➤ Graphic Design: Statistics and Key Figures (2024)

Graphic Design Industry Trends

Thanks to constant advances in technology, the graphic design industry has experienced unparalleled growth, with the global graphic design market expected to grow by 3.7% this year. In 2022, the graphic design industry is expected to be worth $43.4 billion globally and currently has 391,328 businesses.

As businesses strengthen their digital presence, graphic designers work on advertisements, reports, magazines, brochures, and other website layouts.

Global graphic design is expected to grow by 3.7% in 2022.
In 2022, the graphic design industry was worth $43.4 billion globally and currently has 391,328 businesses.
In the United States alone, the graphic design market is worth $13.3 billion.
Between 2017 and 2022, the global graphic design industry grew at an average of 0.6% per year.
On average, 23,900 graphic designer jobs are opened every year.
Demand for graphic designers will continue to grow by 3% between 2020 and 2030.

Although only 15% of digital marketers use the help and skills of freelance graphic designers, the latter represent 90% of the entire industry. This industry is vital for any brand that markets and sells products, and a graphic designer's skills are a combination of technology, software, or hand designs that create visual concepts.

15% of digital marketers use freelance graphic designers.
90% of the graphic design industry is made up of freelancers.
On average, graphic designers earn $53,380 per year.
Although their average salary is lower than that of men ($46,317 per year), more than 50% of graphic designers are women.
Male graphic designers will have an average salary of $55,585.
The average wage for a graphic designer is $26 per hour.
In the United States, the average age of a graphic designer is 37.
76.1% of graphic designers are white, 10.2% are Latino or Hispanic, while 7.6% are of Asian origin.

However, these statistics change depending on the skill level and expertise of a professional graphic designer:

An entry-level designer is a novice graphic designer who has just entered the industry and has little or no experience.
A junior graphic designer has an average level of knowledge and skills, which they have accumulated over the last few months to 3 years.
High-end or senior graphic designers can also serve as mentors to junior graphic designers because of their experience of three to five years or more.

Freelance graphic designers, on the other hand, are more likely to charge businesses for their services per project:

An amateur graphic designer may already have a portfolio but has not received formal graphic design education, so they have lower rates per project.
Junior freelance graphic designers are more educated, have over a year of experience, and generally work part-time.
Senior graphic designers have a comprehensive portfolio thanks to their graphic design training and sector-specific courses. Generally full-time, this type of graphic designer is highly qualified and experienced.
The exclusive freelance professional graphic designers work full time and have clients in the field of digital advertising and press. Most graphic designers with this status have years of experience and are renowned for their work.

Sources: ibisworld.com, ibisworld.com, bls.gov, Venngage.com, ibisworld.com, bls.gov, Datausa.io, ons.gov.uk, Ziprecruiter.com, zippia.com

Sectors that need graphic designers

People with a degree or relevant experience can also become graphic designers:

Creative Directors
Art directors
User Experience (UX) Designers
User Interface (UI) Designers
Production artists
Product developers
Marketing specialists
Multimedia artists or animators
Web designers or developers
Digital illustrators
Technical writers
Photo editor
Industrial designers
Designers (engineering and architecture)
Desktop editors
Arts and crafts artists
Logo designer
Creative Services Manager

Of all graphic design jobs, the top 5 salaries in the United States are as follows:

User Experience (UX) Designer: $92,118 per year
User Interface (UI) Designer: $79,223 per year
Logo designer: $52,992 per year
Fashion designer: $49,762 to $74,796 per year
Photo editor: $40,699 per year

While all industries can benefit from the skills of a graphic designer, graphic designers are often found in the following areas:

Education
Publishing
Computer system design
Mobile application design
Governmental organizations
Publicity
Manufacturing and packaging
User experience

Some American industries invest in graphic designers more than others:

Monetary authorities - central bank: $108,260 per year
Software publishers: $94,780 per year
Natural gas distribution: $90,240 per year
Federal executive branch: $88,430 per year
Securities, commodity contracts, financial investments and related activities: $86,730

However, the profession of graphic designer is not for everyone, as 40% of people who enter the field abandon it after two years.

40% of graphic designers drop out within two years of their training
Only 60% of the 25,000 people who start a career as a graphic designer last the first two years.
⅓ of graphic designers remain in the profession after five years

Sources: indeed.com, indeed.com, indeed.com, salary.com, indeed.com, bls.gov, Princetonreview.com

Small Business Graphic Design Statistics

Small businesses invest in graphic designers to create visual assets to stand out from the crowd and successfully market.

80% of small businesses consider graphic design to be moderately or very important to their success.
Because of graphic design costs, only 67% of small business owners are willing to pay $500 for a logo, and only 18% are willing to pay up to $1,000.

Sources: visual.ly,

Business-to-business graphic design statistics

Graphics and visuals are just as crucial for businesses that have other businesses as customers.

51% of B2B marketers prioritize creating visual assets.

As for the type of content B2B marketers use for content:

72% use video content
65% use infographics
56% use illustrations and photos

With the help of a graphic designer, high-quality content integrated into a brand strategy can present data and messages in a way that stays in the audience's mind.

Sources: contentmarketinginstitute.com, contentmarketinginstitute.com

Digital marketing and visual content statistics

Visuals and graphics are powerful tools in digital marketing, as visual information is processed 60,000 times faster than words. For example, after analyzing 100 million articles, we see an increase in shares on Twitter and Facebook by including at least one image in the content.

A message with at least one image would be shared by twice as many people. Combining relevant text and images can increase your audience's retention rate by 650%.

Our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than words.
A study of 100 million articles found that posts on Twitter and Facebook are shared more if the content contains at least one image.
Content with at least one image will be shared by twice as many people as a message without visuals.
Text combined with relevant images can increase an audience's memory rate by 650%.

However, content marketers face the following challenges to produce visuals and designs:

36.7% say that the biggest hurdle is generating graphs on a consistent basis.
22.9% say it is difficult to find the appropriate layout
20.5% of digital marketers say it's hard to have a good design
19.9% have difficulty finding data sources
12% find it difficult to get a greater range

When it comes to the type of visuals that digital marketers say contribute to their marketing goals, some are more effective than others:

Custom graphics (for example, illustrations and infographics): 40.8%
Videos and presentations (for example, slideshows and webinars): 23.7%
Data charts and visualizations: 15.4%
Stock photos: 8.9%
Multi-page documents (e-books and white papers): 8.4%

40% of organizations would like the graphic design process to be automated

48% of content marketers use 91% to 100% of their content, including visuals.
62% of marketers use visuals as part of the content of a blog or website landing page.
88% of marketers believe visuals are essential for 50% of website articles.
56.6% of marketers changed their visual content marketing strategy due to the pandemic.
85% of shoppers say that photos that accompany product information are essential when deciding which brand or retailer to shop from.

Sources: multimedia.3m.com, Okdork.com, Yumpu.com, Venngage.com, thinkwithgoogle.com

Brand image and web graphic design statistics

Visual elements that can establish a company's identity include packaging design and logos. The appeal of your website and products can influence how potential consumers see what you have to offer, as 94% of first impressions of a brand or business are design-related.

Whether you are a graphic designer or a brand, a good branding strategy takes into account the impact of different elements. The brand strategy journey can include A/B testing for different layouts, color combinations, fonts, etc. to see which versions of visuals will benefit your business the most. These elements should be taken into account because 75% of people judge the credibility of a brand based on its website.

94% of first impressions of a brand or business are related to design.
75% of people judge the credibility of a brand based on its website.
73% of businesses invest in design to stand out from their competitors.
84.6% of graphic designers think that overloaded design is the main design error, followed by the absence of CTA buttons (38.5%).
Globally, 59% of users prefer engaging designs, while 41% prefer clear, simple designs.
94% of consumers cite the design of a website as the main reason for their distrust of it.
6 out of 10 buyers say that the ease of use of a website is what they find important when making an online purchase.

Sources: researchgate.net, creditbility.stanford.edu, Good, landing.adobe.com, Statista.com

Logo statistics

Designing logos is one of the essential tasks of a graphic designer and is a crucial pillar of the graphic design industry in the United States. Logo design and branding represent nearly $3 billion in the total graphic design market.

Logo and brand design is worth around $3 billion across the entire graphic design market.
60% of consumers admit that even if a brand has good reviews, they will avoid it if the brand logo is unappealing, unappealing, or weird.
Internet users spend about 6.4 seconds focusing on a brand logo when they visit a website.
60% of the top 500 businesses use combined logos, which are a combination of logotype and logo brand.
73% of major brands use serif fonts
40% of major brands include the color blue in their logos
A survey conducted in 10 countries on four continents shows that blue is the most popular favorite color and that it is associated in a positive way with the environment.

Sources: ibisworld.com, studyfinds.org, news.mst.edu, Websiteplanet.com, today.yougov.com

Color usage statistics

Using the right colors in graphics can boost website conversions. As part of a Performable study, call to action (CTA) buttons changed from green to red and all other items remained the same. By simply changing the color, Performable saw its conversion rates increase by 21%.

Likewise, Ript Apparel saw sales increase by 6.3% after changing its CTA buttons from green to yellow. Graphic designers use color theory and psychology to create content that effectively reaches audiences.

Performable's conversion rates increased by 21% by changing its CTA buttons from green to red.
Ript Apparel sales grew 6.3% after changing its CTA buttons from green to yellow.
In 90% of cases, the first instinctive reaction to products is based on color alone.
Color can improve reading rates by 40% and increase comprehension by 73%.
Coloured logos have an 80% chance of increasing brand awareness.

Sources: blog.hubspot.com, Vwo.com,emerald.com, colorcom.com, Ragan.com

Graphic design software usage statistics

Captivating visuals intrigue the audience, and the drawing software are practical graphic design tools.

The most common software used by web designers is as follows:

Photoshop: 88.5%
Illustrator: 76.9%.
Sketch: 75%
InDesign: 23.1

RECOMMENDED READING: Free background removal tools

How long does it take to create visuals?

50% of marketers spend less than 5 hours
22% devote 5 to 10 hours
29% devote 10 to 20 hours

Sources: goodfirms.co, Venngage.com

Social media marketing

Social networks are a source of news, entertainment, communication and inspiration, which is why they have become an effective digital marketing platform. With social networks being one of the most popular online activities, the number of users is expected to reach 4.41 billion by 2025.

By 2025, it is estimated that there will be 4.41 billion social media users.
With over 3.6 billion potential consumers in 2020, graphic design is essential to be competitive on social media, a competitive landscape.
Internet users spend an average of 144 minutes per day on social networks and messaging applications.
80% of markets use visuals in their social media marketing
People are twice as likely to share video content as other types of content.
84% of consumers agree that promotional videos convinced them to make a purchase.

Sources: Statista.com, socialmediaexaminer.com, wyzowl.com

Consumer behavior

Website visuals are essential across platforms, with 85% of consumers aged 18 to 49 using multiple devices simultaneously. In this digital age, it's not surprising that 50% of an e-commerce store's revenue is generated on mobile devices. Despite this fact, mobile conversion rates are lower than desktop conversion rates because most mobile sites are slow and have too many elements.

85% of consumers aged 18 to 49 use multiple devices simultaneously.
50% of an e-commerce store's revenue is generated on mobile devices.

The probability of a visitor bouncing or leaving a website depends on the loading time of the website. When the load time of a page changes from:

The probability of a bounce from 1 second to 3 seconds increases by 32%.
From 1 second to 5 seconds, the probability of a bounce increases by 90%.
The probability of a bounce from 1 second to 6 seconds increases by 106%.
From 1 second to 10 seconds, the probability of a bounce increases by 123%.

65% of the population is made up of visual learners
It takes 50 milliseconds for consumers to decide whether or not to stay on the site.
92.6% of customers say that the visual dimension is the most influential factor in their buying decisions.
94% of consumers will leave a website that is poorly designed
66% of consumers want to visit a website that has been beautifully designed
When a brand invests in user experience (UX) with a functional and beautiful site, every dollar spent earns them 100 dollars. This is a return on investment (ROI) of 9,900%.
If your website doesn't include contact information, 54% of consumers think that the absence of this design element reduces a brand's credibility.