Fantasy vs Big Human: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Big Human (4.0/5) edges ahead of Fantasy (3.8/5) overall. Big Human is the better choice for Startups/consumer brands, small senior studio, product builders. Fantasy is the stronger option for Consumer/tech brands, independent studio, growing AI practice. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fantasy vs Big Human: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA (also New York, NY) | New York, NY, USA |
| Team size | Not published | ~35 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list | A compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
Fantasy vs Big Human: overview
Fantasy
Fantasy — originally Fantasy Interactive — has operated independently since 1999 out of studios in San Francisco and New York, which alone sets it apart from most large agencies on this list that have since been folded into a holding company. Its client history reads like a highlight reel: Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Ford, Google, and Samsung, with more recent work for 23andMe and Rokid. The studio has leaned increasingly into AI-native product design in recent years, positioning itself at the intersection of AI, product strategy, and human-centered design across categories from automotive to wearables.
Big Human
Big Human has operated out of New York since 2011, staying deliberately compact at roughly 35 people rather than scaling into a large agency. Its portfolio includes work for Whistle, Rockefeller Center, Gemini, and Netflix, and the studio's own product history includes HQ Trivia and Vine — genuine consumer hits it helped build rather than just designed for. The team spans design, strategy, and development, taking on projects from early-stage startups through Fortune 500 companies.
Services and capabilities: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Capability | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Framework / platform | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | ✓ | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Criterion | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Dimension | Fantasy | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand, AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup, Brand-plus-product design bundle for a media or entertainment client |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fantasy vs Big Human: pros and cons
| Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| + | Independently owned since 1999, avoiding the holding-company consolidation that's absorbed several peers on this list |
| + | Client history spans Nike, Disney, Microsoft, Netflix, and Spotify — a roster on par with much larger agencies |
| + | Increasingly positioned around AI-native product design, not just legacy interface work |
| + | Two studio locations (San Francisco, New York) support both coasts without a large global footprint to manage |
| - | Team size isn't published, making it hard to judge delivery capacity against studios that disclose headcount |
| - | Marquee client list suggests enterprise-level pricing, though no minimum engagement is published |
| - | Recent AI-native repositioning means less of a public track record in that specific specialization than its legacy design work |
| Big Human | |
|---|---|
| + | Built and shipped its own consumer hits — HQ Trivia and Vine — evidence of product instinct beyond client design work |
| + | Client list spans Whistle, Rockefeller Center, Gemini, and Netflix despite a compact ~35-person team |
| + | Small team size keeps client relationships direct rather than layered through account management |
| + | 14 years of continuous operation in New York since 2011 |
| - | A ~35-person team caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| - | Single-office (New York) footprint offers less multi-region delivery than larger studios on this list |
Who should choose Fantasy?
A typical fit: consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand.
Stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Automotive & mobility.
Who should choose Big Human?
A typical fit: consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup.
A compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech.
Decision matrix: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fantasy |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Big Human |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fantasy (Not published) vs Big Human (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fantasy |
| 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: Fantasy vs Big Human
| Use case | Fantasy fit | Big Human fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer product design for an established or legacy-adjacent brand | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| AI feature design layered onto an existing product | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Consumer app design for an early-stage or growth-stage startup | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Brand-plus-product design bundle for a media or entertainment client | Limited | Strong | Big Human |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fantasy vs Big Human
Big Human (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work.
Fantasy (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need AI feature design layered onto an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fantasy is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fantasy vs Big Human FAQ
Is Fantasy better than Big Human?
Big Human (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fantasy's strongest advantage: independently owned since 1999, avoiding the holding-company consolidation that's absorbed several peers on this list. Big Human's strongest advantage: built and shipped its own consumer hits — HQ Trivia and Vine — evidence of product instinct beyond client design work.
How do Fantasy and Big Human differ in pricing?
Fantasy uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Big Human uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: Fantasy or Big Human?
Big Human 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 Fantasy and Big Human?
Fantasy's primary differentiator is: stayed independently owned for over two decades while most agencies its size sold to a holding company — with a client list (Nike, Disney, Spotify) to match the larger names on this list. Big Human's primary differentiator is: a compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work. They also differ in team size (Not published vs ~35), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Consumer products, Media & entertainment).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.