Mobile Menu

Graphic Designers in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Alexander Govdysh Alexander Govdysh New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 54143CA

Revenue

$1.6bn

2024

$1.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

6,446

Businesses

9,643

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Graphic Designers in Canada industry analysis

Canadian graphic designers continue to generate robust interest among clients looking to expand their brand awareness. The acceleration of technology and broader shifts among consumer habits have encouraged many businesses to pursue graphic designers specializing in design for advertising solutions that integrate well with websites and mobile development. In addition, alternative revenue streams, such as product placement, which includes designing product packaging for placement in movies or TV programs, have provided crucial revenue streams. Nonetheless, economic volatility amid the pandemic, coupled with recent inflationary spikes curtailed private investment and advertising expenditures in recent years. These trends caused revenue to fall at a CAGR of 1.7% to an estimated $1.6 billion, including an expected 0.2% boost in 2024. Profit is expected to climb to 25.0% of revenue in 2024 from 24.4% in 2019.

Trends and Insights

  • Tech advancements and increased ad spending provided a critical boost. Growth in overall advertising budgets grow, the need for design services grows, even as broader economic trends endured volatility due to high inflation.
  • Advertising and promotional design have surged due to recovering economic conditions. Elevated consumer spending and increased disposable income have driven these sectors to new heights.
  • Graphic designers emphasize densely populated areas. Regions with a larger share of the population will likely stimulate greater consumer demand for services.
  • Graphic designers face significant internal competition. Low barriers to entry and the prevalence of freelance graphic designers exacerbated competition for graphic design services, with companies prioritizing cost-efficiency.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Uneven advertising expenditures harmed demand for graphic designers

  • Graphic designers are heavily reliant on advertising expenditure to ensure demand for their services remains steady.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Graphic Designers in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Economic recovery will benefit core market niches for graphic designers

  • As economic conditions are poised to fully recover following a period of high inflation and interest rates, many core market segments will provide a boost to graphic design demand.

Biggest companies in the Graphic Designers in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
McMillan Agency
4.6
1.2
26.1
Accurate Creative
0.2
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Graphic Designers in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Printing services , Corporate and organization image design and Advertising and promotional design . Printing services is the largest segment of the Graphic Designers in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Growth of new businesses and rising corporate profit bolsters climbed increasing demand for services

  • Corporate and organization image design services involve assisting corporations and organizations with building consumer brand recognition through areas such as logo development, trademarks and stationery sets such as business cards and letterheads.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry plans, designs and manages the production of visual communication to convey specific messages, clarify complex information or project visual identities. Services include design for printed materials, sales displays, packaging and corporate identification.

What's included in this industry?

Printing servicesCorporate and organization image designAdvertising and promotional design Publication designCommercial illustration designWebsite and internet presence designMedical illustration services

Companies

McMillan AgencyAccurate Creative

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

FREELANCERIN-HOUSEPRINTED MEDIA

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 541430 - Graphic Designers in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Tech advancements and increased ad spending provided a critical boost. Growth in overall advertising budgets grow, the need for design services grows, even as broader economi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Advertising and promotional design have surged due to recovering economic conditions. Elevated consumer spending and increased disposable income have driven these sectors to ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Graphic designers emphasize densely populated areas. Regions with a larger share of the population will likely stimulate greater consumer demand for services.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Graphic designers face significant internal competition. Low barriers to entry and the prevalence of freelance graphic designers exacerbated competition for graphic design se...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Graphic designers endure low concentration due to the proliferation of small, independent designers. A diverse array of demand niches enable a fragmented market with little d...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of McMillan Agency's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Accurate Creative's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for McMillan Agency, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Accurate Creative, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Most regulations focus on graphic designers' property rights from piracy. Regulatory oversight regarding copyright and pirated material ensures designers' work is protected a...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Graphic designers’ profit remains steady. Higher emphasis on higher-margin services like identity design, letterheads and business cards generates a consistent and robust rev...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Graphic Designers industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Graphic Designers industry in Canada is $1.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Graphic Designers in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 9,643 businesses in the Graphic Designers industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Graphic Designers industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Graphic Designers industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Graphic Designers industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Graphic Designers industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Graphic Designers market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Graphic Designers market in Canada are McMillan Agency and Accurate Creative

What does the Graphic Designers in Canada include?

Printing services and Corporate and organization image design are part of the Graphic Designers industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Graphic Designers in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is McMillan Agency.

How competitive is the Graphic Designers industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Graphic Designers industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Advertising Agencies in Canada
  • Billboard & Outdoor Advertising in Canada

Complementors

  • Printing in Canada
  • Interior Designers in Canada

International industries

  • Global Graphic Designers
  • Graphic Designers in the US
  • Specialised Design Services in Australia
  • Architectural and Design Services in New Zealand
  • Specialised Design Activities in the UK

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.