Artone Studio vs DesignMe: which design partner fits fast-moving startups best?
TL,DR
Artone Studio is a small, senior, hands-on design studio for startups. We work on a flexible monthly retainer at $3,995 or custom projects, covering product, web, brand, and Framer development.
DesignMe is a senior-led design partner that offers retainers and one-off projects. Their site highlights branding, product, web, no-code, and motion work with Slack and Trello collaboration.
Pricing differs. Artone starts at $3,995 per month. DesignMe’s retainers start at $8,000 per month, with one-offs from $10,000.
Both suit venture-backed teams. Artone is the sharper pick for early-stage founders who want speed, clarity, and value without overhead. Verdict, Artone is the smarter, more agile choice for startups from idea to Series B.
What each service is
Artone Studio is a lean, senior, embedded partner for early-stage startups. We design products, brands, and websites that move metrics, not just visuals. We work as an ongoing partner or on scoped projects, adapting to your goals and pace.
DesignMe presents as a senior-only design team for technical startups and creative teams. They position around startup speed, daily updates, and sprint-style delivery with a dedicated PM, plus a mix of product, brand, web, and no-code work.
Pricing and value
Artone, $3,995 per month on a flexible retainer or a clear fixed project scope when needed. No contracts. Pause or cancel anytime. 75 percent refund in the first week if not satisfied.
DesignMe, retainers start at $8,000 per month. One-off projects start at $10,000. They emphasize a dedicated PM and weekly sprint cycles.
If you need continuous senior design at founder-friendly cost, Artone’s flat monthly price usually nets more runway and more iterations per dollar.
Delivery model and speed
Artone focuses on momentum. Most requests are completed within two business days. You get 2 to 3 meaningful tasks per week on average, ongoing Slack collaboration, and optional calls for alignment. We break larger projects into daily updates and tight review loops to keep shipping.
DesignMe leans on PM-led sprint cycles. They highlight daily updates through a backlog, weekly delivery rhythms, and async collaboration in Slack and Trello.
If you want proven speed without overhead or management layers, Artone’s model keeps decision cycles short and output consistent.
Services and capabilities
Artone Studio
Product design for web and mobile, design systems, UX audits, prototyping and validation.
Web design and Framer development. We are official Framer experts, and we ship production-ready sites.
Brand identity, guidelines, and assets. Pitch decks and growth collateral.
We cover the end-to-end startup design stack while staying lean and embedded.
DesignMe
Brand identity, product design, and website design.
No-code development for marketing sites and simple app layers.
3D and motion. Pitch decks and marketing collateral.
Dedicated PM and weekly sprints for planning and handoffs.
Collaboration and communication
Artone, Slack-first with fast async feedback. Optional biweekly calls. Unlimited brands and stakeholders inside your workspace. Clear scoping of each task and near-daily visible progress.
DesignMe, Slack and Trello with a dedicated PM. Daily updates through a backlog and weekly cycles. Start dates typically within a week based on availability.
Clients, credibility, and recognition
Artone has helped early-stage teams raise over $10M and deliver products and brands used by real customers. We have worked with startups backed by Y Combinator, Global Brain, and Pioneer Fund, as well as enterprise brands like Samsung, Lenovo, and Logitech. Our work has been featured on Awwwards and Landbook, and we hold an official Framer Expert badge.
DesignMe highlights trust from 50 plus high-growth startups, calls out experience with SaaS and technical teams, and showcases a Framer Expert badge as part of their site’s credibility stack.
Side-by-side comparison
Category | Artone Studio | DesignMe |
|---|---|---|
Engagement model | Flexible monthly retainer or custom projects | Retainers and one-off projects |
Starting price | $3,995 per month | Retainers from $8,000 per month, one-offs from $10,000 |
Throughput baseline | 2 to 3 tasks per week on average | Weekly sprints with daily updates, specific throughput not publicly listed |
Team composition | Small, senior, hands-on studio embedded in your team | Senior-only designers with a dedicated PM |
Communication | Slack collaboration, optional calls | Slack plus Trello, PM-led workflow |
Speed | Most requests in 2 business days | Daily updates, weekly delivery cycles |
Scope | Product, web, brand, Framer development | Product, brand, web, no-code, 3D and motion, decks |
Pause or cancel | Yes, pause or cancel anytime | Available per their FAQ |
Refunds | 75 percent refund in first week if not satisfied | Not publicly listed |
Stakeholders | Unlimited brands and users | Not publicly listed |
When Artone is the better fit
You want a senior, embedded partner at a founder-friendly price.
You need product, brand, web, and Framer development in one flexible stream without heavy PM overhead.
You value consistent, scoped output, about 2 to 3 tasks per week, with two-day turnarounds on most requests.
You are pre-seed to Series B and need a partner who can shift focus weekly from product to marketing and back.
You prefer clear refund protection in week one and the option to pause or cancel as needed.
When DesignMe can be a good fit
You want a PM-led workflow with Trello boards, daily updates, and weekly sprint ceremonies.
Your scope includes motion and 3D needs alongside brand and product work.
You prefer a larger assigned squad with a dedicated PM and are comfortable with a higher monthly budget.
You want a retainer or a one-off project starting at five figures and expect to scale team capacity quickly.
Final take
Both studios serve fast-moving startups. DesignMe is a capable senior team with PM structure and broader creative add-ons like motion and 3D. Artone is a lean, senior, hands-on studio focused on product outcomes, startup speed, and value. If you want high-quality design that ships quickly at a clear price that respects early-stage budgets, Artone is the better long-term partner for growth.
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