Job market information
Finding out about design
The design industry is part of the creative and cultural industries, represented by the Creative and Cultural Skills Sector Skills Council, which also includes: craft; cultural heritage; literature; music; performing arts; and visual arts. The creative and cultural industries currently employ 678,480, people, of which 24% are based in London. There are 74,640 businesses in the creative and cultural industries, of which 87% employ less than 10 people.
The design industry covers a range of disciplines, including: communications; graphic; product and industrial; interior and exhibitions; digital and multimedia; and service design. Design is an integral part of modern culture combining aesthetic techniques, practicality and creativity to deliver solutions that make everyday life simpler and businesses more effective.
Key facts:
- There are 193,969 people working in the design industry, of which:
- 51% are in communications, interior and exhibition
- 42% are in product and industrial design
- 7% are in stage and set design
- There are 18,105 businesses, of which 94% employ less than 50 people.
- 34% of the design workforce is located in London and the South East.
- Design contributes £6.8 billion to the UK economy.
- 32% of the design workforce is self‐employed.
- 14% of the workforce work part‐time.
- 50% of those working in design have a level 4 or above qualification.
- Men and women are equally likely to have a qualification at level 4 or above.
- Women are likely to earn less money than men (66% of women in design earn less than £20,000 per year, compared to only 39% of men).
Jobs in the industry include: advertising design, computer game designer, costume designer, exhibition designer, fashion designer, footwear designer, graphic designer, industrial designer, interactive designer, interior designer, product designer, textile designer, textile maker.
Entry and progression
There are a range of industry endorsed courses (both at undergraduate and post‐graduate), training schemes and vocational qualifications available. However, employers tend not to use accredited qualifications, or, where they do, they only use higher level qualifications. Across the industry, employers focus on training needs and skills gaps rather than qualifications. In terms of employee training, employers often create their own training solutions or work through trade associations who provide training programmes for their members.
In art and design roles, art school graduates are preferred. Although they have higher‐level qualifications, progression is usually linked to portfolios and experience. Recruitment to managerial and administrative roles usually requires a degree or equivalent.
For job specific entry requirements, take a look at our job profiles.
Workforce statistics
| Number of UK employees: |
193,969 |
|---|
| Number of UK employers: |
18,105 |
|---|
| Gender: |
68% male |
32% female |
|---|
| Ethnicity: |
93% of the workforce is white |
|---|
| Age: |
|---|
| 18% of the workforce is aged between 25-29 years |
| 16% between 30-34 years |
| 60% is under 40 years of age |
[N.B. Data from Creative and Cultural Skills Workforce Survey, 2009.]
Employment trends and future prospects
The design industry is very commercial and for businesses, financial results and profits are important. However, there is widely held pride in the output that the industry and designers within it produce. The key drivers of change in the industry influencing employment trends are:
- Emerging economies – there is competitive threat posed by the emerging economies, such as India and China.
- Technology Use – this will continue to impact on the industry, including shortening design timescales, faster communication, the emergence of rapid prototyping, and businesses requiring fewer people to carry out more tasks.
- Growth of the service sector – means that designers are working more in non‐visual areas and businesses.
- Increasing sophistication of branding – the need to utilise emotional mechanisms (such as aesthetics, taste, pleasure and memory) for commercial benefit and to integrate brand values into products and services.
- Intellectual Property with clients – there is likely to be a demand for more joint ownership of intellectual property with clients and even a refusal to work on a fee only basis.
- Consumer preference – a new culture of sustainable development and environmentally aware practice is developing.
Skill requirements and shortages
Future skills needed in the industry include:
- Marketing and PR
- IT and digital skills, for the freelance workforce in particular
- Business acumen and management for business growth and expansion into new markets
- Creative Design skills
- Global business development as there is a need to tap into emerging economies
Occupational trends
Across the creative and cultural industries, employment in professional, associated and technical roles will increase by 26% over the next few years, compared with 15% across the UK. 39% of creative and cultural employers believe that all occupations will maintain their current importance.
The role proving hardest to fill in the design industry is the creative role. Other problematic roles relate to the sales and service function of the industry.
National and regional data
Northern Ireland – There are 11,640 people working in the Northern Ireland creative and cultural sector. 2% of the UK design workforce is located in Northern Ireland. Design in Northern Ireland contributes £164 million to the UK economy. More than 99% of the design workforce is white and 72% of the workforce is male. Only 12% of the design workforce in Northern Ireland is self‐employed.
Scotland – There are 45,420 people working in the Scottish creative and cultural sector. 7% of the UK design workforce is located in Scotland. Design in Scotland contributes £327 million to the UK economy. 99% of the design workforce is white and 68% of the workforce is male. 26% of the design workforce in Scotland is self‐employed.
Wales – There are 24,060 people working in the Welsh creative and cultural sector. 3% of the UK design workforce is located in Wales. Design in Wales contributes £73 million to the UK economy. 96% of the workforce is white and 64% of the workforce is male. 31% of the Welsh design workforce is self‐employed.
[N.B. The data for the following regions are for the creative and cultural sector as a whole.]
East Midlands – There are 44,380 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are 3,950 creative businesses in the region, of which 92% employ less than 50 people. 35% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 54% are under 40 years.
East of England – There are 63,700 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 6,710 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 37% of the workforce is self-employed. 66% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.
London – There are 164,690 people in the sector workforce in London, representing 24% of the UK sector workforce. There are 21,600 creative businesses, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 51% of the workforce is self-employed. 58% of the workforce is male. 84% of the sector workforce is white and 56% are under 40 years.
North East – There are 19,680 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 3% of the UK sector workforce. There are 1,330 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 38% of the workforce is self-employed. 63% of the workforce is male. 96% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.
North West – There are 59,580 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are 5,660 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 34% of the workforce is self-employed; the majority of who are in arts and music. 62% of the workforce is male. 95% of the sector workforce is white and 55% are under 40 years.
South East – There are 98,170 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 14% of the UK sector workforce. There are 12,300 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 43% of the workforce is self-employed. 59% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 47% are under 40 years.
South West – There are 60,690 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 9% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 93% employ less than 50 people. 47% of the workforce is self-employed in arts, design and music. 59% of the workforce is male. 98% of the sector workforce is white and 46% are under 40 years.
West Midlands – There are 40,300 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 6% of the UK sector workforce. There are approximately 5,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 91% employ less than 50 people. 31% of the workforce is self-employed, which is the lowest regional figure. 58% of the workforce is male. 91% of the sector workforce is white and 49% are under 40 years.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are 45,900 people in the sector workforce in the region, representing 7% of the UK sector workforce. There are fewer than 4,000 creative businesses in the region, of which 90% employ less than 50 people. 40% of the workforce is self-employed. 60% of the workforce is male. 97% of the sector workforce is white and 53% are under 40 years.
Salary levels
Pay scales in this industry are variable, so the following only provides an indication of the wage structure of the current workforce:
- 15% earn more than £41,000 per year
- 13% earn between £29,000 ‐ £41,000
- 27% earn between £20,000 ‐ £29,000
- 38% earn between £10,000 ‐ £20,000
- 8% earn less than £10,000
Career paths
Further sources
Produced Sept 2010, using Creative and Cultural Skills AACS LMI report (Jun 2010)
