EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) edges ahead of EPAM Continuum (3.7/5) overall. Fresh Tilled Soil is the better choice for Mid-market, enterprise — long-tenured Boston UX boutique. 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 Fresh Tilled Soil: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | EPAM Continuum | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1983 | 2005 |
| HQ | Boston, MA, USA | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce) | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group |
| Pricing model | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook | Figma, Sketch, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil: 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.
Fresh Tilled Soil
Fresh Tilled Soil opened in Boston in 2005, building a UX/UI design and front-end development practice with clients including FedEx, GE, Titleist, and Boston Private Bank across more than 700 projects. In 2020 the firm joined ADK Group, operating today as "Fresh Tilled Soil, an ADK Group Company" — a detail worth knowing since it's no longer fully independent. The team stays compact at 11–50 people, keeping the studio boutique in feel even inside a larger group structure.
Services and capabilities: EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Capability | EPAM Continuum | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✓ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Framework / platform | EPAM Continuum | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | 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 Fresh Tilled Soil
| Criterion | EPAM Continuum | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Dimension | EPAM Continuum | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery, Legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs | UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand, Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil: 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 |
| Fresh Tilled Soil | |
|---|---|
| + | 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE |
| + | Two decades of continuous operation under the same brand |
| + | Compact 11–50 person team keeps client relationships direct |
| + | ADK Group membership since 2020 adds access to a broader group's resources |
| - | No longer fully independent — operates as part of ADK Group since 2020 |
| - | An 11–50 person team caps capacity for very large, multi-workstream programs |
| - | Pricing and minimum engagement size aren't published |
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 Fresh Tilled Soil?
A typical fit: UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand.
700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products.
Decision matrix: EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| 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 Fresh Tilled Soil (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 Fresh Tilled Soil
| Use case | EPAM Continuum fit | Fresh Tilled Soil 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 |
| UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand | Limited | Strong | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | Limited | Strong | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: EPAM Continuum vs Fresh Tilled Soil
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group.
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 Fresh Tilled Soil FAQ
Is EPAM Continuum better than Fresh Tilled Soil?
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) 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. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE.
How do EPAM Continuum and Fresh Tilled Soil differ in pricing?
EPAM Continuum uses enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. Fresh Tilled Soil 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: EPAM Continuum or Fresh Tilled Soil?
Fresh Tilled Soil 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 Fresh Tilled Soil?
EPAM Continuum's primary differentiator is: carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale. Fresh Tilled Soil's primary differentiator is: 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group. They also differ in team size (Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce) vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Healthcare vs Enterprise transformation, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.