Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) edges ahead of Cyber-Duck (3.7/5) overall. Fresh Consulting is the better choice for Hardware/robotics product design alongside software UX. Cyber-Duck is the stronger option for public-sector UK orgs, proven public-trust client list. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fresh Consulting | Cyber-Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2005 |
| HQ | Bellevue, WA, USA | Elstree, Hertfordshire, UK |
| Team size | 150+ | 90+ |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale | A UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, CAD tools, React | Figma, Sketch, React |
| Industries served | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation |
Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck: overview
Fresh Consulting
Fresh Consulting has run out of Bellevue, Washington since 2007, growing to 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering. That combination shows up in its project list: a robotic arm accelerated to launch for Ally Robotics, a first-of-its-kind robotic air hockey table built with Microsoft AI. The company's work spans medical, robotic, and industrial equipment alongside standard consumer and software product design — a physical-plus-digital range shared by only a handful of names in this list.
Cyber-Duck
Danny Bluestone founded Cyber-Duck in 2005 in Elstree, Hertfordshire, building a UX and software development practice that grew to 90+ staff across the UK and Europe before CACI acquired it, an ownership change worth disclosing. Client relationships include the Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify partner CitizenSafe, the Commonwealth of Nations, Sport England, and Mitsubishi Electric — a client list skewed toward public-sector and regulated-industry work.
Services and capabilities: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Capability | Fresh Consulting | Cyber-Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Framework / platform | Fresh Consulting | Cyber-Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Criterion | Fresh Consulting | Cyber-Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Dimension | Fresh Consulting | Cyber-Duck |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering, Medical device UX and hardware design | Government or public-sector digital service UX, Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck: pros and cons
| Fresh Consulting | |
|---|---|
| + | 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof |
| + | Client work spans medical, robotic, and industrial equipment alongside consumer software |
| + | Named projects (Ally Robotics, Microsoft AI robotic air hockey table) demonstrate genuine hardware engineering capability |
| + | Nearly two decades of continuous operation since 2007 |
| - | Hardware-and-robotics emphasis may be a narrower fit for clients needing pure software/UI work |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| - | Single primary office location (Bellevue) offers less multi-region delivery than larger networks |
| Cyber-Duck | |
|---|---|
| + | Client list (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify, Commonwealth of Nations) demonstrates genuine public-sector trust |
| + | 90+ staff across the UK and Europe supports mid-size delivery capacity |
| + | Two decades of continuous operation since 2005 |
| + | CACI acquisition provides access to a larger UK consulting and data-analytics organization |
| - | Acquired by CACI — no longer an independently owned agency, worth disclosing to prospective clients |
| - | Public-sector-heavy client list may be a less direct fit for consumer or startup-stage clients |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
Who should choose Fresh Consulting?
A typical fit: robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering.
Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose Cyber-Duck?
A typical fit: government or public-sector digital service UX.
A UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, Enterprise transformation.
Decision matrix: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fresh Consulting |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Consulting |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fresh Consulting (Not published) vs Cyber-Duck (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Fresh Consulting |
| 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: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
| Use case | Fresh Consulting fit | Cyber-Duck fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering | Strong | Limited | Fresh Consulting |
| Medical device UX and hardware design | Strong | Limited | Fresh Consulting |
| Government or public-sector digital service UX | Limited | Strong | Cyber-Duck |
| Regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design | Limited | Strong | Cyber-Duck |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale.
Cyber-Duck (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need regulated-industry (banking, healthcare charity) product design. If your situation matches that, Cyber-Duck is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fresh Consulting vs Cyber-Duck FAQ
Is Fresh Consulting better than Cyber-Duck?
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fresh Consulting's strongest advantage: 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof. Cyber-Duck's strongest advantage: client list (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK Verify, Commonwealth of Nations) demonstrates genuine public-sector trust.
How do Fresh Consulting and Cyber-Duck differ in pricing?
Fresh Consulting uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Cyber-Duck uses project-based (not published) 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: Fresh Consulting or Cyber-Duck?
Fresh Consulting is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each company before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Fresh Consulting and Cyber-Duck?
Fresh Consulting's primary differentiator is: combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale. Cyber-Duck's primary differentiator is: a UX and development practice built on public-sector and regulated-industry trust (Bank of England, Cancer Research UK, GOV.UK), now backed by CACI. They also differ in team size (150+ vs 90+), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Healthcare, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.