Annual salary survey reveals opportunities for the design industry amid modest wage increases
AIGA and Aquent release comprehensive salary survey data for
the U.S. communication design profession and provide
recommendations for competitiveness in a new economy
NEW YORK—May 26, 2010. According to the 2010
AIGA|Aquent Survey of
Design Salaries released this week, designers' salaries
rose slightly in 2009, ending a decade of only modest
inflation-paced gains. Like many in other professions, designers
experienced a soft market as corporations and advertising agencies
reduced their staffs and outsourced design work to freelancers as
part of the general economic slowdown. Yet AIGA, the professional
association for design, offers advice on how designers can remain
competitive in this market and develop the skills needed as the
economy regains its momentum.
With insights and advice from prominent design professionals on
remaining competitive and successful, this year's AIGA|Aquent
Survey of Design Salaries will be useful to designers at all
stages of their careers. The most extensive compensation study in
the design industry, it is now more than ever a critical tool for
designers. And it is just one of many activities AIGA has developed
to serve the professional designer with strategies for success,
among them “Defining the
Designer of 2015,” a set of recommended competencies the
successful designer must have to compete in the global economy.
“We must take advantage of the shift that is occurring in the
economy to prepare for the new normal,” said AIGA Executive
Director Richard Grefé. “When we emerge from the Great Recession,
there will be opportunities for designers who are prepared to
create noticeable value for clients.”
The good news is that the Design Leaders Confidence Index
reflects strong belief in an economic recovery, showing that the
profession's leading designers see strong indications that the
design economy will be recovering over the coming months. Further,
AIGA maintains that designers' creativity and forward-thinking
tendencies are a unique advantage in solving clients' problems, and
designers can leverage that advantage by training and developing
skills now.
“Individual designers can increase their value through
consistent training and professional development that allows them
to move up in the range of responsibilities they assume. This is
not unique to design—continuous learning is critical for all
professionals in a rapidly evolving business environment,” said
Grefé. “But by applying design thinking skills in solving clients'
more complex strategic problems, designers create even greater
value for clients, which warrants greater compensation.”
AIGA has been working with Aquent, the only global
talent agency that specializes in marketing and design, for more
than a decade to quantify and measure compensation for the design
industry, providing valuable information to employers and employees
alike. The most comprehensive study of its kind, the
AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries is commissioned
annually by AIGA with the generous support of Aquent, and in
cooperation with Communication Arts magazine. The survey
will be mailed to AIGA members and Aquent clients this month.
To learn more about AIGA resources and tools, download a PDF of
the survey and use AIGA's design salaries interactive calculator,
visit www.aiga.org/professional-resources.
About AIGA
AIGA, the professional
association for design, stimulates thinking about design,
demonstrates the value of design and empowers the success of
designers at each stage of their careers. AIGA's mission is to
advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital
cultural force. Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and
largest professional membership organization for design, and is a
nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational institution.
About Aquent
Aquent is the Official AIGA
Sponsor for Professional Development, serving as a source for
creative and design talent, as well as providing access to great
career opportunities for AIGA members nationwide. Aquent is the
only global talent agency that specializes in marketing and design,
helping companies and creative professionals achieve their goals.
With 24 years of experience and more than half a million matches
made, Aquent is proud to work with thousands of leading
organizations and top marketing and design professionals around the
world to make truly inspired, innovative work possible.
For further information, please contact:Jennifer
Bender
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 710 3136 Fax 212 807 1799