IDEO vs Fresh Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
IDEO (3.9/5) edges ahead of Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) overall. IDEO is the better choice for Enterprises, multi-year transformation, substantial budgets. Fresh Consulting is the stronger option for Hardware/robotics product design alongside software UX. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
IDEO vs Fresh Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | IDEO | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 2007 |
| HQ | San Francisco Bay Area, CA, USA | Bellevue, WA, USA |
| Team size | 500–1,000 | 150+ |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide | Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale |
| Pricing model | Project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, CAD tools, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
IDEO vs Fresh Consulting: overview
IDEO
When people say "human-centered design," they're usually echoing language IDEO helped establish after its 1991 formation — a merger of David Kelley Design, Moggridge Associates, ID Two, and Matrix Product Design. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area with close to two dozen studios worldwide, the firm's case-study list includes the original Apple Mouse alongside long relationships with Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and major US health systems. Access to that legacy isn't cheap: industry roundups put typical engagement minimums near $300K (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable).
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.
Services and capabilities: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Capability | IDEO | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Framework / platform | IDEO | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | ✓ |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | ✓ | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Criterion | IDEO | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Accessible | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Dimension | IDEO | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Mid-market to enterprise | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy, Large health system patient experience redesign | Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering, Medical device UX and hardware design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
IDEO vs Fresh Consulting: pros and cons
| IDEO | |
|---|---|
| + | The firm most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline |
| + | Roughly 24 studios worldwide support genuine multi-region delivery |
| + | Landmark case studies (the original Apple Mouse, P&G, PepsiCo) span decades and industries |
| + | Strategy and organizational-transformation capability extends well past interface design |
| - | A $300K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) rules out startups and most mid-market budgets |
| - | Consultancy-scale process can move slower than a boutique company |
| - | Broad enterprise-consulting positioning trades away the depth boutiques bring to one specific niche |
| 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 |
Who should choose IDEO?
A typical fit: multi-business-unit design transformation strategy.
The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide. Minimum engagement starts at $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | IDEO |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | IDEO |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: IDEO ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable)) vs Fresh Consulting (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | IDEO |
| 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: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
| Use case | IDEO fit | Fresh Consulting fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-business-unit design transformation strategy | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Large health system patient experience redesign | Strong | Limited | IDEO |
| Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering | Limited | Strong | Fresh Consulting |
| Medical device UX and hardware design | Limited | Strong | Fresh Consulting |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: IDEO vs Fresh Consulting
IDEO (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. The firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide.
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need medical device UX and hardware design. If your situation matches that, Fresh Consulting is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
IDEO vs Fresh Consulting FAQ
Is IDEO better than Fresh Consulting?
IDEO (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. IDEO's strongest advantage: the firm most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline. Fresh Consulting's strongest advantage: 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof.
How do IDEO and Fresh Consulting differ in pricing?
IDEO uses project-based, enterprise engagements (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of $300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). Fresh Consulting 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: IDEO or Fresh Consulting?
IDEO 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 IDEO and Fresh Consulting?
IDEO's primary differentiator is: the firm whose 1991 formation is most credited with establishing human-centered design as a formal discipline, still running roughly 24 studios worldwide. Fresh Consulting's primary differentiator is: combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale. They also differ in team size (500–1,000 vs 150+), minimum engagement ($300K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Healthcare, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each company before making a decision.