Below is the press release for a US-based survey on design. I checked with the researcher to see if it made sense to collect Australian data, and they would like to. I am aware that there is an overlap between this survey and the AGDA/Aquent Salary survey, but I thought some of you would like to participate in order to get the survey results and compare yourselves to US counterparts.

The survey can be found at:

http://www.core77.com/snapshot

Cheers, ALPT

New York - 05/15/2002 - According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, three out of every 10 designers are self-employed -- almost five times the proportion for all professional and related occupations. Designers held about 492,000 jobs in the U.S. in 2000. Of those, nearly 200,000 worked in graphic design.

Creativity is crucial and competition is fierce. Despite projected faster-than-average employment growth, designers in most fields are expected to face keen competition for available positions.

How are designers faring in the recessionary economy? What strategies do they use to grow their business? How are they keeping up with technology? Which services are most in demand?

CFX Creative (www.cfxcreative.com), an independent graphic design firm located in New York, and Core 77 Design Network (www.core77.com), is seeking answers to these questions in Industry Snapshot, a primary research study due launched Monday, May 13, on the Core77 Web site at http://www.core77.com/snapshot.

Focusing on business practices that make design companies click, the study will explore the demographics of design professionals, client characteristics, business growth strategies; and best practices.

The study is the brainchild of CFX Creative Principal Carly Franklin. Franklin notes that while her professional expertise is in graphic design, she also has to function as a business manager and marketer. In her pursuit of information on how other designers were growing their businesses, she noted a consistent lack of comprehensive research on the state of the industry. Knowing Core77 Design's reputation for outreach programs to benefit designers, she approached the network about doing a joint study.

Core77 Business Development Director Stuart Constantine enthusiastically agreed to the project, feeling it would offer business-critical information to both independent and corporate design firms.

"At the heart of our mission is a commitment to keeping designers informed about trends in the industry," said Constantine. "This study is a great addition to our salary survey. We believe it will give designers in our network an excellent look at best business practices in the industry in addition to a good understanding of their competition."

The research methodology design and analysis is being executed by Kim LaSalle, principal of LaSalle Communications (www.lasallecommunications.com). An independent marketing consultant based in St. Louis, LaSalle has performed like studies for Macmillan Computer Publishing, Ralston Purina's Dog Chow brand, Herman Miller for the Home, and Shandwick International - St. Louis.

CFX Creative and Core77 Design will issue a full research report free to all individuals who participate in the study. Others will be able to purchase the study for a nominal fee when results are completed in July 2002.