7 Best Alternatives to EY-Seren in 2026

Why look beyond EY-Seren

EY-Seren, a design consultancy owned by EY, specializes in large-scale digital transformation initiatives, customer experience strategy, service design, and digital product innovation. Their strength lies in combining design thinking with management consulting principles, catering primarily to enterprise clients seeking comprehensive strategic guidance through complex organizational and technological shifts. Developers interacting with EY-Seren's work typically engage with the client's internal teams or other implementation partners, as EY-Seren focuses more on strategic design and less on direct technical implementation.

However, organizations may seek alternatives for several reasons. Some might require a partner with a deeper specialization in creative advertising, global brand management, or pure graphic and identity design, which falls outside EY-Seren's primary focus. Others might prefer an agency with a more agile, less corporate structure, or one that offers more direct, hands-on development capabilities alongside design. Additionally, pricing considerations or specific industry expertise not available within EY-Seren's portfolio could motivate a search for different partners. Evaluating alternatives allows businesses to align their specific needs with a consultancy's core competencies and operational model.

Top alternatives ranked

1. 1. Boston Consulting Group — Strategic transformation and digital acceleration

   Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm that offers strategic transformation, digital acceleration, sustainability initiatives, and organizational change services. Similar to EY-Seren, BCG operates at an enterprise level, providing strategic guidance on complex business challenges. While EY-Seren emphasizes design and customer experience within digital transformation, BCG's approach is broader, encompassing high-level business strategy alongside digital initiatives. BCG's digital arm often includes design capabilities, but its core strength remains strategic problem-solving and large-scale organizational change. Organizations looking for a partner with deep analytical rigor and a focus on C-suite level strategic advisory, coupled with digital implementation oversight, may find BCG a suitable alternative.

   Best for: Strategic transformation, digital acceleration, organizational change, management consulting.

   Learn more about Boston Consulting Group or visit their official website.

2. 2. Ogilvy — Global brand strategy and experience design

   Ogilvy, part of WPP, is a global advertising, marketing, and public relations agency with a strong focus on brand strategy, advertising campaigns, and experience design. While EY-Seren approaches digital transformation from a service design and experience perspective, Ogilvy integrates experience design into a broader brand-centric strategy, often leading to comprehensive advertising and marketing campaigns. Ogilvy's strength lies in crafting compelling brand narratives and delivering integrated marketing solutions across various channels. For clients whose digital transformation is inextricably linked with brand repositioning, creative advertising, or enhancing customer engagement through marketing communications, Ogilvy provides a robust alternative. Their work combines strategic insight with creative execution to build brand value.

   Best for: Global brand strategy, advertising campaigns, public relations, digital transformation, experience design.

   Learn more about Ogilvy or visit their official website.

3. 3. Publicis Groupe — Global brand management and integrated marketing

   Publicis Groupe is a multinational advertising and public relations company, operating a vast network of agencies specializing in large-scale advertising campaigns, digital transformation initiatives, media planning and buying, and data-driven marketing solutions. Unlike EY-Seren's more specialized design consultancy model, Publicis Groupe offers a comprehensive suite of marketing and digital services through its various agencies. This allows for integrated campaigns spanning creative, media, and technology. For businesses requiring a partner that can manage complex global brand portfolios, execute extensive media buys, and integrate diverse marketing technologies alongside digital transformation efforts, Publicis Groupe offers a scalable and comprehensive solution from a single holding company structure.

   Best for: Global brand management, integrated marketing campaigns, digital transformation, media planning and buying.

   Learn more about Publicis Groupe or visit their official website.

4. 4. Pentagram — Brand strategy and identity design

   Pentagram is a multi-disciplinary design firm renowned for its work in brand strategy and identity, digital product design, environmental graphics, packaging, and editorial design. Where EY-Seren focuses on the strategic implementation of digital services, Pentagram excels in the foundational visual and conceptual aspects of design. Their partners are practicing designers who maintain direct involvement in projects, offering a different engagement model than larger consultancies. For organizations prioritizing exceptional aesthetic quality, innovative brand identities, and a deep craft in visual communication as part of their digital presence or product, Pentagram represents a strong alternative that brings a pure design sensibility to strategic challenges. They are particularly suited for projects where brand expression is paramount.

   Best for: Brand strategy and identity, digital product design, environmental graphics, packaging design.

   Learn more about Pentagram or visit their official website.

5. 5. McCann — Integrated marketing and creative advertising

   McCann, part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, is a global advertising agency network known for global brand strategy, integrated marketing campaigns, creative advertising, digital transformation, and media planning. Similar to Ogilvy and Publicis Groupe, McCann provides a broad range of services that extend beyond EY-Seren's core design consultancy focus. McCann is particularly strong in developing culturally resonant creative campaigns and integrating marketing efforts across diverse platforms. For clients seeking a partner to drive digital transformation with a strong emphasis on creative content, brand storytelling, and widespread media presence, McCann offers extensive capabilities in translating strategic objectives into impactful market communications and digital experiences.

   Best for: Global brand strategy, integrated marketing campaigns, creative advertising, digital transformation, media planning.

   Learn more about McCann or visit their official website.

6. 6. Prophet — Brand and experience-led growth consultancy

   Prophet is a brand and marketing consultancy that focuses on helping clients achieve growth through brand strategy, customer experience, digital transformation, and innovation. They share EY-Seren's emphasis on customer experience and digital product innovation but often frame these within a broader brand and growth strategy context. Prophet's approach integrates strategic thinking with creative solutions, aiming to redefine brand purpose and drive market impact. For companies seeking a partner that closely ties digital initiatives to brand relevance and market growth, Prophet offers a compelling alternative. They are noted for their ability to blend analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to uncover new opportunities.

   Best for: Brand strategy, customer experience, digital transformation, innovation, growth strategy.

   Learn more about Prophet (external site) or visit their official website.

7. 7. Siegel+Gale — Simplicity-focused brand strategy

   Siegel+Gale is a global brand strategy, design, and experience firm known for its focus on simplicity. They specialize in brand strategy, visual and verbal identity, digital experience, and employer branding. While EY-Seren provides comprehensive digital transformation, Siegel+Gale offers a distinct approach centered around making brands and their experiences clear and intuitive. For organizations that find complexity to be a barrier in their digital and customer interactions, Siegel+Gale provides an alternative focused on streamlining communications and user journeys. Their expertise is particularly valuable when the goal is to simplify a complex product portfolio, clarify a brand message, or enhance digital usability through intuitive design.

   Best for: Brand strategy, visual and verbal identity, digital experience design, simplicity consulting.

   Learn more about Siegel+Gale (external site) or visit their official website.

Side-by-side

How to pick

Selecting an alternative to EY-Seren requires a clear understanding of your organization's specific needs and priorities, particularly concerning the balance between strategic consulting, creative execution, and technical implementation. Consider the following decision-tree approach:

1. Define your core challenge:
   • Is it primarily about high-level business strategy and digital acceleration? Then Boston Consulting Group might be the closest fit for their deep analytical rigor and strategic breadth.
   • Is it about revitalizing your brand, creating impactful advertising, and integrating experience design into marketing? Ogilvy or McCann would excel in these areas, offering creative prowess and global reach.
   • Is your need focused on a complete overhaul of marketing, media, and digital strategy under one umbrella? Publicis Groupe, with its vast network, provides comprehensive integrated solutions.
   • Do you require exceptional visual identity, brand craft, and a partner-led design approach for digital products? Pentagram offers unparalleled design expertise.
   • Are you looking to drive growth by tightly linking brand strategy with customer experience and innovation? Prophet specializes in this intersection.
   • Is your primary goal to simplify complex brand messages and digital experiences for clarity and intuition? Siegel+Gale focuses explicitly on simplicity.
2. Consider the engagement model:
   • Do you prefer a large, integrated consulting firm with a broad range of services, similar to EY's structure? BCG or Publicis Groupe might align.
   • Are you seeking a highly creative agency, where direct involvement from celebrated designers or creative directors is key? Pentagram offers this model.
   • Is a global network important for consistent brand messaging and campaign execution across different markets? Ogilvy, Publicis Groupe, and McCann have extensive international footprints.
3. Evaluate the balance of strategy vs. execution:
   • If your need is more strategic guidance with less direct technical implementation by the agency, BCG or Prophet are strong contenders.
   • If you need strategic design coupled with significant creative production (e.g., ad campaigns, content), Ogilvy or McCann are better suited.
   • If pure design and identity are paramount, followed by implementation guidelines, Pentagram or Siegel+Gale are excellent choices.
4. Assess cultural fit and pricing:
   • While specific pricing is custom for all enterprise-level services, consider if a more boutique design firm aligns better with your organizational culture than a large consulting or advertising conglomerate.
   • Understand that larger holding companies like Publicis Groupe often involve multiple agency brands under one contract, which can simplify vendor management but might also introduce internal complexities.

By systematically evaluating these factors against the strengths of each alternative, you can identify the partner best equipped to meet your organization's unique digital transformation, brand, and experience design objectives.