WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Interior Design 2015/16 Outlook and State of the Industry report, produced by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Research, forecasts continued positive growth for the interior design industry, with several indicators suggesting that design has fully recovered from the recession of 2008. The number of designers and design firms is near or ahead of 2007 figures, and the dollar value of sales and product specified is at record levels. Billings and inquiries are up with positive expectations into next year, and that translates into a hot job market as firms of all sizes and design specialties intend to hire new employees. In addition, as the industry grows, it also evolves with six macro-trends identified for 2015/16: Health & Well-Being, Technology, Sustainability, Urbanization, Globalization and Resiliency.

"Designers are now expected to solve increasingly complex problems -- designing office spaces that encourage health and well-being, integrating multiple generations in one home, minimizing the environmental footprint of a new hotel, or creating retail spaces that utilize the latest technology in an effort to maximize profits," said Randy Fiser, ASID CEO. "To meet this growing demand, providing proper education, training, and tools is critical. Our goal as a Society is to share that knowledge through ongoing research and education."

In developing the Industry Outlook, ASID analyzed data from both public and private sources, surveying more than 200 practicing interior designers and convening the first ever ASID Think Tank Challenge. Comprised of six thought-leaders from cutting-edge firms and a variety of disciplines, the think tank was tasked with confirming the validity of the six defined macro-trends. Each macro-trend was also analyzed into its own set of sub-trends. Some of the sub-trends are described as highly transformative, such as higher sustainability standards, while others are described as fast-moving, like designing for healthy behaviors

"Our objective is to help our members understand the trends, analyze what they mean for their projects and business, and push the boundaries of interior design," said Fiser.