Doberman vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.2/5) edges ahead of Doberman (3.8/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster for senior attention. Doberman is the stronger option for Nordic/European enterprises, service design backed by EY network. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Doberman vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Doberman | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1998 | 2016 |
| HQ | Stockholm, Sweden (also Oslo and Copenhagen) | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 100+ (within EY's global network) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 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 | A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Doberman vs The Gradient: 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.
The Gradient
The Gradient doesn't publish a confirmed founding year, though its 55 Clutch reviews imply several years of delivery history; 2016 is used here as an estimate consistent with the studio's stated track record. Based in Lviv, Ukraine, the team stays intentionally small — 11–50 people — a limit the studio frames as necessary to keep senior attention on every engagement rather than scaling into account-management layers. Client names include Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, and Dubai Financial Market, a notably strong list for a studio this size, built around an explicitly AI-native design practice.
Services and capabilities: Doberman vs The Gradient
| Capability | Doberman | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Doberman vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Doberman | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | N/A | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Doberman vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Doberman | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Doberman vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Doberman | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization, Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform, Retail digital product design for an established brand |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Doberman vs The Gradient: 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 |
| The Gradient | |
|---|---|
| + | Notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small studio |
| + | AI-native positioning is a genuine differentiator versus generalist product design shops |
| + | Deliberately limits its client roster, which the studio frames as preserving senior attention per project |
| + | 55 Clutch reviews imply a substantial track record despite the unconfirmed founding year |
| - | Founding year is not confirmed in available sources beyond an implied multi-year track record |
| - | Deliberately small team (11–50) by design limits capacity for very large or multi-workstream programs |
| - | Minimum engagement is not published, requiring a direct conversation for budget planning |
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 The Gradient?
A typical fit: AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform.
A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail.
Decision matrix: Doberman vs The Gradient
| 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 The Gradient (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | The Gradient |
| 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 The Gradient
| Use case | Doberman fit | The Gradient 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 |
| AI-native product design for a fintech or healthcare platform | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Retail digital product design for an established brand | Limited | Strong | The Gradient |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Doberman vs The Gradient
The Gradient (4.2/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale.
Doberman (3.8/5) is worth a look if you need product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network. If your situation matches that, Doberman is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Doberman vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Doberman better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.2/5) 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. The Gradient's strongest advantage: notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG, Dubai Financial Market) is strong for a deliberately small studio.
How do Doberman and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Doberman uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. The Gradient uses fixed project, retainer 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 The Gradient?
The Gradient 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 The Gradient?
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. The Gradient's primary differentiator is: a deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale. They also differ in team size (100+ (within EY's global network) vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.