As we embark on a new year, everyone is holding their breath and hoping that the economy will begin to show stronger signs of recovery—and that the A&D industry will follow suit.
However, the AIA Consensus Construction Forecast Panel projects a decline in nonresidential construction activity of almost 12 percent for 2010, and BIFMA estimates that industry-wide shipments will decline another 4.6 percent to $7.43 billion. It appears the looming economic cloud won’t be clearing up just yet.
As we wait for the tide to turn in a more favorable direction, the A&D community continues to innovate and find ways to make the most of a down economy, as Sara Armbruster, vice president, WorkSpace Futures and Corporate Strategy for Steelcase, points out in this issue’s Focus article (see p. 14). "By investing in smart office design, companies can create great small spaces that cater to the demands of the modern workplace and the current economic situation," explains Armbruster. "Visionary companies are striking a balance between cutting costs and offering better support for their employees."
Those practitioners who have borne the brunt of the double digit unemployment rate have also found inventive ways to get involved in their communities and leverage a range of tools available to help them get back on their feet. Organizations such as LMNOP, which launched in New York City in 2009, are helping to provide "personal, professional development to members of the architecture and design community through training, mentoring, and networking activities." Also, The Mohawk Group and IIDA, along with other industry partners, introduced the Re:work initiative to help displaced architects and designers "reposition and recharge" their careers.
In the meantime, designers can also leverage social networking sites to connect with other industry professionals and find opportunities to share ideas and (hopefully) find employment. As Michelle Kraker, manager of student marketing and social media for IIDA explains, "Social media is not a platform for you to boast about how great your organization is—it’s a place for engagement, for curiosity, for connection. At IIDA, we know our members have long been on various social networking sites; in fact, they were there long before we were. By engaging in social media, we’re simply responding to the demand for a valuable resource."
By leveraging these new opportunities and investing in professional development, design professionals can make the most of this down economy while the storm passes.
