Design Industry Voices 2013

Design Industry Voices 2013

Digital and design agencies in the UK may be emerging from the economic difficulties of recent years, according to the fifth annual Design Industry Voices Report published by Fairley & Associates, Gabriele Skelton and On Pointe Marketing. The report reveals what it is like to work in design and digital agencies.

42% of UK digital and design agency staff have received a pay rise in the last twelve months. Pay rises are outstripping inflation with nearly three quarters (73%) of those who received a pay rise in the last year reporting that is was over 3% of their salary. More than 10% of respondents report pay rises of more than 10%.

"This is the first evidence we have that the industry is in recovery, as despite the pressure from clients to do more for less money, agency leaders are awarding their staff pay rises and bonuses," explained Rachel Fairley, lead author of the new research and MD of Fairley & Associates.

"The demand for free creative pitches for prospective clients has not abated and remains an issue," added Stef Brown, co-author and MD of On Pointe Marketing. "More worrying is the perception among 36% of respondents that they are making more free creative pitches for existing clients."

Across account management, digital, design and strategy, staff believe that working your way up from a junior position is the best way into the industry. Formal training, such as a degree or course, is considered most useful in design (47%) and digital (39%).

Gabriele Skelton