Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) edges ahead of Frog (3.7/5) overall. Bakken & Bæck is the better choice for tech companies (AI, decentralized systems), design plus research. Frog is the stronger option for enterprises needing digital plus physical product design. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 | 2011 |
| HQ | San Francisco, CA, USA | Oslo, Norway (also Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bonn, and London) |
| Team size | 2,000+ | 70+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combines physical hardware design (IoT, automotive, medical devices) with software product design, a pairing most competitors on this list have dropped | A five-city European studio that blends design with genuine computer-science research depth, evidenced by recent AI work for Sierra and Coinbase |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise consulting engagements | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Miro | Figma, React, Next.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: overview
Frog
Frog's lineage runs back to 1969 as Esslinger Design in Germany before the frog design brand took shape; ownership passed through Aricent and Altran before Capgemini folded the studio into Capgemini Invent in 2019. Capgemini has since merged additional shops — Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21 — into the frog name, bringing the practice to roughly 2,000 people across 35 studios. What still sets it apart from most of this list is scope: frog designs physical products (IoT devices, automotive interiors, medical hardware) alongside software, a combination fewer and fewer studios still offer.
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.
Services and capabilities: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Capability | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Framework / platform | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Criterion | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Dimension | Frog | Bakken & Bæck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Connected hardware and IoT product design, Automotive or smart-home interface design | AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup, Decentralized or crypto platform design and build |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck: pros and cons
| Frog | |
|---|---|
| + | Rare hardware-plus-software design capability spanning IoT, automotive, and medical devices |
| + | 35 global studios give real multi-region enterprise coverage |
| + | More than five decades of design history and case studies to draw from |
| + | Capgemini Invent backing opens access to broader technology-consulting resources beyond design |
| - | Operates as a consulting-firm brand inside Capgemini Invent rather than an independent studio — worth factoring into vendor evaluations |
| - | Multiple legacy agencies (Fahrenheit 212, Idean, June21) were absorbed into the frog name, which can mean inconsistent team continuity between projects |
| - | Large consulting-firm overhead can slow smaller, faster-moving engagements relative to boutique studios |
| 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 |
Who should choose Frog?
A typical fit: connected hardware and IoT product design.
Combines physical hardware design (IoT, automotive, medical devices) with software product design, a pairing most competitors on this list have dropped. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Frog |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Bakken & Bæck |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Frog (Not published) vs Bakken & Bæck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Frog |
| 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: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
| Use case | Frog fit | Bakken & Bæck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connected hardware and IoT product design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| Automotive or smart-home interface design | Strong | Limited | Frog |
| AI or conversational-product design for a fast-moving startup | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Decentralized or crypto platform design and build | Limited | Strong | Bakken & Bæck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Frog vs Bakken & Bæck
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.
Frog (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need automotive or smart-home interface design. If your situation matches that, Frog is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Frog vs Bakken & Bæck FAQ
Is Frog better than Bakken & Bæck?
Bakken & Bæck (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Frog's strongest advantage: rare hardware-plus-software design capability spanning IoT, automotive, and medical devices. Bakken & Bæck's strongest advantage: 70-person team spans five European cities, giving real multi-market coverage.
How do Frog and Bakken & Bæck differ in pricing?
Frog uses project-based, enterprise consulting engagements pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Bakken & Bæck 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: Frog or Bakken & Bæck?
Frog 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 Frog and Bakken & Bæck?
Frog's primary differentiator is: combines physical hardware design (IoT, automotive, medical devices) with software product design, a pairing most competitors on this list have dropped. 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. They also differ in team size (2,000+ vs 70+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.