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
Jul 10, 2024 - Print Still Relevant for Graphic Designers
- 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.
- US net media owner advertising spending is expected to rise by 10.7% to $374 billion, according to a June forecast by advertising firm MAGNA. Ad sales rose 11.6% in Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. However, the Q1 2024 growth was due to pure-play digital (search, social, short-form video), which grew 17.3%. Traditional media spending (TV, audio, publishing, OOH, and cinema) rose 0.3%. Ad spending growth in 2024 will be driven by improving economic conditions, lower inflation, and the return of cyclical events, including elections and international sporting events.
- For now, it seems typographers are safe from being supplanted by generative artificial intelligence (AI), according to Wired. Some industry insiders suggest that typography developed using AI tends to be fuzzy, warped, and illegible. The human instinct component in type design is difficult for AI to replicate as it fails to recognize that typography design is a series of systems with inherent conventions rather than a simple visual representation of language. AI is not very good at the nuances of typography, such as legibility and readability. However, some in the industry feel that while AI is an insufficient tool for creating new typefaces that pass aesthetic muster, it could help streamline typography workflows.
- A new survey by recruiting firm Robert Half highlights the hiring and career trends creative professionals can expect to see in 2024. About 55% of creative managers say they are currently hiring for new roles (including graphic designers and user experience designers), and 43% have openings in existing roles. However, 92% of creative managers report having trouble hiring skilled talent. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said that including salary ranges in job listings helps attract the most qualified talent, and 60% of those leaders said salary transparency helps give their firms a recruiting edge over their competitors.
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