Agency Comparison
IDEO vs Spring/Summer
Comparing Service Design options: London vs Copenhagen.
Side by side
Key data on both agencies. The accent dot marks where one leads.
| IDEO | Spring/Summer | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | ●77/100 | 75/100 |
| Hourly rate | €200/hr | ●€150-199/hr |
| Team size | ●50-99 | 10-49 |
| Location | London, United Kingdom | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Founded | — | 2013 |
| Tier | Free | Free |
| Last reviewed | Feb 11, 2026 | ●May 30, 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 Spring/Summer
"The published portfolio runs 65 projects across e-commerce, brand identity, and website builds, with named clients including Polène, American Express, Carl Hansen & Søn, Bang & Olufsen, and Carlsberg, plus mobile work for Magasin, Uniqlo, and Swatch; the award record is documented in depth (Awwwards 2x Site of the Year and 23x Site of the Day, FWA 28x). Case studies read as design-rationale narratives heavy on visuals and strategic framing rather than UX evidence, with no user research…"
— UXAgencies editorial team, reviewed May 30, 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
- •larger team capacity for multi-stream or enterprise-scale programs
- •disclosed specialization in Healthcare / Retail
- •broader service offering — also covers Innovation
- •a higher overall editorial score
Choose Spring/Summer if you need
- •closer collaboration at a smaller team scale
- •disclosed specialization in E-commerce / SaaS & B2B
- •broader service offering — also covers Design Systems and Mobile App Design
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
Spring/Summer
✓ Strengths
- •65 published projects with recognizable clients (Polène, American Express, Carl Hansen & Søn, Bang & Olufsen, Carlsberg) and full case-study pages for each, concentrated in e-commerce and brand/website work.
- •Documented award record across multiple bodies (Awwwards 2x Site of the Year / 23x Site of the Day, FWA 28x, Creative Circle Digital Agency of the Year), supporting the premium positioning on craft.
- •Clear business legitimacy: Copenhagen address, phone, email, a stated 15-20 person multidisciplinary team, and named platform competencies (Shopify Plus, Sanity, Webflow).
⚠ Watch-outs
- •Ask for research artefacts and quantified outcomes (conversion lift, AOV, traffic) before signing; the visible case studies show design rationale and aesthetics but no testing or redesign-attributable metrics, which is a gap at a €150-199/hr rate.
- •Confirm Service Design, UX Audit, and Dashboard Design capability directly, as none appear in the site's offerings or portfolio.
- •Verify FinTech and SaaS/B2B experience with reference projects, since the visible finance work is investment/portfolio sites rather than fintech products.
Service coverage
Where each agency overlaps and where each is unique.
Only IDEO
- •Innovation
Only Spring/Summer
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+
Spring/Summer
Rate: €150-199/hr
€72,000–€95,520
For most general product engagements, Spring/Summer delivers better ROI per hour. For Healthcare-specific work, IDEO's premium is justified by their declared specialization.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, IDEO or Spring/Summer?
- Spring/Summer is cheaper by roughly 15% — €175/hr median vs €200/hr at IDEO. The premium reflects either brand or specialization — see the editorial pull quotes for context.
- Which scores higher overall, IDEO or Spring/Summer?
- IDEO scores 77/100, 2 points higher than Spring/Summer at 75/100. Both portfolio quality and business credibility feed into the score — see our methodology for the full breakdown.
- Which is faster to engage, IDEO or Spring/Summer?
- Spring/Summer is typically faster to engage — smaller team, fewer procurement gates. IDEO operates with longer lead times (typical 4–6 week onboarding), reflecting larger-scale program work. Confirm engagement timelines directly with each before signing.
- When should I consider both IDEO and Spring/Summer?
- Consider running parallel discovery briefs with IDEO and Spring/Summer 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 30, 2026. Most recently reviewed: Spring/Summer on May 30, 2026. How we rank