Graphic Design Services
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 15,700 graphic design services in the US plan, design, and manage the production of visual communications. Major client industries include advertising, publishing, retail, fashion/apparel, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, sports, and entertainment. Graphic design firms may specialize in particular area, such as packaging or website design.
Sensitivity To Performance Of Client Industries
Demand for graphic design services is dependent on the financial health of client industries, which can be cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns.
Demand For Digital Grows
As clients shift marketing dollars from traditional advertising vehicles to digital programs, graphic design firms have adapted services accordingly.
Industry size & Structure
The average graphic design service provider operates out of a single location, employs fewer than five workers, and generates about $803,000 annually.
- The graphic design services industry consists of about 15,700 firms that employ about 59,500 workers and generate $12.6 billion annually.
- The graphic design services industry is extremely fragmented; the top 50 companies account for just under 17% of industry revenue.
- Large firms include SGS & Co. and Warschawski. Large firms that also offer graphic printing include Quad/Graphics and Matthews International.
- The majority of graphic design firms are small, independent companies that operate within a limited geographical market.
Industry Forecast
Graphic Design Services Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 8, 2024 - Top Design Trends for 2025
- A recent Creative Boom article highlighted what some graphic design industry insiders believe will be the top industry trends in 2025. Adoption of AI topped the list as some design professionals expect AI to move from a behind-the-scenes ideation aid for processes and sketches to an execution tool that can generate brand assets in real-time. As AI proliferates, some industry observers believe demand for more human-created, in-real-life (IRL) brand experiences will emerge in response to it. The trend of more physical displays is expected to be strongest in the retail sector as brands try to connect via IRL experiences. Digital saturation and mass production are also projected to inspire more craft-focused and heritage design as consumers demand more personalization and handmade items.
- The graphic design services industry is expected to see sales growth weaken in 2025 after revenue softened significantly in 2024. The industry’s year-over-year sales growth declined to 6.2% in 2023 after posting 13.2% growth in 2022, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. Graphic design sales growth is projected to further slow to 3.8% in 2024 and 3.6% in 2025, then grow by an average annual rate of about 4.5% through 2028, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.
- Seasonally adjusted shipments by US printing firms rose 0.1% in September 2024 compared to August, according to the US Census Bureau. September’s unadjusted printing shipments increased 4% compared to the same month a year earlier. Unadjusted printing shipments increased 1.7% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Printing shipments are a demand indicator for graphic design services.
- Print and paper remain a key medium for projects, according to a recent survey of graphic designers by Graphic Design USA and paper and packaging firm Billerud. More than 95% of graphic designers surveyed said print projects are part of their work mix. Overall, graphic designers said print plays a role in nearly two-thirds of their projects. Just over 70% of respondents said they expect their level of print design work to remain the same in the future, 15% expect print work volume to increase, and 11% said print design would likely decline.
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