Side by side
Key data on both agencies. The accent dot marks where one leads.
| IDEO | Method | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 77/100 | 77/100 |
| Hourly rate | €200/hr | ●€117/hr |
| Team size | 50-99 | 50-99 |
| Location | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | — | — |
| Tier | Free | Free |
| Last reviewed | Feb 11, 2026 | Feb 11, 2026 |
What we said about each
What we said about IDEO
"IDEO publishes 15+ case studies spanning nearly 50 years, with standout projects for H&M (22% stock reduction, 34% sales increase via supply chain redesign), Teal Health (FDA-authorized at-home screening device tested with 220 participants), and Boom Supersonic (full-scale cabin prototyping leading to American Airlines order)—each showing documented research, prototyping, and measurable business outcomes. At €200+/hr, IDEO operates at the top of the market, and the work justifies the…"
— UXAgencies editorial team, reviewed Feb 11, 2026
Read full review →What we said about Method
"Method is a strategic design and product development consultancy, part of GlobalLogic (Hitachi), with 25 years of operation. The Jenius Bank case study documents end-to-end engagement from discovery through engineering—including experience benchmarking, prototyping, concept testing, and building a research culture, repository, and knowledge base for the client's product team. Published work spans financial services, consumer brands (Ben & Jerry's, McDonald's), and industrial sectors."
— UXAgencies editorial team, reviewed Feb 11, 2026
Read full review →Best for
Where each agency measurably leads — on pricing, team capacity, declared specializations, and editorial scoring. Use these to match an agency to your project priorities.
Choose IDEO if you need
- •disclosed specialization in Retail / Automotive
- •broader service offering — also covers Service Design and Innovation
Choose Method if you need
- •a more cost-effective engagement (~71% lower rate)
- •disclosed specialization in FinTech
- •broader service offering — also covers Experience Design and UX/UI
Strengths and watch-outs
Both upsides and risks, straight from our editorial assessments.
IDEO
✓ Strengths
- •Published case studies include specific business metrics—H&M saw 34% sales increase and 22% stock reduction; Teal Health achieved FDA authorization with 97% ease-of-use in a 220-person clinical study
- •Nearly 50-year track record with C-suite client testimonials from Ford, Moderna, and Intercorp—signals a firm that operates at the executive level, not just the project level
- •Work spans physical products (Boom cabin, Teal Wand, Fizik helmets), digital platforms (FEMSA/OXXO, Sephora), and organizational design (Ford, Moderna)—rare breadth backed by evidence in each category
⚠ Watch-outs
- •At €200+/hr with no published maximum rate, request a detailed scope and fee structure early—IDEO's engagements are typically large-scale and may not suit projects under six figures
- •London office is one of several global locations—confirm which team and office will lead your engagement, as case studies span US, Latin America, and European work
- •Most published case studies focus on strategy and product creation rather than ongoing UX design or interface optimization—if your need is iterative digital product improvement, clarify whether IDEO's model fits
Method
✓ Strengths
- •Published 'Modern Product Approach' framework on the website—ask for the specific process stages and deliverables mapped to your project type before scoping
- •Technology & Engineering is a standalone service line, not a partner referral—single-contract execution from strategy through production code reduces vendor coordination
⚠ Watch-outs
- •Enterprise-scale consultancy backed by GlobalLogic/Hitachi—if you need a small, agile UX team, this may be more organization than your project requires
- •Published case studies feature global brands but limited visible London-specific work—confirm which team and location will lead your engagement
Service coverage
Where each agency overlaps and where each is unique.
Only IDEO
- •Service Design
- •Innovation
- •Product Design
Both
None.
Only Method
- •Experience Design
- •UX/UI
- •Digital Transformation
Industry coverage
Where each agency overlaps and where each is unique.
Pricing math
Estimated cost of a typical 12-week senior engagement (~480 hours), at each agency's published rate.
IDEO
Rate: €200/hr
€96,000+
Method
Rate: €117/hr
€56,160+
For most general product engagements, Method delivers better ROI per hour. For Retail-specific work, IDEO's premium is justified by their declared specialization.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, IDEO or Method?
- Method is cheaper by roughly 71% — €117/hr median vs €200/hr at IDEO. The premium reflects either brand or specialization — see the editorial pull quotes for context.
- Which has more Healthcare experience, IDEO or Method?
- Both agencies publish Healthcare case studies. IDEO has the broader industry stack overall, with disclosed experience in Retail, Automotive beyond their shared focus.
- Which scores higher overall, IDEO or Method?
- Both score equally well overall (77/100). The deciding factor is specialization — see the editorial quotes and Strengths sections above. Full methodology.
- When should I consider both IDEO and Method?
- Consider running parallel discovery briefs with IDEO and Method if your project spans multiple workstreams, you want competitive proposals to compare scope and approach, or you're undecided between the specialization angles each brings (see the Best for cards above). Most engagements ultimately go with one — but the parallel-brief phase is a low-cost way to validate fit.
Read the full reviews
Side-by-side comparison is a starting point. The full editorial reviews include portfolio analysis, case studies, and the buyer-strength / watch-out detail behind the bullets above.
Comparison last updated May 29, 2026. Most recently reviewed: IDEO on February 11, 2026. How we rank