EPAM Continuum vs Doberman: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Doberman (3.8/5) edges ahead of EPAM Continuum (3.7/5) overall. Doberman is the better choice for Nordic/European enterprises, service design backed by EY network. EPAM Continuum is the stronger option for Enterprises, design integrated with strategy and engineering. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
EPAM Continuum vs Doberman: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Continuum | Doberman |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 1998 |
| HQ | Boston, MA, USA | Stockholm, Sweden (also Oslo and Copenhagen) |
| Team size | Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce) | 100+ (within EY's global network) |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale | Nearly three decades of Nordic service-and-product-design work, now backed by EY's global consulting network after its majority-stake acquisition |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Miro, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation |
EPAM Continuum vs Doberman: overview
EPAM Continuum
Continuum's design pedigree predates most of the firms on this list — Gianfranco Zaccai founded it in Boston in 1983, and the studio went on to shape landmark industrial-design work including the Reebok Pump. EPAM Systems acquired Continuum in 2018, folding it into what's now EPAM Continuum, a practice that fuses strategy, design, and engineering rather than treating design as a standalone deliverable. That combination — decades-old industrial-design credibility running inside a large enterprise software engineering consultancy — is unusual among the names in this list.
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.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Capability | EPAM Continuum | Doberman |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✓ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Framework / platform | EPAM Continuum | Doberman |
|---|---|---|
| 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: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Criterion | EPAM Continuum | Doberman |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Dimension | EPAM Continuum | Doberman |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation |
| Best use cases | Enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery, Legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs | Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization, Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
EPAM Continuum vs Doberman: pros and cons
| EPAM Continuum | |
|---|---|
| + | Decades of design pedigree predating most agencies on this list, including landmark industrial-design work |
| + | Integrates strategy, design, and engineering rather than treating design as a standalone deliverable |
| + | Backed by EPAM's much larger global technology-consulting and engineering bench |
| + | Long operating history gives it enterprise case studies across multiple industries |
| - | Acquired into EPAM Systems in 2018 — no longer an independent design consultancy |
| - | Consultancy scale and pricing are less accessible to startups than boutique studios |
| - | Design work here comes bundled with broader technology consulting rather than offered as a standalone service |
| 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 |
Who should choose EPAM Continuum?
A typical fit: enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery.
Carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products.
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.
Decision matrix: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | EPAM Continuum |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | EPAM Continuum |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: EPAM Continuum (Not published) vs Doberman (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | EPAM Continuum |
| 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: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
| Use case | EPAM Continuum fit | Doberman fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs | Strong | Limited | EPAM Continuum |
| Service design for a Nordic bank or public-sector organization | Limited | Strong | Doberman |
| Product innovation engagement backed by a large consulting network | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: EPAM Continuum vs Doberman
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.
EPAM Continuum (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs. If your situation matches that, EPAM Continuum is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
EPAM Continuum vs Doberman FAQ
Is EPAM Continuum better than Doberman?
Doberman (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. EPAM Continuum's strongest advantage: decades of design pedigree predating most agencies on this list, including landmark industrial-design work. Doberman's strongest advantage: nearly three decades of continuous operation since 1998, longer than most European boutiques on this list.
How do EPAM Continuum and Doberman differ in pricing?
EPAM Continuum uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Doberman uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or 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: EPAM Continuum or Doberman?
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 EPAM Continuum and Doberman?
EPAM Continuum's primary differentiator is: carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale. 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. They also differ in team size (Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce) vs 100+ (within EY's global network)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs Financial services / fintech, Enterprise transformation).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.