Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
UXDA (4.3/5) edges ahead of Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) overall. UXDA is the better choice for banks and fintech, exclusively financial-services UX. 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 UXDA: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2015 |
| HQ | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) | Riga, Latvia |
| Team size | 70+ | 25+ |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Sketch, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech |
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: 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.
UXDA
Alex Kreger co-founded UXDA (Financial UX Design) in 2015, building a deliberately narrow practice from Riga, Latvia, with a 25-person multidisciplinary team. A decade in, UXDA has shaped or governed 150+ banking and fintech digital platforms across 39 countries — a level of single-vertical repetition none of the generalist studios on this list can claim. There's no branding or consumer-product work here; every engagement is financial-services UX.
Services and capabilities: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Capability | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Framework / platform | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Criterion | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| Dimension | Bakken & Bæck | UXDA |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Bank digital platform redesign, Fintech app UX for a regulated market |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA: 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 |
| UXDA | |
|---|---|
| + | Exclusive financial-services focus builds deep domain expertise generalist studios can't match |
| + | 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries over a decade |
| + | A small, senior 25-person team keeps relationships direct rather than layered through account management |
| + | A decade of single-vertical operation compounds domain knowledge project over project |
| - | Exclusive fintech focus is a liability for any client outside financial services |
| - | $30K minimum engagement (per company website; independently unverifiable) runs high for a 25-person boutique |
| - | Small team size caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
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 UXDA?
A typical fit: bank digital platform redesign.
The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. Minimum engagement starts at $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
| 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 UXDA ($30K (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 UXDA
| Use case | Bakken & Bæck fit | UXDA 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 |
| Bank digital platform redesign | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fintech app UX for a regulated market | Limited | Strong | UXDA |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Bakken & Bæck vs UXDA
UXDA (4.3/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries.
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 UXDA FAQ
Is Bakken & Bæck better than UXDA?
UXDA (4.3/5) 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. UXDA's strongest advantage: exclusive financial-services focus builds deep domain expertise generalist studios can't match.
How do Bakken & Bæck and UXDA differ in pricing?
Bakken & Bæck uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. UXDA uses fixed project, retainer pricing with a minimum engagement of $30K (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 UXDA?
Bakken & Bæck 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 UXDA?
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. UXDA's primary differentiator is: the only studio on this list built exclusively around financial-services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries. They also differ in team size (70+ vs 25+), minimum engagement (Not published vs $30K (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech vs Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.