Product Design Budget Framework (2026)
What you really get at €200 vs €6k+ — and when each approach makes sense
Design budgets are confusing because "design" can mean completely different things.
A dashboard UI generated with modern AI tools can look clean and professional with minimal cost. A product UI for a complex system can be "pleasant and correct" without any brand work. A brand-led product experience (the kind that looks and feels premium) starts in a different budget category entirely.
This page gives you a practical decision framework — so you can choose the right level of design for your product, without overpaying or underinvesting.
Note: The ranges below are indicative. Final cost depends on scope, screens, user roles, and the amount of UX work required.
Who this guide is for
- Founders and product owners planning an MVP or a new platform UI
- Teams rebuilding a system and trying to avoid "design debt"
- Companies deciding between AI-assisted UI, a designer, or a full creative team
- Anyone who wants predictable outcomes instead of vague "design packages"
The core idea: 3 design scenarios, 3 different budgets
Design cost is mostly driven by what kind of work is included:
- AI-assisted UI output (fast visual execution, minimal discovery)
- Product UI for a complex system (structured UX + clean interface, no branding)
- Brand-led design (creative direction + identity + premium UI language)
Below we break down each scenario with realistic expectations.
Scenario 1 — AI-Assisted UI (Minimal Budget)
"We need something clean and usable — fast."
When this works
- Internal dashboards and admin tools
- Early-stage MVPs where speed matters more than differentiation
- Projects with clear requirements and stable product logic
- Teams that already know what screens are needed
Typical budget range
€200 – €1,500
(depending on complexity and the number of screens / states)
What you get
- A clean UI direction based on proven component patterns
- Fast iteration using AI tools + human curation
- Basic layout hierarchy, spacing, typography, and consistency
- A minimal component set (buttons, inputs, tables, cards)
- Quick handoff for development
What you don't get
- Deep UX discovery (user journeys, flows, edge cases)
- Brand identity or a distinctive visual language
- High-polish marketing visuals
- Detailed interactive prototypes across many flows
Realistic outcome
A UI that looks professional and pleasant, suitable for functional products and internal systems — with minimal cost.
This approach is often enough for tools where correctness, speed, and maintainability matter more than creative differentiation.
Scenario 2 — Product UI for a Complex System (No Branding)
"We're building a serious system. We want it to feel modern — without brand storytelling."
This is the most common "real product" design case for B2B platforms.
When this works
- B2B SaaS and internal enterprise platforms
- CRMs, portals, admin systems, operational tools
- Products where trust comes from clarity and stability
- Teams that need a clean UI + strong handoff, not creative campaigns
Typical budget range
€1,500 – €6,000
(usually driven by: number of flows, roles, screens, and how much UX work is needed)
What you get
- Information architecture (navigation, structure, screen grouping)
- Core UX flows mapped (happy path + key edge cases)
- Wireframes for key screens and layouts
- UI design for key flows (responsive where needed)
- A practical component library aligned with development
- Developer-ready handoff (Figma structure, naming, states)
What you don't get
- Brand identity exploration (logo, visual language experiments)
- Custom illustrations, 3D, high-end art direction
- Heavy motion design or a bespoke UI "signature"
- Marketing site concepting and campaign visuals
Realistic outcome
A product UI that feels clear, modern, and "enterprise-clean" — optimized for usability and scale, without paying for branding.
Why this is more expensive than Scenario 1
Because the cost is not "making it pretty" — it's:
- deciding what belongs on each screen
- structuring navigation
- designing states (empty, loading, errors)
- handling roles and permissions
- making handoff clean enough to ship fast
Scenario 3 — Brand-Led Product Design (Premium UI)
"We want it to look and feel world-class. Design is part of the product."
This is the category where design becomes a competitive advantage and a conversion driver.
JACKIE
A bistro inspired by the vibrant energy of China's bustling street food culture - where every corner is packed with small eateries and every neon sign tries to outshine the next.
Forever young
An informal resto-bar with a lively atmosphere, original cuisine, and a carefully crafted bar menu. A meeting place for people who share the same vibe.
"Na Zavode" Creative Cluster
A former 18th–19th century industrial plant that stood abandoned for decades has been reimagined as a modern creative hub - a place for collaboration, culture, and new ideas. Today it serves as a community space for events, creativity, development, and meaningful encounters.
Identity for a Reborn Industrial Space
The visual identity reflects the transformation of a historic industrial site into a contemporary creative environment. We translated the raw character of the former factory into a modern graphic language - bold, adaptive, and rooted in the site's industrial heritage. The system connects the past and the present, giving the space a distinct and recognizable personality.
Neizvestny
A bistro with signature cuisine, located in the historic house where the family of sculptor Ernst Neizvestny once lived. A contemporary space with character, shaped by art, history, and a personal creative spirit.
"Est' Khinkali" Bistro
A Georgian street-food bistro with a warm, lively atmosphere - a place to gather with friends or grab a quick lunch to go. We created the full visual identity: logo, graphic style, collage motifs, social media design, and printed materials, in collaboration with interior designers from ASHBURО.
Restaurant "Igrushki"
A warm, nostalgic restaurant inspired by childhood memories and playful imagination. We created a visual identity built around the concept of "grown-up toys" - a reinterpretation of an old local toy shop. The branding blends soft typography, storybook aesthetics and graphic elements that echo the atmosphere of the interior, developed in collaboration with ASHBURО.
H-studio website
The task was to create a website that stands out from all others. Visit h-studio.io to see the result.
When this makes sense
- Consumer-facing products where emotion drives conversion
- Premium brands, high-ticket services, or lifestyle positioning
- Products where differentiation matters at first glance
- Projects competing in crowded markets
Typical budget range
€6,000 – €20,000+
(depending on brand work, number of flows, and creative scope)
What you get
- Visual direction exploration (multiple concepts)
- Brand identity layer (typography, color system, tone, style rules)
- A distinctive UI language (not generic components)
- High-polish screens and interactive prototypes
- Design system foundations (tokens, components, patterns)
- Optional motion direction, illustration style, art direction
Realistic outcome
A product that feels premium and intentional — with a coherent visual identity that increases trust and conversion.
How AI changes the economics (without replacing product thinking)
AI can reduce cost significantly when:
AI can reduce cost significantly when:
- requirements are clear
- branding is not needed
- the UI is pattern-based (dashboards, portals, admin systems)
- the goal is speed and consistency
AI does not replace:
- product logic
- UX decisions
- edge cases and workflow design
- trust-building details (copy, error handling, flows)
The best results come from AI-assisted execution plus human product judgement.
What drives cost
Design budgets usually scale with:
- Number of user roles (admin / manager / user)
- Number of flows (onboarding, checkout, reporting, etc.)
- Number of states (empty/loading/error/permission)
- Responsiveness requirements (mobile-first vs desktop-heavy)
- Amount of UX discovery needed (existing product vs new concept)
- Integration constraints (CMS, design system, existing components)
If you want a precise estimate, the fastest path is a short audit call plus a screen/flow inventory.
Common mistakes to avoid
1) Overpaying for branding when you need clarity
If your product is a complex system, clean UX and strong handoff often matter more than "creative style."
2) Underinvesting in UX for workflow-heavy systems
A "pretty UI" that ignores roles, states, and edge cases creates expensive rework later.
3) Treating design as a one-time artifact
Products evolve. The best outcome is a system (components + rules), not isolated mockups.
How we approach design at H-Studio
We treat design as an engineering-adjacent discipline:
- clear constraints
- reusable components
- developer-ready handoff
- performance-aware UI decisions
- structured systems, not "one-off screens"
If you need brand-led creative direction, we can involve a dedicated design partner — but we'll always keep production delivery in mind.
Quick decision guide
Choose Scenario 1 if:
- you need a clean dashboard fast
- branding is irrelevant
- scope is small and clear
Choose Scenario 2 if:
- you're building a complex platform
- you want a modern UI without branding work
- you need strong UX + handoff
Choose Scenario 3 if:
- design is a competitive advantage
- you need premium look & feel
- you want a distinctive product identity
FAQ
Can a €200 design be "good"?
Yes — if the goal is a functional UI for a constrained scope (e.g., a small dashboard) and you use AI-assisted workflows. It won't include deep UX work or brand identity.
Why does brand-led design start at €6k+?
Because you're paying for exploration, creative direction, and a coherent identity layer — not just screen layouts. It typically includes multiple concepts, refinement cycles, and system-level consistency.
What's the best option for B2B admin systems?
Usually Scenario 2: structured product UI without heavy branding. Most B2B systems win through clarity, speed, and reliability — not visual storytelling.
How do you estimate design cost fast?
We do a short audit call and build a screen/flow inventory (roles, key flows, states). That gives a reliable range without long workshops.
Next step
If you want a realistic budget range for your product, send:
- a short description of the system
- target users / roles
- your key flows (3–5)
- any references you like
We'll tell you which scenario fits best and what level of design is actually necessary.