R/GA vs Big Human: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Big Human (4.0/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Big Human is the better choice for Startups/consumer brands, small senior studio, product builders. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands, product design bundled with marketing. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Big Human: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2011 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | New York, NY, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | ~35 |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades | A compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
R/GA vs Big Human: overview
R/GA
R/GA has operated out of New York since 1977 and today works from ten countries, including offices in Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. For 23 years it sat inside Interpublic Group before completing an independent buyout with private equity partner Truelink Capital in March 2025 — recent enough that prospective clients should ask how the transition has settled. The firm's pitch has always leaned toward pairing digital product design with marketing and brand strategy, which shows up in its enterprise and consumer platform work for large brands.
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: R/GA vs Big Human
| Capability | R/GA | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Big Human
| Framework / platform | R/GA | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Big Human
| Criterion | R/GA | 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: R/GA vs Big Human
| Dimension | R/GA | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | 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 |
R/GA vs Big Human: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy, useful for clients who'd otherwise need two vendors |
| + | Ten-country footprint covers North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of brand history and case studies |
| + | Now independently owned following its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | The 2025 ownership change from Interpublic Group to a private-equity-backed independent structure is still recent and worth asking about directly |
| - | Marketing-led positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique studios built around design alone |
| - | Scale and pricing tend to suit large brand budgets more than startup-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Big Human
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Big Human |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Big Human (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Big Human
| Use case | R/GA fit | Big Human fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Big Human FAQ
Is R/GA better than Big Human?
Big Human (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy, useful for clients who'd otherwise need two vendors. 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 R/GA and Big Human differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA or Big Human?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Big Human?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: pairs product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof, now operating independently of a holding company for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 vs ~35), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Consumer products, Media & entertainment).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.