Washington, D.C.  – The Interior Design 2014 Outlook and State of the Industry, produced by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Research, forecasts 2014 will be one of the strongest years for residential spending since 2009. The data indicate positive economic growth for residential interior design. Unemployment rates are reaching pre- January 2008 numbers; housing starts are continuing to improve; and consumers and commercial developers are once again spending on renovation, remodeling and new construction. Total industry sales have continued to increase: up 2 percent in 2013, with an additional 6 percent increase forecast for 2014.

“The effects of the recession hit the interior design industry in late 2008, with the number of practicing designers and interior design firms declining to pre-housing boom levels,” said Randy Fiser, executive vice president and CEO of ASID. “However, as highlighted in the first quarter Interior Design Billings Index (IDBI), the number of interior design firms is on track to grow 4 percent by the end of 2014. The data show, between 2012 and 2022, total employment growth in the interior design industry (13 percent) is expected to outpace ‘all occupations’ (11 percent).”

Despite these encouraging statistics, enrollment in interior design education programs is down and only 15 percent of design firms plan to expand their staff. These data, coupled with an increase in the popularity of “DIY design,” suggest that the industry needs to communicate its value more effectively. Interior designers bring to the table vital knowledge about health, wellbeing, sustainability, ergonomics and acoustics as well as expertise in building codes, standards and regulations. Interior designers also are well-versed in project and materials management.

The Interior Design 2014 Industry Outlook report also examines the state of the design industry, including analysis of demographics, economic influences and macro trends that have the potential to significantly affect the industry. For 2014, these macro trends include urbanization, globalization, technology, a changing environment and the emergence of the millennial consumer.

Other trends addressed in the report include the evolution of:

Collaborative workplaces

Higher standards for resilient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly construction

Healthy buildings

Research- or evidence-based design

3-D modeling and printing

Professional certification

Building information modeling (BIM)

“The state of the interior design industry is sound and promising,” said Fiser. “Designers are embracing new opportunities in technology, evidence-based design and developing new design models for the way people live, work, play and heal in the 21st century.”

To keep pace with this changing marketplace, design professionals of all career stages must continue to adapt to shifting industry trends and anticipate evolving consumer priorities.

Source: ASID