i+D - May/June 2021 - 24
Business
of Design
State of the
Industry
Age: Designers*
< 24
9.2%
25-34
30.4%
35-44
23.0%
45-54
17.2%
55-64
13.5%
65+
6.7%
*Note: Based on the data available from the BLS, percentage of employed persons by age uses the broad category of Designers which includes interior designers as a subgroup along with other type of designers (e.g., commercial/industrial, fashion,
floral, graphic, etc.). For more information on the occupation classification, please visit BLS's website (https://bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm)
JQ: The general population has changed. Which
generations are currently driving interior design business?
What has this shift meant for the industry?
SC: Millennials and Boomers have typically been the major
players for interior design due to their overall influence in society.
However, as Boomers have propelled into early retirement due
to the pandemic, they may not have the willingness for home
improvement spending as much as before. Generation X has
now become the ascending generation and may grow in influence
in the next few years. The emerging work generation (Gen Z)
is another to look out for in the coming years, especially how
they influence workplace design in the office, at home, or a third
place. These generational shifts are important for interior design
businesses to keep up with to understand target markets and
address changing needs.
Ethnicity
Interior Designers*
79.7%
CIDA Students*
7.6% 10.6% 6.7%
63.5%
JQ: The past year has put a much-needed focus on
diversity, equality, and inclusion. How is this focus playing
out in the interior design community?
SC: Indeed - 2020 was a pivotal year for DEI to come into the
forefront. Several trends highlighted responses from organizations
to incorporate DEI in their businesses, and some shed light on
strategies and perspectives to approach the issue and take action.
The interior design community has also taken initiative to focus
more on DEI by examining the profession historically to better
understand the current status, challenges/barriers, and targeted
areas for change. Moving forward, DEI needs to be implemented
both within the professional practice and in the design solutions.
The environments interior designers create are experienced by
diverse people and, as a profession that emphasizes empathy as
a core characteristic in practice: How can we design for a diverse
population if we ourselves are not diverse? We should always be
in the DEI mindset when delivering design solutions.
*Note: Total will not equal 100% since individual can select multiple options
White
Hispanic/
Latino
Asian
11.9% 6.7% 7.0% 12.6%
Black/African
American
Other
Source: All data retrieved from ASID 2021 Outlook and State of Interior Design report
Image: Toa Heftiba,
Unsplash
24
i+D - May/June 2021
https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_stru.htm
i+D - May/June 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i+D - May/June 2021
i+D - May/June 2021 - Cover1
i+D - May/June 2021 - Cover2
i+D - May/June 2021 - 3
i+D - May/June 2021 - 4
i+D - May/June 2021 - 5
i+D - May/June 2021 - 6
i+D - May/June 2021 - 7
i+D - May/June 2021 - 8
i+D - May/June 2021 - 9
i+D - May/June 2021 - 10
i+D - May/June 2021 - 11
i+D - May/June 2021 - 12
i+D - May/June 2021 - 13
i+D - May/June 2021 - 14
i+D - May/June 2021 - 15
i+D - May/June 2021 - 16
i+D - May/June 2021 - 17
i+D - May/June 2021 - 18
i+D - May/June 2021 - 19
i+D - May/June 2021 - 20
i+D - May/June 2021 - 21
i+D - May/June 2021 - 22
i+D - May/June 2021 - 23
i+D - May/June 2021 - 24
i+D - May/June 2021 - 25
i+D - May/June 2021 - 26
i+D - May/June 2021 - 27
i+D - May/June 2021 - 28
i+D - May/June 2021 - 29
i+D - May/June 2021 - 30
i+D - May/June 2021 - 31
i+D - May/June 2021 - 32
i+D - May/June 2021 - 33
i+D - May/June 2021 - 34
i+D - May/June 2021 - 35
i+D - May/June 2021 - 36
i+D - May/June 2021 - 37
i+D - May/June 2021 - 38
i+D - May/June 2021 - 39
i+D - May/June 2021 - 40
i+D - May/June 2021 - 41
i+D - May/June 2021 - 42
i+D - May/June 2021 - 43
i+D - May/June 2021 - 44
i+D - May/June 2021 - 45
i+D - May/June 2021 - 46
i+D - May/June 2021 - 47
i+D - May/June 2021 - 48
i+D - May/June 2021 - 49
i+D - May/June 2021 - 50
i+D - May/June 2021 - Cover3
i+D - May/June 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/asid/asid/design_product_guide_2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/asid/asid/design_product_guide_2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/id/20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/id/20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/id/20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/asid/design_product_guide_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/id/20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/id/20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20201112_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200910_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/asid/design_product_guide
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200708_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200506_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200304_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200102_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20191112_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190910_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190708_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190506_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190304_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20190102_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20181112_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180910_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180708_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180506_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180304_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180102_french
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/id/20180102
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com