GITNUXREPORT 2025

Design Industry Statistics

Global design industry valued at $12 billion, growing rapidly and boosting revenue.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

73% of businesses believe that their design efforts have significantly contributed to increased revenue

Statistic 2

42% of small businesses invest in professional design to improve customer experience

Statistic 3

69% of small businesses think investing in professional branding and design is essential for gaining competitive advantage

Statistic 4

58% of companies are planning to hire more UI/UX designers in 2024

Statistic 5

The e-commerce sector allocates roughly 10-15% of its total marketing budget to website and app design improvements

Statistic 6

42% of companies reported that investing in professional packaging design increased their sales by up to 20%

Statistic 7

88% of companies believe that investing in user experience design yields a positive ROI

Statistic 8

60% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand with a well-designed website

Statistic 9

45% of designers report that their clients prioritize aesthetic appeal over functionality

Statistic 10

65% of viewers are visual learners, making visual design crucial for effective communication

Statistic 11

78% of consumers have negatively viewed a brand due to poor website design

Statistic 12

80% of users say that they would stop engaging with a website if it loads slowly

Statistic 13

The majority of Millennials and Gen Zers prefer brands with strong visual aesthetics, with 73% favoring brands that have compelling visual content

Statistic 14

40% of designers report that they use Adobe Creative Cloud products for over 70% of their design work

Statistic 15

43% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand with excellent visual design

Statistic 16

80% of consumers say that a brand’s visual consistency across platforms influences their purchase decisions

Statistic 17

70% of designers believe that data-driven design leads to better user engagement

Statistic 18

55% of consumers prefer brands that have a visually appealing online presence

Statistic 19

The colors blue and green are most preferred in corporate branding, making up 54% of color schemes used

Statistic 20

35% of consumers say they have abandoned a purchase due to poor website design or usability issues

Statistic 21

58% of companies believe a consistent brand experience across digital and physical channels enhances customer loyalty

Statistic 22

90% of users report that easy navigation and clean design improve their overall satisfaction with a website

Statistic 23

The top three colors used in logo designs are blue, red, and black, making up over 60% of popular branding colors

Statistic 24

68% of designers believe that AI will significantly change their workflows in the next five years

Statistic 25

The global design industry is valued at approximately $12 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028

Statistic 26

The average annual expenditure on design services by companies increased by 30% between 2019 and 2022

Statistic 27

The UX design industry is projected to reach $65 billion by 2027

Statistic 28

The number of professional graphic designers in the U.S. alone is approximately 258,600 as of 2022

Statistic 29

The global web design market is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028

Statistic 30

The average return on investment for UX design is $100 for every $1 spent

Statistic 31

The global interior design market size was valued at $180 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $220 billion by 2027

Statistic 32

The majority of design students (65%) aim to work in digital design fields after graduation

Statistic 33

The global augmented reality (AR) in design market is projected to reach $12 billion by 2027

Statistic 34

60% of businesses consider design to be a core component of their digital transformation strategy

Statistic 35

The average cost of professional logo design ranges from $300 to $2,500 depending on the complexity and provider

Statistic 36

The total number of aesthetic clinics globally, which rely heavily on effective design for branding and patient outreach, exceeded 15,000 in 2023

Statistic 37

The global packaging design market is expected to reach $58 billion by 2025, driven by e-commerce growth and brand differentiation strategies

Statistic 38

The global motion graphics market is projected to reach $6 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 9.5%

Statistic 39

55% of companies plan to increase their investment in digital design tools in the next year

Statistic 40

The mobile app design market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11% from 2022-2028

Statistic 41

52% of designers say that their work is heavily influenced by user-centered design principles

Statistic 42

The demand for sustainable and eco-friendly design solutions has increased by 18% over the past three years

Statistic 43

74% of startups say that a strong visual identity helped them secure funding

Statistic 44

The average project turnaround time for graphic design projects is approximately 17 days

Statistic 45

The employment of freelance designers increased by 25% during the pandemic, reflecting shifting industry dynamics

Statistic 46

The use of motion graphics in digital marketing campaigns has increased by 40% over the last five years

Statistic 47

Today, more than 45% of the design industry workforce is women, indicating increasing gender diversity

Statistic 48

The mobile-first design approach is employed by 70% of all web developers, reflecting its importance in current design practices

Statistic 49

65% of digital marketers say that SEO visual content optimization is crucial for improving organic reach

Statistic 50

50% of design agencies report an increase in demand for branding and identity projects, reflecting growth in branding needs

Statistic 51

The use of 3D modeling in product and interior design has increased by 50% over the last three years

Statistic 52

60% of digital design projects now incorporate AI-powered tools, indicating the automation trend in the industry

Statistic 53

The average age of professional graphic designers is 35 years old, highlighting a relatively young workforce

Statistic 54

70% of digital agencies plan to expand their services into virtual and augmented reality experiences, reflecting future industry trends

Statistic 55

62% of brands invest in influencer collaborations to enhance their visual storytelling and design appeal

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Sources

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Key Highlights

The global design industry is valued at approximately $12 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028
73% of businesses believe that their design efforts have significantly contributed to increased revenue
The average annual expenditure on design services by companies increased by 30% between 2019 and 2022
60% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand with a well-designed website
The UX design industry is projected to reach $65 billion by 2027
45% of designers report that their clients prioritize aesthetic appeal over functionality
68% of designers believe that AI will significantly change their workflows in the next five years
The number of professional graphic designers in the U.S. alone is approximately 258,600 as of 2022
42% of small businesses invest in professional design to improve customer experience
The global web design market is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028
65% of viewers are visual learners, making visual design crucial for effective communication
78% of consumers have negatively viewed a brand due to poor website design
The average return on investment for UX design is $100 for every $1 spent

The booming global design industry, valued at approximately $12 billion and projected to grow steadily at a 5.3% CAGR through 2028, is transforming how businesses boost revenue, engage consumers, and stay competitive in an increasingly visual digital world.

Business Investment and Growth Strategies

73% of businesses believe that their design efforts have significantly contributed to increased revenue
42% of small businesses invest in professional design to improve customer experience
69% of small businesses think investing in professional branding and design is essential for gaining competitive advantage
58% of companies are planning to hire more UI/UX designers in 2024
The e-commerce sector allocates roughly 10-15% of its total marketing budget to website and app design improvements
42% of companies reported that investing in professional packaging design increased their sales by up to 20%
88% of companies believe that investing in user experience design yields a positive ROI

Business Investment and Growth Strategies Interpretation

With over 70% of businesses seeing tangible revenue boosts and nearly nine out of ten confirming that investing in user experience design pays off, it's clear that in the fierce race for market share, professional design isn't just aesthetic—it's a strategic investment for growth and competitive edge.

Consumer Behavior and Preferences

60% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand with a well-designed website
45% of designers report that their clients prioritize aesthetic appeal over functionality
65% of viewers are visual learners, making visual design crucial for effective communication
78% of consumers have negatively viewed a brand due to poor website design
80% of users say that they would stop engaging with a website if it loads slowly
The majority of Millennials and Gen Zers prefer brands with strong visual aesthetics, with 73% favoring brands that have compelling visual content
40% of designers report that they use Adobe Creative Cloud products for over 70% of their design work
43% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand with excellent visual design
80% of consumers say that a brand’s visual consistency across platforms influences their purchase decisions
70% of designers believe that data-driven design leads to better user engagement
55% of consumers prefer brands that have a visually appealing online presence
The colors blue and green are most preferred in corporate branding, making up 54% of color schemes used
35% of consumers say they have abandoned a purchase due to poor website design or usability issues
58% of companies believe a consistent brand experience across digital and physical channels enhances customer loyalty
90% of users report that easy navigation and clean design improve their overall satisfaction with a website
The top three colors used in logo designs are blue, red, and black, making up over 60% of popular branding colors

Consumer Behavior and Preferences Interpretation

In a digital landscape where 60% of consumers lean toward brands with stylish websites and a staggering 80% would ditch a site for slow loading or poor design, it's clear that when it comes to branding, matching pixel-perfect aesthetics with seamless functionality isn't just eye candy—it's a business imperative—especially with 58% of companies believing consistency across channels fuels loyalty and 70% of designers championing data-driven, visually compelling user engagement.

Design Technology and Innovation

68% of designers believe that AI will significantly change their workflows in the next five years

Design Technology and Innovation Interpretation

With 68% of designers predicting AI's transformative impact on their workflows within five years, the design industry stands on the cusp of a creative revolution—one where innovation and adaptation will be essential for staying ahead of the algorithm.

Market Size and Industry Valuation

The global design industry is valued at approximately $12 billion and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2021 to 2028
The average annual expenditure on design services by companies increased by 30% between 2019 and 2022
The UX design industry is projected to reach $65 billion by 2027
The number of professional graphic designers in the U.S. alone is approximately 258,600 as of 2022
The global web design market is expected to reach $15.7 billion by 2028
The average return on investment for UX design is $100 for every $1 spent
The global interior design market size was valued at $180 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $220 billion by 2027
The majority of design students (65%) aim to work in digital design fields after graduation
The global augmented reality (AR) in design market is projected to reach $12 billion by 2027
60% of businesses consider design to be a core component of their digital transformation strategy
The average cost of professional logo design ranges from $300 to $2,500 depending on the complexity and provider
The total number of aesthetic clinics globally, which rely heavily on effective design for branding and patient outreach, exceeded 15,000 in 2023
The global packaging design market is expected to reach $58 billion by 2025, driven by e-commerce growth and brand differentiation strategies
The global motion graphics market is projected to reach $6 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 9.5%

Market Size and Industry Valuation Interpretation

With the design industry booming to an estimated $12 billion and soaring projections—from UX hitting $65 billion to packaging topping $58 billion—it's clear that investing in good design isn’t just artistry; it’s the smart money in a world where 60% of businesses see it as vital to digital transformation and every dollar spent on UX yields a hundred-dollar return.

Market Trends and Future Projections

55% of companies plan to increase their investment in digital design tools in the next year
The mobile app design market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 11% from 2022-2028
52% of designers say that their work is heavily influenced by user-centered design principles
The demand for sustainable and eco-friendly design solutions has increased by 18% over the past three years
74% of startups say that a strong visual identity helped them secure funding
The average project turnaround time for graphic design projects is approximately 17 days
The employment of freelance designers increased by 25% during the pandemic, reflecting shifting industry dynamics
The use of motion graphics in digital marketing campaigns has increased by 40% over the last five years
Today, more than 45% of the design industry workforce is women, indicating increasing gender diversity
The mobile-first design approach is employed by 70% of all web developers, reflecting its importance in current design practices
65% of digital marketers say that SEO visual content optimization is crucial for improving organic reach
50% of design agencies report an increase in demand for branding and identity projects, reflecting growth in branding needs
The use of 3D modeling in product and interior design has increased by 50% over the last three years
60% of digital design projects now incorporate AI-powered tools, indicating the automation trend in the industry
The average age of professional graphic designers is 35 years old, highlighting a relatively young workforce
70% of digital agencies plan to expand their services into virtual and augmented reality experiences, reflecting future industry trends
62% of brands invest in influencer collaborations to enhance their visual storytelling and design appeal

Market Trends and Future Projections Interpretation

As the design industry accelerates toward a future where 70% embrace virtual realities and 60% embed AI tools, it's clear that rapid technological innovation, sustainability, and diverse talent are reshaping creative strategies—making today’s designers both digital pioneers and environmental advocates in a landscape that values speed, story, and societal impact equally.