AGDA Members Being Polled for Salary Survey

Sydney, Australia (March 26, 2002) - Aquent, the world's largest talent agency specializing in creative, Web and tech, and the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) are partnering on a research project to provide design professionals with current information on salary levels, business practices, and other information on the design industry in Australia. The survey was distributed to AGDA members in mid-March.

"As the official career partner of the AGDA, we felt it important to provide members with the kind of information that will help them with their career development strategies as design professionals and with their business planning as design organizations," said Greg Savage, Aquent's CEO for the Asia-Pacific Region.

The AGDA/Aquent 2002 Salary Survey is designed to study salary levels by geographic region and design position. The results will provide information such as:

• benchmarks in salary structures and billing rates,
  
• salary differentials in geographic location and business sector,
  
• growth areas for the design industry,
  
• benefits and salary packaging in the design industry,

"We are expecting an overwhelming participation by our membership. A ten-minute investment in time to complete the survey will pay off big dividends in the growth and professionalism of the design industry in Australia," commented Rita Siow, AGDA's General Manager. "That is why we are urging our membership, as practitioners of the design community, to participate in this important and worthwhile project."

The survey will be administered by both mail and downloadable from the AGDA Web site beginning March 26, 2002 through April 19, 2002. AGDA's membership 2000 will be asked to participate in the survey.

The survey will provide members with data to questions such as:

• How much should an entry-level designer earn?
  
• Is paying over-time normal practice?
  
• What is the outlook for business growth for 2003?
  
• What are the key metrics and financial ratios common to successful design businesses?

The AGDA/Aquent 2002 Salary Survey is an update to an industry survey conducted by AGDA in 1996. The survey results will be supported by road shows in June. Details for each event will be announced.

For those interested in participating in the survey, please contact Rita Siow, AGDA's General Manager (gm@agda.asn.au).

About AGDA
Founded in 1988, AGDA (agda.com.au) is the peak national organization representing the graphic design industry in Australia. With more than 2000 members distributed throughout the communications, technology and creative sectors, it is dedicated to advancing the design profession through an inter-related program of state, national and international activities in education, advocacy and professional development.

About Aquent
Aquent (aquent.com) is a global professional service firm delivering Creative and IT solutions. Through a network of nearly seventy offices in twelve countries, Aquent provides staffing, consulting, and outsourcing services in the areas of print and Web design and production; application and database development; and project management. In its fifteen-year history Aquent has made over 200,000 matches of independent professionals with client companies worldwide. Aquent is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and is privately held. The companies Asia-Pacific headquarters is in Sydney