Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Halo Lab (4.5/5) edges ahead of Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) overall. Halo Lab is the better choice for E-commerce/web-app teams, #1 Dribbble studio, award-heavy. Bakken & Bæck is the stronger option for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2014 |
| HQ | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) | Multiple offices across 3 time zones (Ukraine-rooted) |
| Team size | 70+ | 130+ |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase | Currently ranked the #1 Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Webflow, React |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: overview
Bakken & Bæck
Johan Bakken and Tobias Bæck founded Bakken & Bæck in 2011, and the studio now works from Oslo, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London with a 70-person team that mixes multiple computer-science PhDs into its design and engineering practice. Recent work includes shaping conversational AI products with Sierra and building decentralized platforms with Coinbase, alongside clients like IKEA and Norwegian payments app Vipps. The studio positions itself around building digital products end to end — from early exploration through launch — rather than a single design phase.
Halo Lab
Halo Lab doesn't publish an exact founding date — the studio states "12 years" of experience as of 2026, which implies a start around 2014. What is documented is the scale: 130+ people working from multiple offices across three time zones, with roots in Ukraine. Halo Lab holds a 4.9 Clutch rating, has picked up 70+ design awards, and currently ranks as the #1 Dribbble Team globally — an unusually consistent, ongoing signal of visual design quality that's harder to game than a one-time award.
Services and capabilities: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Capability | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Framework / platform | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | ✓ |
Pricing comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Dimension | Bakken & Bæck | Halo Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | E-commerce platform redesign, Marketing site plus product design bundle |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab: pros and cons
| Bakken & Bæck | |
|---|---|
| + | 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage |
| + | Combines design with computer-science research depth, unusual among boutique product studios |
| + | Recent, high-profile AI and crypto/fintech work (Sierra, Coinbase) demonstrates currency in fast-moving categories |
| + | Client list also includes established consumer brands like IKEA, broadening its portfolio beyond pure tech |
| - | Minimum engagement size and pricing model aren't published, making early budgeting harder |
| - | European-only office footprint may mean less overlap with US business hours for some clients |
| - | AI/crypto-forward recent portfolio may read as a narrower fit for clients outside technology-heavy categories |
| Halo Lab | |
|---|---|
| + | Currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal |
| + | 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating make it one of the most consistently recognized studios on this list |
| + | 130+ person team spans multiple offices and three time zones, supporting larger programs |
| + | Broad service range covers complex web apps, marketing sites, e-commerce, and mobile |
| - | Exact founding year isn't confirmed — the studio's own '12 years as of 2026' claim implies roughly 2014 but isn't independently verified |
| - | Ukraine-rooted origins carry the same regional-continuity considerations as other studios on this list |
| - | Broad service range across web, e-commerce, mobile, and marketing means less singular specialization than fintech- or research-focused boutiques |
Who should choose Bakken & Bæck?
A typical fit: AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup.
A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Who should choose Halo Lab?
A typical fit: e-commerce platform redesign.
Currently ranked the #1 Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Bakken & Bæck |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Bakken & Bæck (Not published) vs Halo Lab ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Bakken & Bæck |
| 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: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
| Use case | Bakken & Bæck fit | Halo Lab fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Strong | Limited | Bakken & Bæck |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Strong | Limited | Bakken & Bæck |
| E-commerce platform redesign | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Marketing site plus product design bundle | Limited | Strong | Halo Lab |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab
Halo Lab (4.5/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Currently ranked the #1 Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating.
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is worth a look if you need decentralized or crypto platform design and build. If your situation matches that, Bakken & Bæck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Bakken & Bæck vs Halo Lab FAQ
Is Bakken & Bæck better than Halo Lab?
Halo Lab (4.5/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage. Halo Lab's strongest advantage: currently the #1-ranked Dribbble Team globally — an independently observable, ongoing quality signal.
How do Bakken & Bæck and Halo Lab differ in pricing?
Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Halo Lab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of $10K (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: Bakken & Bæck or Halo Lab?
Halo Lab 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 Bakken & Bæck and Halo Lab?
Bakken & Bæck's primary differentiator is: a five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase. Halo Lab's primary differentiator is: currently ranked the #1 Dribbble Team globally, backed by 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 130+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs SaaS / B2B software, E-commerce / retail).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.