Although design businesses in Northern Ireland account for 3% of the UK total, the number of designers in the country has been growing – there are now just over 3,800 designers in Northern Ireland, a 41% increase on 2003.
Design businesses in Northern Ireland are more likely to work in interior and exhibition design and less likely to work in communication design and digital and multimedia design than other UK design businesses. Design businesses in the country are relatively young, only 22% have been operating for more than 10 years compared to a national average of 26%.
Download a PDF factsheet full of facts and stats on the design industry in Northern Ireland
Number of designers and design businesses in Northern Ireland
How many designers are there in Northern Ireland?
There are 3,8331 designers in Northern Ireland. This is an increase of 41%2 on 2003.
How many design businesses are there in Northern Ireland?
There are 2,982 design businesses in Northern Ireland. Design businesses in Northern Ireland account for 3% of design businesses in the UK.
- Design consultancies 216
- Freelance designers 2,636
- In-house design teams 130
Profile of design businesses in Northern Ireland
What disciplines do design businesses in Northern Ireland work in?
Compared to the UK average, there is a lower proportion of design businesses in Northern Ireland working in communications design and digital and multimedia design, but more than double the average proportion working in interior and exhibition design.
How long have design businesses in Northern Ireland been operating?
Two thirds of design businesses in Northern Ireland have been operating for under seven years.
How many designers do in-house design teams in Northern Ireland employ?
More than two-thirds of in-house design teams in Northern Ireland employ fewer than five designers.
How many designers do design consultancies in Northern Ireland employ?
98% of design consultancies in Northern Ireland employ fewer than ten designers.
Financial performance of design businesses in Northern Ireland
What is the annual fee income/budget for design businesses in Northern Ireland?
The majority of design businesses in Northern Ireland have an annual fee income/budget of less than £100k.
How does the financial performance3 of design businesses in Northern Ireland for the last year compare with the year before?
37% of Northern Ireland design businesses saw their fee income/budget decrease over the last year, compared to 31% who saw an increase.
Clients of design businesses in Northern Ireland
What industry sectors do design businesses in Northern Ireland work in?
35% of design businesses in Northern Ireland work in the manufacturing sector. This is higher than the national average. The number of Northern Ireland design businesses working for clients in the financial and business services sector is half the national average.
How big are the clients of Northern Ireland design businesses?
60% of design businesses in Northern Ireland work for small firms.
Job market for design businesses in Northern Ireland
What percentage of design businesses in Northern Ireland are recruiting?
26% of design businesses in Northern Ireland recruited at least 1 designer last year (UK average – 31%)
What percentage of design businesses in Northern Irelan have made redundancies over the last year?
6% of design businesses in Northern Ireland made redundancies last year (UK average – 7%)