MetaLab
The studio behind Slack, Uber, and Coinbase product design.
What is MetaLab?
MetaLab was founded in 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson and became a subsidiary of Canadian holding company Tiny in January 2017 — an ownership fact worth disclosing. Based in Victoria, British Columbia and operating remote-first across 17 countries with 160+ employees, MetaLab's design credits include Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. The studio runs full product engagements from research and strategy through UX, UI, and design systems.
MetaLab was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada (remote-first). The firm employs 160+ people and works primarily with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products sectors. Its primary differentiator is: Design credits spanning Slack, Uber, Coinbase, and Midjourney give it one of the strongest SaaS/fintech portfolios in this roster.
MetaLab tech stack and services
| Service area | Details |
|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | Available for SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products clients |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | Available for SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products clients |
| Consumer product UI overhaul for a high-growth brand | Available for SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products clients |
MetaLab use cases
Short answer: MetaLab is best suited for well-funded SaaS and fintech teams that need a full-stack product design partner from research through design systems..
| Use case | Industries | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS product design from research through design system | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Figma, Framer |
| Fintech app redesign for a funded startup | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Figma, Framer |
| Consumer product UI overhaul for a high-growth brand | SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech | Figma, Framer |
MetaLab pricing
Short answer: MetaLab uses a fixed project, dedicated team pricing approach. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable).
| Engagement model | Typical range | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed project | From $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) | Well-defined scope |
| Dedicated team | Variable; depends on team size | Large programmes or team augmentation |
MetaLab pros and cons
| Advantages | Things to consider |
|---|---|
| +Portfolio includes Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, and Midjourney — exceptional for a 160-person studio | -Became a Tiny subsidiary in 2017 — worth disclosing even though the founding team and brand remain |
| +Remote-first across 17 countries enables round-the-clock delivery coverage | -Reported $150K+ typical minimum (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable) is out of reach for early-stage startups |
| +Full-stack engagement model spans research, strategy, UX, UI, and design systems in one team | -High-profile client roster can translate into longer lead times for new engagements |
| +Nearly two decades under the same founding brand |
MetaLab vs alternatives
How MetaLab compares to the other top Product Design agencies.
| Company | Best for | Key difference | Rating | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phenomenon Studio | Growing SaaS, fintech, and healthcare companies that need... | A 5.0 Clutch rating, HIPAA compliance, and NN/g certification back a full-cycle team that has shipped 120+ products behind $500M+ in client fundraising | 4.9 | Full comparison |
| IDEO | Large enterprises funding multi-year design transformation programs across... | The originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide behind decades of enterprise case studies | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Frog | Enterprises that need design covering both digital products... | Rare combined software-plus-hardware design capability (IoT, automotive, medical devices) at Capgemini Invent scale | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| R/GA | Global consumer or enterprise brands that want product... | Blends product design with marketing and brand strategy in one team, now operating independently after its 2025 buyout from IPG | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| Accenture Song | Large, regulated enterprises (banking, telecom, automotive) that need... | 36 global studios and 2,000+ specialists give it the largest footprint and compliance coverage in this list | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Work & Co | Premium consumer and enterprise brands wanting design paired... | An engineering-led delivery model backing a client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) unusually strong for its headcount | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Huge Inc | Large enterprise brands comfortable working with a big... | One of the largest, longest-running digital agencies in this list, now merged with Hero Digital under AEA Investors ownership | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| Clay | B2B SaaS, AI, and fintech companies seeking a... | A client roster (Coinbase, Uber, Meta, Google, Slack) that's unusually strong relative to its unconfirmed, boutique-scale headcount | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| ustwo | Enterprise and consumer product teams wanting a studio... | Pairs enterprise client work (JPMorgan) with self-published consumer product craft, proven by its own game Monument Valley | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Ramotion | Startups and mid-market companies wanting brand identity and... | Combines brand identity work with UX/UI and app development for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| Fireart Studio | Startups and mid-market companies wanting one studio to... | 700+ delivered projects for 200+ clients backed by an independently-verified 'Leading UX Design Team' Clutch recognition | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Qubstudio | Fintech, logistics, and healthcare companies needing anything from... | #1 UX/UI agency on Clutch's 2026 rankings across 90+ reviews, with Red Dot Design Award recognition on top | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| Excited | SaaS and fintech product teams wanting a Clutch... | A repeat Clutch Top-5 global UX agency ranking, with roughly 70% of reviews specifically citing quality and creativity | 4.6 | Full comparison |
| Gapsy Studio | Fintech, SaaS, and healthcare teams wanting a perfect-rated... | A 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating across 52 reviews, backed by 13+ international awards from Behance, Awwwards, and FWA | 4.5 | Full comparison |
| Goji Labs | Startups, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits wanting strategy-led product design... | A 2025 Inc. 5000 honoree that explicitly extends beyond funded startups to nonprofits and individual entrepreneurs | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| Eleken | SaaS teams that want a predictable monthly subscription... | A subscription embedded-team model (~$6,599/month), SaaS-only, with a 4.9 Clutch rating across 200+ projects | 4.1 | Full comparison |
| UXDA | Banks and fintech companies that want a studio... | The only agency in this roster exclusively focused on financial services UX, with 150+ banking and fintech platforms shaped across 39 countries | 4.2 | Full comparison |
| Onething Design | Companies needing one studio that covers BFSI, consumer,... | Unusually broad five-industry coverage from one team, with delivery presence spanning the US and India | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Topflight Apps | Healthcare, fintech, and AI startups that prefer a... | A monthly-subscription engagement model built specifically around healthcare, fintech, and AI app development | 3.9 | Full comparison |
| UX studio | B2B SaaS teams with complex products that want... | A research-first methodology comparable in rigor to Phenomenon Studio's own discovery-first approach, applied specifically to complex B2B SaaS products | 4.3 | Full comparison |
| Halo Lab | E-commerce, marketing-site, and web-app teams wanting a Top-1... | A Top-1 Dribbble Team ranking worldwide plus 70+ design awards and a 4.9 Clutch rating across 60+ reviews | 4.4 | Full comparison |
| Spaceberry Studio | Budget-conscious SaaS, AI, and mobile app teams wanting... | One of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract | 3.7 | Full comparison |
| ANML | B2B, healthcare, and AI startups wanting a very... | One of the smallest teams in this roster, offering the most senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work | 3.8 | Full comparison |
| Momentum Design Lab | Clients who specifically want a long-tenured Silicon Valley... | Nearly a quarter-century of continuous operation, one of the oldest boutiques in this list by founding date | 4.0 | Full comparison |
| The Gradient | Fintech, healthcare, and retail clients wanting an AI-native... | A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale | 4.3 | Full comparison |
MetaLab FAQ
What is MetaLab?
MetaLab was founded in 2006 by Andrew Wilkinson and became a subsidiary of Canadian holding company Tiny in January 2017 — an ownership fact worth disclosing. Based in Victoria, British Columbia and operating remote-first across 17 countries with 160+ employees, MetaLab's design credits include Slack, Uber, Coinbase, Robinhood, Nike, Midjourney, and Headspace. The studio runs full product engagements from research and strategy through UX, UI, and design systems.
How much does MetaLab charge?
MetaLab uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing. Minimum engagement starts at $150K+ (per industry roundups; independently unverifiable). A discovery call is required to get project-specific quotes.
What tech stack does MetaLab use?
MetaLab works with Figma, Framer, Design systems/Storybook, React, Webflow. Primary industries served include SaaS / B2B software, Financial services / fintech, Consumer products.
Is MetaLab right for enterprise?
Well-funded SaaS and fintech teams that need a full-stack product design partner from research through design systems.. 160+ team size. Key consideration: Became a Tiny subsidiary in 2017 — worth disclosing even though the founding team and brand remain.
What are the best MetaLab alternatives?
The best alternatives to MetaLab depend on your use case. Top options are:
- Phenomenon Studio: a 5.0 clutch rating, hipaa compliance, and nn/g certification back a full-cycle team that has shipped 120+ products behind $500m+ in client fundraising
- IDEO: the originating human-centered-design consultancy, with roughly 24 studios worldwide behind decades of enterprise case studies
- Frog: rare combined software-plus-hardware design capability (iot, automotive, medical devices) at capgemini invent scale
Compare MetaLab with other Product Design agencies
Last reviewed: July 2026. Verify all details directly with MetaLab before making a decision.