Arounda

Arounda is a UX/UI design company specializing in user experience and user interface design with a particular strength in flexibility and adaptability — critical attributes for early-stage startups whose needs evolve rapidly.

Their project management capabilities and creative design approach have earned approximately 90% positive reviews on Clutch for their responsiveness to client feedback and willingness to adapt to last-minute requests. Based in Eastern Europe, they offer strong SaaS design expertise at competitive rates without sacrificing quality.

They excel at custom application design and have delivered significant UX improvements for SaaS platforms, resulting in measurable increases in user traffic and engagement for their clients.

• Employees-to-Client Ratio (Bandwidth): Typically 1–2 designers per engagement; flexible team scaling

• Process Maturity: User-centric design process with emphasis on agile iteration

• AI Design Experience: Growing capabilities in AI-powered interface design

• Client Communication: Responsive communication; adaptable to client cadence and preferences

• App/Web Dev Support: Some dev capacity; strong collaboration with dev teams

• Office Culture: Eastern European-based; remote-first; startup mentality; emphasizes client satisfaction

Doberman

Doberman, a Stockholm-based product and service design studio, brings a forward-thinking, Scandinavian design philosophy to SaaS products. They combine business goals with user expectations through continuous testing and iterative refinement, ensuring that aesthetic quality and strategic alignment go hand in hand.

For European startups, Doberman's Swedish design heritage translates to minimalist, functional interfaces that appeal to international audiences. Their approach to product design emphasizes both visual elegance and measurable usability improvements.

They've worked across multiple SaaS verticals and are known for balancing speed with quality — critical for startups navigating rapid iteration cycles.

• Employees-to-Client Ratio (Bandwidth): 1–2 lead designers with research support

• Process Maturity: User testing → iterative design → continuous optimization

• AI Design Experience: Exploring AI-driven personalization in product interfaces

• Client Communication: Regular testing sessions and collaborative design workshops

• App/Web Dev Support: Strong handoff process; collaboration with external dev teams

• Office Culture: Stockholm-based; Scandinavian design principles; emphasis on simplicity and efficiency

INSAIM Design Studio

INSAIM Design Studio, based in Lisbon, Portugal, specializes in delivering user-centric digital experiences and is particularly known for its lean, agile design process — ideal for startups with limited budgets and evolving requirements. They offer a "Startup pack" service specifically designed for early-stage companies seeking high-quality UX without enterprise-level costs.

Their focus on mobile app design, web design, and brand identity makes them a comprehensive partner for European startups building multi-platform products. Portugal has emerged as a vibrant hub for startup innovation, and INSAIM leverages this ecosystem to provide culturally grounded, internationally competitive design.

Their emphasis on client goals and user needs ensures that every design decision delivers tangible value.

• Employees-to-Client Ratio (Bandwidth): Typically 1–2 designers per engagement; startup-friendly flexibility

• Process Maturity: Lean, agile design with emphasis on rapid validation and iteration

• AI Design Experience: Emerging experience with AI-assisted design tools and workflows

• Client Communication: Collaborative approach; transparent feedback loops; available for rapid iterations

• App/Web Dev Support: Some dev capability; strong collaboration focus

• Office Culture: Lisbon-based; startup mentality; emphasis on affordability and agility

Brave UX

Brave UX specializes in user experience design with a deep research focus, prioritizing problem-solution structures that genuinely address user pain points and business objectives. For European SaaS startups, their emphasis on rigorous UX research ensures that design decisions are backed by evidence rather than assumptions.

They excel at complex product design and are known for their methodical approach to understanding user behavior before diving into interface design. This research-first philosophy aligns well with the rigor required for B2B SaaS products serving multiple user personas and complex workflows.

Their collaborative approach and transparent methodology make them an excellent partner for founders seeking to build products with strong product-market fit.

• Employees-to-Client Ratio (Bandwidth): 1–2 lead designers with research specialists

• Process Maturity: Rigorous user research → problem definition → design validation → iteration

• AI Design Experience: Some experience in designing for AI-powered product features

• Client Communication: Research-focused discussions; regular validation sessions with stakeholders

• App/Web Dev Support: Design handoff and collaboration; some dev capacity

• Office Culture: Research-driven culture; emphasis on evidence-based design; collaborative environment

Conclusion

Choosing the right SaaS design agency for your European startup depends on your current stage, team structure, and specific product challenges. Early-stage founders often benefit from agencies offering "startup packs" and flexible engagement models, while Series A companies typically need embedded teams with deep SaaS expertise. The strongest partners combine user research, business acumen, and technical collaboration with your development team.

Whether you prioritize affordability (like agencies in Budapest), design excellence (German and Scandinavian studios), or rapid iteration, ensure your agency measures success against your actual product metrics — not just design aesthetics.

FAQs

What are the most crucial factors to consider when choosing a SaaS design agency for European startups?

The most important factors are B2B SaaS expertise (not just consumer app design), research-driven methodology, and understanding of key startup metrics like user adoption, churn, and conversion funnels. Evaluate their team structure — can they embed researchers and designers into your team or do they work in silos? Ask for case studies showing measurable impact on client metrics, not just design awards. Also assess engagement flexibility — can they adapt to your budget and evolving needs? Finally, ensure they understand your specific market (fintech, healthcare, edtech, etc.) and European regulatory context.

How can a SaaS design agency improve our product's user engagement and retention?

Leading SaaS design agencies improve engagement through user research that identifies friction points in onboarding, feature adoption, and key workflows. They design interfaces that reduce cognitive load and guide users toward high-value actions. They also implement testing frameworks to validate design hypotheses before full rollout, ensuring that changes actually move your core metrics. Additionally, they create scalable design systems that maintain consistency across product growth, helping users develop mental models that accelerate adoption and reduce support costs.

What kind of ROI can we expect from investing in expert SaaS UX design for European startups?

Quality SaaS design typically delivers 3–5x improvements in key metrics: 30–50% faster onboarding times, 20–40% increases in feature adoption rates, and measurable reductions in customer churn. These improvements directly impact ARR growth and reduce CAC payback periods. For Series A companies, professional design investment often results in 2–3x improvements in trial-to-paid conversion rates. The strongest ROI comes from agencies that tie design work directly to your business metrics and continue to optimize post-launch based on actual user behavior.

How does Bricx Labs differentiate itself from other SaaS design agencies for European startups?

Bricx Labs combines deep SaaS expertise with a data-driven design methodology that ties every design decision to revenue impact and user retention. Our embedded team model means designers work alongside your engineering and product teams, not in silos. We specialize in high-complexity SaaS products across fintech, healthcare, and B2B platforms, and we measure success against your actual conversion metrics and business goals — not just design aesthetics. For European startups, we bring both global best practices and understanding of local market dynamics.

Can you provide examples of successful SaaS projects Bricx Labs has handled?

Bricx Labs has led design initiatives for Series A and Series B SaaS companies across fintech, healthcare, and B2B platforms in Europe, delivering products that achieve 3x faster onboarding and 40%+ improvements in core conversion metrics. Our work spans product redesigns, MVP design for new features, and full digital transformation projects. For specific case studies and detailed examples of how we've helped European SaaS founders scale their products, visit our portfolio.