Top User Experience (UX) Agencies to Work With
The art of designing user experiences far predates the use of the term ‘ UX’ itself. Fact is, companies have been designing experiences for users far before they even knew it, but only recently has such recognition been placed on the historically overlooked facet of design. This blog will highlight the top user experience (UX) agencies in the world. First, we delve into the old guard, titans of the UX design space, who have been breaking barriers now for years. The latter half of this list will focus on the new, up-and-coming top UI/UX design agencies, who have the world at their feet with limitless potential to grow.
Top 5 Established User Experience Agencies in the World
Ideo
Kicking off our list on the top UX agencies in the world is Ideo. Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Palo Alto, California, Ideo is one of the largest design agencies in the world. Featuring offices everywhere from Germany, to Japan, it is a truly global design firm that deals with clients from every corner of the earth. What particularly stands out in their portfolio, more than the big brands with big names is the number of projects they’ve done for great causes. A few examples of these are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Planned Parenthood. Surely a frontrunner in the discussion of top UX companies.
Nielsen Norman Group
Moving from one to another top user experience agency. The Nielsen Norman Group, or sometimes stylized NN/g, are world leaders in the UX space and are one of the best in the business when it comes to a number of things. One could say their research and analytics team are the engine that drives their brilliant UX forward. Founded by Don Norman and Jakob Nielsen, the former of which you may recognize from being considered the father of UX design, and having actually coined the term “User Experience”. The Nielsen Norman Group have been leaders in the user experience design space for over 20 years, and will probably continue to be for decades to come.
Frog
Frog is one of the top user experience agencies in the world, and their journey began all the way back in 1969 when Hartmut Esslinger founded the firm Esslinger Design in Germany. When their projects caught the eye directly of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who struck a multimillion dollar deal with the company, wherein they moved to California, and renamed to the now iconic ‘Frog’. While being a general design firm at that point, Frog truly transitioned into a top user experience agency around the turn of the millennium. Now, working through over 15 studios throughout the world, Frog finds itself as one of the most unique and successful UX firms on the planet.
Work & Co
Work & Co is a top user experience agency, headquartered in Brooklyn New York. Right off the bat, their client list reads like a whos-who of some of the industry leaders in the world. Including but not limited to Apple, Aldo, Lyft, and Virgin America. Now boasting 6 offices, across 3 continents, Work & Co has grown immensely since their founding just a decade back in 2010. Their streamlined system of design, test, and launch has clearly served them well, and it’s simplicity must not go unnoticed.
Fantasy
The final entry on our list of the top user experience agencies is Fantasy. Founded in 1999, with offices in New York, San Francisco, Miami, and London, Fantasy has established its name as a top UX firm in the time between then and now. Having worked with everyone from tech giants like Twitter and Huawei, to industry leaders in motoring, like Ford and Mitsubishi, and even some eccentric entertainment choices like the UFC and Electronic Arts, Fantasy has done it all. If you’re looking for a team with an enormous pedigree, who will be up to any task, there are few finer choices than Fantasy out there.
Top 5 Emerging User Experience Agencies in the World
Rossul
Moving from the top user experience agencies in the world to ones that are rapidly emerging, and may soon be in the aforementioned category. Kicking off the second half of our list is Rossul, a Canadian UI UX design company, which has been making a name for themselves over the last 15 years. Boasting a small, yet effective team of dedicated individuals from all disciplines, Rossul has worked with some of the bigger names in Canadian enterprise. These include Scotiabank, AAA, Hatch, and many more. Surely a company that is on the come-up, and will truly flourish in the 2020s.
Red Antler
One quick look at Red Antler ‘s website will show you their prowess in the art of design, and that they are a top user experience agency. This fantastic young firm started out in 2007 and has built up a reputation for being one of the hidden gems in the UI UX space. Many of the projects they have worked on exploded following their involvement, including the sneaker company Allbirds, and the mattress makers Casper. Definitely a company to keep an eye on, since we believe that their growth in the past 15 or so years is indicative of the earthmoving work they will do in the next 15.
Onething.Design
Being our list, we would be not to mention our own studio, Onething.Design. We are one of the top user experience agencies in India, and only growing bigger by the day. Located in the heart of the Millenium City, Gurgaon, we have made it our mission to create unique and inspiring user experiences. Having worked with the likes of PVR Cinemas, Hindustan Times, RBL Bank, and recently starting a project with Coca Cola, we are on the come up, and surely deserve your attention. Our website boldly declares ‘we do Onething, and we do it insanely well’, our team is no stranger to designing interfaces, and that experience is invaluable when in the thick of it. With a group of creative minds that fit together like a puzzle, we at Onething are far, far more than the sum of our parts.
Clay
Clay is emerging as one of the top user experience agencies in the United States, and are only going to grow in the foreseeable future. Boasting an impressive client list featuring the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Slack. They do set themselves apart from the vast majority of other companies listed here, and all around the internet by also branching into brand identity, and video, somewhat like a traditional advertising agency, with a focus on UX. We highly recommend you check out their ‘Earnin’ project, which is a lending app, with a gorgeous UX, made by Clay.
Brave
The last entry on our list of the emerging top user experience companies is Brave. Based in Washington DC, the capital, Brave is one of the best UI UX companies in the United States and are beginning to make their mark on the world as well. Their rapidly growing portfolio of clients is a testament to the rapid growth they are making as a company. Having already worked with major players such as the Marriott Group, Brave, true to their name, are bravely marching their way to revolutionizing the world of UI UX design.
Authored by Manik Arora, Co-founder, Onething.design
