Design Leaders Cautiously Optimistic About Design Economy, AIGA Survey Finds

The design economy is holding steady, according to AIGA‘s quarterly survey of design leaders. The Design Leaders Confidence Index—which reflects the responses of hundreds of design leaders to questions concerning business conditions, hiring, and purchasing—stands at 96.13, which is lower than the past three quarters, but comparable to pre-recession levels. After a significant drop of confidence beginning in July 2007, confidence rose to an all-time high of 103.73 in April of this year. The current reading is still quite positive, noted AIGA in a statement released today, and the drop is not inconsistent with either the general understanding of business conditions (sustained unemployment, companies’ reticence to part with cash) or other indices, such as the