Graphic Design Salaries Going Up?

With the graphic design industry stablizing some speculate the increases are on the horizon.

Is the graphic design field on the rebound? I believe companies have finally learned that a designer is more than someone who knows how to operate Photoshop. In the late 1990’s good designers were paid very well and terrible so-called designers made good money as well. In 2000 and 2001, designers began being laid off in droves and pay cuts were the norm. Recently the industry has begun to stabilize. Many of my designer friends are now working full time. Demand for creative imagery never seems to cease. Clients and employers need graphic designers and they work them to the bone. The dollars per hour are nowhere near the late 90’s days and profits are thin but money is coming in.

According to a recent AIGA (The American Institute of Graphic Arts) survey of 3600 designers it seems like there is hope in the future for designers. This graph shows the 5-year salary trends for graphic designers and many predict these numbers will increase slightly in 2006.

"We expect to see design salaries remaining firm this next year, with modest increases and growth in employment among designers who have been underemployed over the past several years.", said Richard Grefé, Executive Director of AIGA in a recent letter to members.

Every sign from the business community today signals a growing realization of the importance of design - both communication and product design - to American industry’s global competitive advantage. Design innovation is seen as the driving engine - across all business sectors - for creating value in a world economy where production costs and prices are being driven ever lower."

One thing is for certain, good design is still in need and not everyone knows how to do it. What will they pay is still the question.

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