IIDA has released its inaugural IIDA Index, an analysis of economic health for the commercial design industry. The Index, developed with Designer Pages, was created to enable commercial design and architecture firms to assess competitive positions, identify market trends, and analyze new business opportunities based on project scale, geography, and market sector.
The results, which compare project starts in 2017 to 2016, are based on responses from participating firms in 74 offices and nearly 11,000 of their projects across the U.S. The diverse group ranges from small boutique firms to some of the largest in the country.
Project data is represented by a diffusion index that assesses growth using a neutral indicator of 50. A value above 50 indicates expansion; a value below 50 indicates contraction. The Index categorizes projects by region, project size, and market sector, including Education, Healthcare, Hospitality, Workplace, and Everything Else (defined as all other commercial projects).
"We're pleased to provide the architecture and design communities the unique opportunity to leverage the Index to draw comparisons, make informed business decisions, and ultimately shape the future of our industry," commented IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA. "In addition to providing valuable insight to industry firms, the results serve to underscore the strength and dynamism of the commercial interior design industry more broadly."
According to the Report, the commercial interior design industry experienced moderate to steady growth in 2017 compared to 2016, with an overall index of 59 in the U.S.
more: iida.org (49)