Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
The Gradient (4.2/5) edges ahead of Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) overall. The Gradient is the better choice for Fintech, healthcare, retail — AI-native, limited roster for senior attention. Fresh Tilled Soil is the stronger option for Mid-market, enterprise — long-tenured Boston UX boutique. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Fresh Tilled Soil | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2005 | 2016 |
| HQ | Boston, MA, USA | Lviv, Ukraine |
| Team size | 11–50 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group | A deliberately small, AI-native studio with a notable client list (Qatar Airways, Philips, Daimler AG) unusual for its self-limited scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project | Fixed project, retainer |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Sketch, React | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient: overview
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.
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: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Capability | Fresh Tilled Soil | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Framework / platform | Fresh Tilled Soil | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Criterion | Fresh Tilled Soil | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Dimension | Fresh Tilled Soil | The Gradient |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products | Financial services / fintech, Healthcare, E-commerce / retail |
| Best use cases | UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand, Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | 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 |
Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient: pros and cons
| 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 |
| 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 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.
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: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Fresh Tilled Soil (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: Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient
| Use case | Fresh Tilled Soil fit | The Gradient fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| UX/UI redesign for a mid-market or enterprise brand | Strong | Limited | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product | Strong | Limited | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| 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: Fresh Tilled Soil 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.
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) is worth a look if you need front-end development paired with UX design for an existing product. If your situation matches that, Fresh Tilled Soil is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
Fresh Tilled Soil vs The Gradient FAQ
Is Fresh Tilled Soil better than The Gradient?
The Gradient (4.2/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE. 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 Fresh Tilled Soil and The Gradient differ in pricing?
Fresh Tilled Soil uses fixed project 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: Fresh Tilled Soil or The Gradient?
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 Fresh Tilled Soil and The Gradient?
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. 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 (11–50 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Financial services / fintech, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.