First ASID Performance Index Provides Data for Interior Design Billings and Product Specifications

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) today announced the findings of its first quarterly performance index. The ASID index is based on data compiled from a monthly survey that provides a tailored perspective on billings and business conditions in the interior design industry.

“The ASID index is intended to differentiate interior design performance measurements from those that are used in the construction and architecture industries,” said Michael Thomas, FASID, CAPS, ASID President. “In addition to a focus on interior design billings, the index monitors key indicators such as product selection. This information is a valuable resource for keeping our members apprised of the industry outlook.”

Key Index Highlights:

•Both the Billing and Inquiry indexes have been above 50 for the past four consecutive months, signaling moderate industry growth.

•Improvement in the interior design industry is broad-based across regions and multiple sectors:
–Regional Indexes: Northeast 65.2, Midwest 55.3, South 57.8, West 57.1 –Sector Index Means: Residential 57.1, Commercial 55.9, Institutional 55.4 •Slightly larger increases in residential billings are mirrored by reported increases in fabric, paint and finishes for renovation projects.

“Interior designers have good reason to be optimistic,” said ASID economic advisor Dr. Jack Kleinhenz, Ph.D. “The renewed health of the US economy is becoming evident in interior design. Both billings and inquiries have shown modest improvement across the board in the first quarter. Looking forward, we can expect that level of growth to continue, with possible seasonal boosts in some sectors.”

David McFadden

Drawing upon original ideas and extensive personal and professional experience in the field, David McFadden crafted this article to explore the latest trends in architecture and building design. After working at various design practices—both full-time and freelance—and launching his design firm, David identified a significant gap in the industry. In 1984, he founded Consulting For Architects Inc. Careers, an expansive hub designed to align architects with hiring firms for mutual benefit. This platform enables architects to find impactful design work and frees hiring firms from the time-consuming cycles of recruitment and layoffs. He also owned and managed an award-winning Autodesk Training Center and dealership. David’s innovative approach to employer-employee relations has brought much-needed flexibility and adaptation to the industry. As the Founder and CEO, David has successfully guided his clients and staff through the challenges of four recessions—the early ’80s, early ’90s, early 2000s, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the remnants of the current slowdown due to inflation and high-interest rates.

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