ASID Releases Results of Survey on Small, Medium I

Washington, DC, July 13--ASID has released a new research report, Inside Small and Medium Design Firms. The report provides a unique look into small- and medium-sized firms--their make-up, operations, projects undertaken and products specified. "Large A&D firms often grab the big projects and the headlines, but they are in fact few in number," said ASID President Anita Baltimore, FASID. "This report provides knowledge about this important market to practicing designers, would-be designers, and those who provide products and services to the design industry in their business and marketing planning." Altogether, small firms and sole practitioners make up about two-thirds of all the interior designer businesses in the United States. While they share many of the same challenges as other small businesses, little information is available about their needs and issues as designers. Small and Medium Design Firms is based on a survey of 405 firms, employing a total of 602 interior designers. Among the more important findings, the report provides profile information on small firm designers: Four in five are women Two out of three are age 45 or older Two out of three are the owner, president or principal of the firm Nearly all (95%) have a college degree, and almost three-fourths (74%) have a degree from a four-year college About one in four (27%) has passed the NCIDQ exam Most of the firms surveyed do 25 or fewer projects a year, along with two or three consultations a month. About half of all projects--for both residential and commercial designers--are renovations, a third is new construction, and the remainder (about 10%) involves restoration. About 80 percent of the projects are residential, and mainly in single family homes or individual rooms. Nearly half the firms surveyed (46%) do only residential projects. Firms with four or more designers are more likely to do multi-family units-a growing niche within residential design-and model homes. Among the smaller firms that do commercial design work, business offices are by far the most common type of project, followed by medical/dental offices, health care, hospitality and retail design. On average, designers specify products in nearly nine out of ten projects, whether residential or commercial. Among more than half the firms interviewed, the designers always specify the products. The types of products that designers specify are very similar for residential and commercial projects. Most frequently specified are floor coverings, wall coverings and ceiling treatments, furniture (including antique furniture) and upholstery, lighting fixtures, accessories and artwork, and window and door products. Complete copies of the report are available at $150 for non-ASID members. To order a copy, visit the ASID Web site at www.asid.org and click on the link to "ASID Publications and Research Reports" to download a copy of the order form.

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