The design industry stands tall in economic uncertainty

The financial future of the design industry

In the middle of an economic recession designers fear the shape their industry may be left in. But in light of recent research, the current financial situation for the design industry seems to be in incredibly good shape. With the threat of the second wave of the double dip recession lurking round the corner, the current trend isn't guaranteed to sustain, but for now at least, the industry is on a roll.


The release of the latest Financial Performance of Marketing Services Annual Survery could indicate a significant increase in the financial growth and development at the heart of the design industry.

It is argued by accountant Kingston Smith W1 that the operating profits for the top thirty design consultancies rose by an astonishing 85% through the year of 2010. This is welcome news for those within the design industry as the impressive figures are set against a far more disappointing set of results for the previous year where profits and income statistics both took a severe downward fall. While there were some agencies which had seen a downturn in their financial performance in 2010, the overall trend for last year was firmly in favour of a successful bounce back for the leading design consultancies.

A second noticeable trend in the findings was the significant difference in profitability between group-run agencies as against individual designers. Group based consultancies saw their gross income rise by an impressive 16%, while individual designers still saw a positive increase, but at a reduced overall level of just 6%.

With the upcoming prospect of the second hit from the double-dip recession, the focus on the agencies will be on maintaining their success through the next year. But for now at least, the design industry seems to be sitting in an encouragingly strong position.