Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Onething Design (3.9/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Onething Design is the stronger option for multi-vertical companies, one studio across five industries. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Onething Design |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| HQ | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) | Gurugram, India (also Bangalore and San Francisco) |
| Team size | 70+ | 52–73 |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 3.9 / 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 | Covers five distinct industries — BFSI, consumer, enterprise, healthcare, automotive — from one team with both US and India delivery presence |
| 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, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Automotive & mobility |
Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design: 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.
Onething Design
What's now Onething Design was renamed from an earlier studio, Ketchup Designs Studio, in 2015, so its founding date is best treated as approximate. Headquartered in Gurugram, India, with additional offices in Bangalore and San Francisco, the studio reports 52–73 employees depending on source. Where most boutiques on this list specialize, Onething goes the other direction — BFSI, consumer products, enterprise, healthcare, and automotive all sit inside one team's portfolio.
Services and capabilities: Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design
| Capability | Bakken & Bæck | Onething Design |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design
| Framework / platform | Bakken & Bæck | Onething Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | Onething Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Onething Design
| Dimension | Bakken & Bæck | Onething Design |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | BFSI product design for a bank or insurer, Automotive digital interface design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design: 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 |
| Onething Design | |
|---|---|
| + | Covers five distinct industries from one team, useful for multi-vertical clients |
| + | US (San Francisco) and India (Gurugram, Bangalore) delivery footprint supports near round-the-clock work |
| + | $10K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) is accessible relative to most studios on this list |
| + | A decade of operation under its current name, with roots reaching back further |
| - | Founding year is approximate — the studio was renamed from an earlier predecessor in 2015 |
| - | Five-industry breadth trades off some vertical-specific depth against single-vertical specialists like UXDA |
| - | Reported employee count varies by source (52–73), making capacity planning less precise |
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 Onething Design?
A typical fit: BFSI product design for a bank or insurer.
Covers five distinct industries — BFSI, consumer, enterprise, healthcare, automotive — from one team with both US and India delivery presence. Minimum engagement starts at $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Automotive & mobility.
Decision matrix: Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design
| 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 Onething Design ($10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Onething Design |
| 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 Onething Design
| Use case | Bakken & Bæck fit | Onething Design 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 |
| BFSI product design for a bank or insurer | Limited | Strong | Onething Design |
| Automotive digital interface design | Limited | Strong | Onething Design |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase.
Onething Design (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need automotive digital interface design. If your situation matches that, Onething Design is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Bakken & Bæck vs Onething Design FAQ
Is Bakken & Bæck better than Onething Design?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) 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. Onething Design's strongest advantage: covers five distinct industries from one team, useful for multi-vertical clients.
How do Bakken & Bæck and Onething Design differ in pricing?
Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Onething Design 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 Onething Design?
Onething Design 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 Onething Design?
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. Onething Design's primary differentiator is: covers five distinct industries — BFSI, consumer, enterprise, healthcare, automotive — from one team with both US and India delivery presence. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 52–73), minimum engagement (Not published vs $10K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.