Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Doberman (3.8/5) edges ahead of Spaceberry Studio (3.7/5) overall. Doberman is the better choice for Nordic/European enterprises, service design backed by EY network. Spaceberry Studio is the stronger option for budget-conscious SaaS/AI teams, low-commitment subscription. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Doberman | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2016 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden (also Oslo and Copenhagen) | Ukraine (also London, UK) |
| Team size | 100+ (within EY's global network) | 12–50 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.7 / 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 most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Monthly subscription (dedicated designer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Framer, Webflow |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio: 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.
Spaceberry Studio
Spaceberry Studio started life in 2016 as MainCode Agency, rebranding to Spaceberry in 2020 — the same continuous team and entity, so 2016 is used as the founding year here. Based in Ukraine with an additional London office, the studio runs 12–50 employees depending on source, and sells subscription-style UI/UX design for SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than quoting fixed-price projects — one of two subscription comparators in this roster alongside Eleken.
Services and capabilities: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
| Capability | Doberman | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✗ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
| Framework / platform | Doberman | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | ✓ |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | ✓ |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | N/A |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | N/A |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
| Criterion | Doberman | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable) |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Subscription |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Accessible |
Target audience comparison: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
| Dimension | Doberman | Spaceberry Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization, Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription, AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Subscription |
Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio: 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 |
| Spaceberry Studio | |
|---|---|
| + | Subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry here |
| + | Focused specifically on SaaS, AI, and mobile apps rather than spreading thin across many verticals |
| + | London, UK location adds geographic diversification alongside its Ukraine base |
| + | Continuous operation since 2016, spanning its 2020 rebrand from MainCode Agency |
| - | Smallest reported team-size band (12–50) among the boutiques in this roster, limiting capacity for large programs |
| - | Rebranded from MainCode Agency in 2020, so some pre-2020 case studies may appear under the earlier name |
| - | Subscription-only model may not suit clients preferring a single fixed-price contract with a defined end date |
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 Spaceberry Studio?
A typical fit: ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription.
One of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. Minimum engagement starts at $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Works best with clients in SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
| 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 Spaceberry Studio ($4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)) |
| 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 Spaceberry Studio
| Use case | Doberman fit | Spaceberry Studio 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 |
| Ongoing SaaS product design on a monthly subscription | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team | Limited | Strong | Spaceberry Studio |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio
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.
Spaceberry Studio (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need AI product UI/UX design for a lean startup team. If your situation matches that, Spaceberry Studio is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Doberman vs Spaceberry Studio FAQ
Is Doberman better than Spaceberry Studio?
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. Spaceberry Studio's strongest advantage: subscription pricing (from ~$4.5K/month, per company website; independently unverifiable) is one of the lowest barriers to entry here.
How do Doberman and Spaceberry Studio differ in pricing?
Doberman uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Spaceberry Studio uses monthly subscription (dedicated designer) pricing with a minimum engagement of $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable). Neither firm publishes a full rate card; a discovery call is required for project-specific quotes.
Which is better for enterprise: Doberman or Spaceberry Studio?
Spaceberry 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 agency before shortlisting.
What are the main differences between Doberman and Spaceberry Studio?
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. Spaceberry Studio's primary differentiator is: one of the most accessible entry points in this roster via a subscription model rather than a large upfront fixed-price contract. They also differ in team size (100+ (within EY's global network) vs 12–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs $4.5K/month (per company website; independently unverifiable)), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs SaaS / B2B software, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.