical engineering, and industrial design capability alongside software and creative work.
How do R/GA and Deeplocal differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA or Deeplocal?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Deeplocal?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 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.