Pentagram vs Orbix Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Pentagram (4.0/5) edges ahead of Orbix Studio (3.6/5) overall. Pentagram is the better choice for brands wanting identity, packaging, digital design. Orbix Studio is the stronger option for Seed-to-Series-B startups, founder-close young team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Pentagram vs Orbix Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Pentagram | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 | 2023 |
| HQ | London, UK (also New York, San Francisco, Berlin, and Austin) | Queens, NY, USA |
| Team size | 24 partners plus their teams (total not published) | 10–30 |
| Rating | 4.0 / 5 | 3.6 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A 24-partner, no-CEO structure unique among the studios in this list, and the world's largest independent design consultancy by its own claim | The newest studio in this list, built specifically around the seed-to-Series-B funded startup stage |
| Pricing model | Project-based (not published) | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, React | Figma, React, Swift |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
Pentagram vs Orbix Studio: overview
Pentagram
Five founding partners — Alan Fletcher, Theo Crosby, Colin Forbes, Kenneth Grange, and Mervyn Kurlansky — started Pentagram in London in 1972, and the firm still runs on the same unusual structure more than five decades later: 24 practicing-designer partners, each running their own team, sharing overhead and profits, with no single CEO. Pentagram calls itself the world's largest independent design consultancy, working from London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, and Austin across graphics, branding, products and packaging, and digital experiences — a broader scope than the pure product-design specialists elsewhere in this list.
Orbix Studio
Every other studio in this list has at least several years of track record; Orbix Studio, launched in 2023 out of Queens, NY, does not, and that's disclosed plainly rather than papered over. The studio reports 10–30 employees depending on source and focuses specifically on B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthtech product design paired with front-end development, aimed at funded startups from seed through Series B — a precise stage-focus that most studios in this list don't bother to state.
Services and capabilities: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Capability | Pentagram | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Framework / platform | Pentagram | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Criterion | Pentagram | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Dimension | Pentagram | Orbix Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare |
| Best use cases | Brand identity and digital product design bundled into one engagement, Packaging or physical-product design alongside a digital product | Seed-stage B2B SaaS MVP design and front-end build, Fintech product design for a Series A-B startup |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Pentagram vs Orbix Studio: pros and cons
| Pentagram | |
|---|---|
| + | Owner-partners are the practicing designers and primary client contacts, not a layer of account management above the design team |
| + | Over five decades of continuous, independent operation since 1972 |
| + | Five-city studio footprint (London, New York, San Francisco, Berlin, Austin) |
| + | Scope spans branding, packaging, and digital product design, useful for clients wanting more than pure UI work |
| - | Broader branding-and-identity focus means less concentrated digital-product-design specialization than boutiques built around SaaS or app UX specifically |
| - | Team size and per-partner capacity aren't published in a way that's easy to compare against other studios |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
| Orbix Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Built specifically for funded startups at the seed-through-Series-B stage, a precise positioning few others in this list share |
| + | Small team size (10–30) means direct founder-to-founder access rather than layered account management |
| + | Combines product design with front-end development, reducing hand-off risk for early-stage teams |
| + | Covers three complex, high-value verticals (B2B SaaS, fintech, healthtech) despite its youth |
| - | Founded in 2023 — by a wide margin the thinnest public track record of any studio in this list |
| - | 10–30 person team caps capacity for large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, so budget planning requires a direct conversation |
Who should choose Pentagram?
A typical fit: brand identity and digital product design bundled into one engagement.
A 24-partner, no-CEO structure unique among the studios in this list, and the world's largest independent design consultancy by its own claim. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Media & entertainment.
Who should choose Orbix Studio?
A typical fit: seed-stage B2B SaaS MVP design and front-end build.
The newest studio in this list, built specifically around the seed-to-Series-B funded startup stage. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Healthcare.
Decision matrix: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Pentagram |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Pentagram (Not published) vs Orbix Studio (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Pentagram |
| 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: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
| Use case | Pentagram fit | Orbix Studio fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand identity and digital product design bundled into one engagement | Strong | Limited | Pentagram |
| Packaging or physical-product design alongside a digital product | Strong | Limited | Pentagram |
| Seed-stage B2B SaaS MVP design and front-end build | Limited | Strong | Orbix Studio |
| Fintech product design for a Series A-B startup | Limited | Strong | Orbix Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Pentagram vs Orbix Studio
Pentagram (4.0/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A 24-partner, no-CEO structure unique among the studios in this list, and the world's largest independent design consultancy by its own claim.
Orbix Studio (3.6/5) is worth a look if you need fintech product design for a Series A-B startup. If your situation matches that, Orbix Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Pentagram vs Orbix Studio FAQ
Is Pentagram better than Orbix Studio?
Pentagram (4.0/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Pentagram's strongest advantage: owner-partners are the practicing designers and primary client contacts, not a layer of account management above the design team. Orbix Studio's strongest advantage: built specifically for funded startups at the seed-through-Series-B stage, a precise positioning few others in this list share.
How do Pentagram and Orbix Studio differ in pricing?
Pentagram uses project-based (not published) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Orbix Studio uses fixed project 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: Pentagram or Orbix Studio?
Orbix Studio is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each studio before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Pentagram and Orbix Studio?
Pentagram's primary differentiator is: a 24-partner, no-CEO structure unique among the studios in this list, and the world's largest independent design consultancy by its own claim. Orbix Studio's primary differentiator is: the newest studio in this list, built specifically around the seed-to-Series-B funded startup stage. They also differ in team size (24 partners plus their teams (total not published) vs 10–30), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech).
Verify all details directly with each studio before making a decision.