Hasta La Ideas

The results of the 2010 AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries are in, and while the design profession has been hit hard by the economic slowdown—well, things could be worse. The downturn in design employment, while substantial, has been “more selective than sweeping,” notes AIGA executive director Richard Grefé in his introduction to the survey report, released last week. In 2009, corporate design and advertising were most vulnerable to the enduring economic gloom, while business at many independent studios remained “active,” although not strong enough to warrant much hiring. Recent graduates have therefore struggled, making do with low-paying or unpaid internships, while many freelancers find themselves in quasi-permanent positions that offer little security and even fewer benefits.

“What we have heard from design-studio heads is that they are working harder, but margins are smaller,” explained Grefé. “Hence, the productivity gains that individual employees are contributing are not being rewarded because clients (internal or external) may not be paying for those gains.” So what’s the good news? Designers’ salaries rose slightly in 2009, ending a decade of only modest inflation-paced gains. Meanwhile, leading designers are confident that the design economy has hit bottom and will be recovering over the coming months. In the second half of 2009, the AIGA Design Leaders Confidence Index held at 98, up from 51 in October 2008 and consistent with designers’ attitudes between 2005 and 2007. Click here to access the full report, which includes compensation data by job title as well as advice on how designers can improve their job prospects.

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