Rachael Micallef is reporting in AdNews.com.au that the Australian advertising industry is increasing it’s demand for digital designers in 2014/2015 with a 4% revenue boost forecast for that period. This is very encouraging news going into the new year, for local digital designers as the advertising industry embraced multichannel campaigns versus traditional print, radio and television.

“Adland is investing deep into digital and it’s not just boosting its own bottom line. Multichannel graphic designers have seen a major boost in revenue as a result of carving out a niche in this speciality advertising area, according to a report from Ibisworld.

The report is forecasting growth from Australian advertising agencies will flow into specialised design services, resulting in a boost of 4% revenue growth over 2014/2015.

Much of this is based on the adoption of digital technology, which has led to bigger multichannel advertising and wider branding strategies, all of which require strong design.

Ideaworks executive creative director Tom Hoskins told AdNews the increased demand is ‘absolutely’ something it has seen in its business. The GPY&R agency specialises in shopper and retail executions and Hoskins said the business has a specialised team which works on graphic messaging.

‘Smart brands realise that they need to invest in graphic design or tangible experiences,’ Hoskin said.

‘Brands are investing in design much more than just a simple veneer of experience and the digital explosion has helped that become much deeper. So design has now almost permeated the whole way through from start to finish.’

Bloke creative partner Mike O’Rouke said his agency brings in graphic designers on a freelance basis when they are needed rather than outsourcing the skills, so he hasn’t seen this trend in his own business.

However he said design overall was starting to play a bigger role for marketers and brands.

‘Design is solving a lot of people’s marketing problems because it goes across so many different channels. So you have to nail that first,’ O’Rouke said….”

Reproduced in part from AdNews.com.au by Rachael Micallef
Read more at http://www.adnews.com.au/news/advertising-to-give-graphic-design-a-boost-next-year#OYgRHS4hZ2SPJTLW.99