Doberman vs ANML: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Doberman (3.8/5) edges ahead of ANML (3.8/5) overall. Doberman is the better choice for Nordic/European enterprises, service design backed by EY network. ANML is the stronger option for B2B, healthcare, AI startups — tiny senior team. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Doberman vs ANML: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Doberman | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2012 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden (also Oslo and Copenhagen) | Silicon Valley, CA, USA |
| Team size | 100+ (within EY's global network) | ~10 (per LinkedIn) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition | One of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Sketch |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software |
Doberman vs ANML: overview
Doberman
Doberman started in Stockholm in 1998 and grew into a 100+ person design and innovation firm with studios in Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen before EY acquired a majority stake, folding it into EY's much larger consulting network. Its client list spans Google, Swedish banks, and public-sector organizations, and Doberman positions itself around service and product innovation rather than pure visual design — helping organizations design new services and customer experiences, not just interfaces.
ANML
ANML (Animal) launched in 2012 and has stayed genuinely small — LinkedIn lists roughly 10 employees — while operating out of Silicon Valley. That size is the point: the studio positions itself as a boutique UI/UX design shop where clients work directly with senior people, concentrated specifically on B2B, healthcare, and AI engagements rather than spreading across unrelated verticals.
Services and capabilities: Doberman vs ANML
| Capability | Doberman | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Doberman vs ANML
| Framework / platform | Doberman | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| 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: Doberman vs ANML
| Criterion | Doberman | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Doberman vs ANML
| Dimension | Doberman | ANML |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software |
| Best use cases | Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization, Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team, Healthcare product UX with a boutique studio |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Doberman vs ANML: pros and cons
| Doberman | |
|---|---|
| + | Nearly three decades of continuous operation since 1998, longer than most European boutiques on this list |
| + | Three-city Nordic studio footprint (Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen) |
| + | EY's majority-stake backing provides access to a much larger global consulting network |
| + | Client list includes Google alongside major Swedish banks and public-sector organizations |
| - | Majority acquired by EY, so clients are hiring into a large consulting network rather than an independent boutique |
| - | Nordic-centered office footprint may mean less overlap with US or APAC business hours |
| - | Team size figures blend Doberman's own ~100 staff with EY's much larger combined network, making direct capacity comparison harder |
| ANML | |
|---|---|
| + | 13 years of continuous operation since 2012 |
| + | A roughly 10-person team means direct access to senior designers on every project |
| + | Focused specifically on B2B, healthcare, and AI rather than spreading across unrelated verticals |
| + | Boutique scale keeps overhead — and likely pricing — lower than mid-size studios |
| - | A ~10-person team caps capacity for large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement isn't published, so budget planning requires a direct conversation |
| - | Small scale means less multi-region delivery capacity than larger studios on this list |
Who should choose Doberman?
A typical fit: service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization.
Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation.
Who should choose ANML?
A typical fit: B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team.
One of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software.
Decision matrix: Doberman vs ANML
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Doberman |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Check each company's engagement model |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Doberman (Not published) vs ANML (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Doberman |
| 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: Doberman vs ANML
| Use case | Doberman fit | ANML fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization | Strong | Limited | Doberman |
| Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| B2B SaaS product design for a small, senior team | Limited | Strong | ANML |
| Healthcare product UX with a boutique studio | Limited | Strong | ANML |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Doberman vs ANML
Doberman (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition.
ANML (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need healthcare product UX with a boutique studio. If your situation matches that, ANML is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Doberman vs ANML FAQ
Is Doberman better than ANML?
Doberman (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Doberman's strongest advantage: nearly three decades of continuous operation since 1998, longer than most European boutiques on this list. ANML's strongest advantage: 13 years of continuous operation since 2012.
How do Doberman and ANML differ in pricing?
Doberman uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. ANML 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: Doberman or ANML?
Doberman is the larger team and typically the better enterprise-scale choice. For very large programmes, verify team size and compliance coverage directly with each agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Doberman and ANML?
Doberman's primary differentiator is: nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition. ANML's primary differentiator is: one of the smallest teams in this roster, giving clients the highest senior-to-client ratio for B2B, healthcare, and AI work. They also differ in team size (100+ (within EY's global network) vs ~10 (per LinkedIn)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs Healthcare, SaaS / B2B software).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.