Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum: full comparison for 2026
Quick verdict
Work & Co (3.8/5) edges ahead of EPAM Continuum (3.7/5) overall. Work & Co is the better choice for premium brands, design paired with production-grade engineering. 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.
Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum: head-to-head summary
| Criterion | Work & Co | EPAM Continuum |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2013 | 1983 |
| HQ | Dumbo, Brooklyn, NY, USA | Boston, MA, USA |
| Team size | 425+ | Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce) |
| Rating | 3.8 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Primary differentiator | A client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) that outsizes its ~425-person headcount, delivered through an engineering-heavy design-and-build model | Carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale |
| Pricing model | Fixed project, dedicated team | Enterprise consulting engagement (project-based or retainer) |
| Min. engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Primary tech stack | Figma, React, Next.js | Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Design systems/Storybook |
| Industries served | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products |
Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum: overview
Work & Co
Five co-founders — Gene Liebel, Felipe Memoria, Joe Stewart, Mohan Ramaswamy, and Marcelo Eduardo — launched Work & Co from Dumbo, Brooklyn in May 2013. The studio has since added offices across the US, Latin America, and Europe, but headcount (roughly 425) hasn't grown to match its client list: Apple, IKEA, Google, Mercedes-Benz, Pfizer, GoFundMe, Nike, and Disney have all hired this team. Its engineering-heavy delivery model — design and front-end build under one roof — is a large part of why. Work & Co joined Accenture Song in 2023.
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.
Services and capabilities: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Capability | Work & Co | EPAM Continuum |
|---|---|---|
| Product design | ✓ | ✓ |
| UX research | ✗ | ✓ |
| Branding | ✗ | ✗ |
| Web development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mobile development | ✓ | ✗ |
| Design systems | ✗ | ✓ |
Tech stack comparison: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Framework / platform | Work & Co | EPAM Continuum |
|---|---|---|
| Figma | ✓ | ✓ |
| Webflow | N/A | N/A |
| React | ✓ | N/A |
| Framer | N/A | N/A |
| Adobe Creative Suite | N/A | ✓ |
| Design systems/Storybook | N/A | ✓ |
| After Effects | N/A | N/A |
Pricing comparison: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Criterion | Work & Co | EPAM Continuum |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | Not published | Not published |
| Engagement models | Fixed project, Dedicated team | Fixed project, Retainer, Dedicated team |
| Rate transparency | Minimum disclosed | Minimum disclosed |
| Price tier | Mid-market | Mid-market |
Target audience comparison: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Dimension | Work & Co | EPAM Continuum |
|---|---|---|
| Best company size | Startup to mid-market | Startup to mid-market |
| Best industries | Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare | Enterprise transformation, Healthcare, Consumer products |
| Best use cases | Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand, E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | Enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery, Legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs |
| Typical project type | Fixed project | Fixed project |
Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum: pros and cons
| Work & Co | |
|---|---|
| + | Client roster (Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, Disney) is exceptional relative to a ~425-person studio |
| + | Engineering-heavy delivery keeps design and build under one roof, reducing hand-off risk |
| + | Offices across the US, Europe, and Latin America support genuine multi-region delivery |
| + | Consistent track record shipping flagship consumer digital products |
| - | Now part of Accenture Song, sharing a parent with the Accenture Song listing elsewhere on this site |
| - | Its premium client base implies premium pricing, though no minimum is published |
| - | Less vertical specialization in fintech or healthcare than boutiques built around a single niche |
| 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 |
Who should choose Work & Co?
A typical fit: flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand.
A client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) that outsizes its ~425-person headcount, delivered through an engineering-heavy design-and-build model. Minimum engagement starts at Not published. Works best with clients in Consumer products, Enterprise transformation, Healthcare.
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.
Decision matrix: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Your situation | Recommended choice |
|---|---|
| You need full-ownership delivery on a defined project scope | Work & Co |
| You need a large dedicated team for an ongoing programme | Work & Co |
| Your budget is at the lower end | Compare: Work & Co (Not published) vs EPAM Continuum (Not published) |
| You need specialist depth in a specific vertical | Work & Co |
| 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: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
| Use case | Work & Co fit | EPAM Continuum fit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flagship consumer app redesign for a global brand | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| E-commerce platform rebuild requiring heavy front-end engineering | Strong | Limited | Work & Co |
| Enterprise product design bundled with large-scale software engineering delivery | Strong | Strong | Both equally |
| Legacy industrial-design-adjacent hardware-software product programs | Limited | Strong | EPAM Continuum |
| Fixed-price product build | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
| Dedicated design team augmentation | Limited | Limited | Both equally |
Verdict: Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum
Work & Co (3.8/5) is the stronger overall choice for most Product Design projects. A client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) that outsizes its ~425-person headcount, delivered through an engineering-heavy design-and-build model.
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
Work & Co vs EPAM Continuum FAQ
Is Work & Co better than EPAM Continuum?
Work & Co (3.8/5) scores higher overall, but "better" depends on your use case. Work & Co's strongest advantage: client roster (Apple, IKEA, Google, Nike, Disney) is exceptional relative to a ~425-person studio. EPAM Continuum's strongest advantage: decades of design pedigree predating most agencies on this list, including landmark industrial-design work.
How do Work & Co and EPAM Continuum differ in pricing?
Work & Co uses fixed project, dedicated team pricing with a minimum engagement of Not published. EPAM Continuum 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: Work & Co or EPAM Continuum?
Work & Co 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 Work & Co and EPAM Continuum?
Work & Co's primary differentiator is: a client roster (Apple, IKEA, Nike, Disney) that outsizes its ~425-person headcount, delivered through an engineering-heavy design-and-build model. EPAM Continuum's primary differentiator is: carries Continuum's decades-old industrial-design pedigree (the Reebok Pump) into EPAM's enterprise software engineering scale. They also differ in team size (425+ vs Not published (operates within EPAM's global engineering workforce)), minimum engagement (Not published vs Not published), and primary industries served (Consumer products, Enterprise transformation vs Enterprise transformation, Healthcare).
Verify all details directly with each agency before making a decision.