R/GA vs Fresh Consulting: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Fresh Consulting is the better choice for Hardware/robotics product design alongside software UX. R/GA is the stronger option for large brands, product design bundled with brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Fresh Consulting: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2007 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Bellevue, WA, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 150+ |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades | Combines industrial design and hardware engineering (robotics, medical equipment) with software UX at 150+ person scale |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Project-based (not published) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, CAD tools, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
R/GA vs Fresh Consulting: overview
R/GA
R/GA has operated out of New York City since 1977, expanding to ten countries that include Austin, London, São Paulo, Singapore, and Stockholm. After 23 years inside Interpublic Group, the firm completed an independent buyout in March 2025 backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital — a change recent enough to ask about directly. What's stayed constant across that ownership shift is the pitch: product design fused with marketing and brand strategy for large consumer and enterprise platforms.
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: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Capability | R/GA | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Framework / platform | R/GA | 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 | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Criterion | R/GA | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Dimension | R/GA | Fresh Consulting |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Healthcare, Consumer products, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Robotics or industrial-equipment product design and engineering, Medical device UX and hardware design |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
R/GA vs Fresh Consulting: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country presence spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of case studies and enterprise brand relationships |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | Still stabilizing operationally after a recent (2025) private-equity-backed ownership change |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutique companies |
| - | Scale and pricing suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Consulting |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Fresh Consulting (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
| Use case | R/GA fit | Fresh Consulting fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Fresh Consulting
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.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing/campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Fresh Consulting FAQ
Is R/GA better than Fresh Consulting?
Fresh Consulting (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. Fresh Consulting's strongest advantage: 150+ specialists spanning industrial design, UX, strategy, and engineering under one roof.
How do R/GA and Fresh Consulting differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. 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: R/GA or Fresh Consulting?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Fresh Consulting?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now independently owned for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 vs 150+), minimum engagement (Not published 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.