Work & Co vs Big Human: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Big Human (4.0/5) edges ahead of Work & Co (3.8/5) overall. Big Human is the better choice for Startups/consumer brands, small senior studio, product builders. Work & Co is the stronger option for premium brands, design paired with strong engineering. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Work & Co vs Big Human: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Work & Co | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 | 2011 |
| HQ | Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY, USA | New York, NY, USA |
| Team size | 425+ | ~35 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | An engineering-heavy studio with a client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) unusually strong for its size, now operating inside Accenture Song | A compact 35-person studio with its own consumer product hits (HQ Trivia, Vine) behind it, not just client work |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Fixed project, dedicated team |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, React, Node.js |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
Work & Co vs Big Human: overview
Work & Co
Five co-founders — Gene Liebel, Felipe Memoria, Joe Stewart, Mohan Ramaswamy, and Marcelo Eduardo — started Work & Co in May 2013 out of Dumbo, Brooklyn, and the studio has since opened offices across the US, Latin America, and Europe. What's unusual is the client list relative to headcount: Apple, IKEA, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, GoFundMe, Nike, and Disney have all hired a studio of roughly 425 people. Work & Co is now part of Accenture Song, a detail worth surfacing alongside the design credentials.
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: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Capability | Work & Co | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Framework / platform | Work & Co | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Criterion | Work & Co | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Dimension | Work & Co | Big Human |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Consumer products, Media & entertainment, Financial services / fintech |
| Best use cases | Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand, E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | 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 |
Work & Co vs Big Human: pros and cons
| Work & Co | |
|---|---|
| + | Client roster — Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, Disney — is exceptional relative to a roughly 425-person studio |
| + | Engineering-heavy delivery model keeps design and build under one roof, cutting hand-off risk |
| + | 425+ people across the US, Europe, and Latin America give genuine multi-region coverage |
| + | Strong track record on premium consumer digital product launches |
| - | Now part of Accenture Song, the same parent as Accenture Song's own listing here — worth noting for buyers comparing the two |
| - | Premium client roster implies premium pricing, though no minimum engagement figure is published |
| - | Less vertical specialization in fintech or healthcare than boutiques built specifically around those industries |
| 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 Work & Co?
A typical fit: flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand.
An engineering-heavy studio with a client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) unusually strong for its size, now operating inside Accenture Song. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare.
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: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Work & Co |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Work & Co |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Work & Co (Not published) vs Big Human (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Work & Co |
| 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: Work & Co vs Big Human
| Use case | Work & Co fit | Big Human fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| 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: Work & Co 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.
Work & Co (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need e-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering. If your situation matches that, Work & Co is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Work & Co vs Big Human FAQ
Is Work & Co better than Big Human?
Big Human (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Work & Co's strongest advantage: client roster — Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, Disney — is exceptional relative to a roughly 425-person studio. 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 Work & Co and Big Human differ in pricing?
Work & Co uses fixed project, dedicated team 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: Work & Co or Big Human?
Work & Co 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 Work & Co and Big Human?
Work & Co's primary differentiator is: an engineering-heavy studio with a client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) unusually strong for its size, now operating inside Accenture Song. 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 (425+ 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.