R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) edges ahead of R/GA (3.7/5) overall. Fresh Tilled Soil is the better choice for Mid-market, enterprise — long-tenured Boston UX boutique. R/GA is the stronger option for global brands, product design bundled with brand strategy. The right choice depends on your project size, budget, and required tech stack.
R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | R/GA | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1977 | 2005 |
| HQ | New York City, NY, USA | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | ~2,000 | 11–50 |
| Rating | 3.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades | 700+ delivered projects over two decades from a compact 11–50 person team, now operating inside the ADK Group |
| Pricing model | Project-based, retainer for ongoing programs | Fixed project |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects | Figma, Sketch, React |
| Industries served | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil: overview
R/GA
R/GA has run out of New York since 1977, expanding to ten countries with offices from Austin to Singapore. Interpublic Group owned it for 23 years until March 2025, when R/GA completed an independent buyout backed by private equity firm Truelink Capital. What hasn't changed across that ownership history is the pitch: product design fused with marketing and brand strategy, aimed at large consumer and enterprise platforms rather than single-scope product work.
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: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Capability | R/GA | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✓ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mobile development | ✗ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✗ |
Tech stack comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Framework / platform | R/GA | 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 | N/A |
| After Effects | ✓ | N/A |
Pricing comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Criterion | R/GA | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Retainer | Fixed project, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Dimension | R/GA | Fresh Tilled Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment | Enterprise transformation, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch, Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | 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 |
R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil: pros and cons
| R/GA | |
|---|---|
| + | Combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof |
| + | Ten-country footprint spans North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific |
| + | Nearly five decades of enterprise brand relationships and case studies |
| + | Independently owned again since its March 2025 buyout, after 23 years inside Interpublic Group |
| - | The 2025 ownership transition to a private-equity-backed independent structure is recent enough to ask about directly |
| - | Marketing-first positioning means less pure product-design specialization than boutiques built around design alone |
| - | Pricing and scale suit large-brand budgets more than early-stage product teams |
| 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 R/GA?
A typical fit: consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch.
Fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Enterprise transformation, Consumer products, Media & entertainment.
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: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | R/GA |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Fresh Tilled Soil |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: R/GA (Not published) vs Fresh Tilled Soil (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | R/GA |
| 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: R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil
| Use case | R/GA fit | Fresh Tilled Soil fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer platform redesign tied to a brand relaunch | Strong | Limited | R/GA |
| Enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| 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: R/GA 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.
R/GA (3.7/5) is worth a look if you need enterprise digital product with a marketing or campaign component. If your situation matches that, R/GA is a competitive option.
Related comparisons
R/GA vs Fresh Tilled Soil FAQ
Is R/GA better than Fresh Tilled Soil?
Fresh Tilled Soil (3.9/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. R/GA's strongest advantage: combines product design with marketing and brand strategy under one roof. Fresh Tilled Soil's strongest advantage: 700+ delivered projects since 2005 across a named client list including FedEx and GE.
How do R/GA and Fresh Tilled Soil differ in pricing?
R/GA uses project-based, retainer for ongoing programs 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: R/GA or Fresh Tilled Soil?
R/GA 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 R/GA and Fresh Tilled Soil?
R/GA's primary differentiator is: fuses product design with marketing and brand strategy for large platforms, now operating independently for the first time in over two decades. 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 (~2,000 vs 11–50), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Enterprise transformation, Consumer products vs Enterprise transformation, Consumer products).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.