The AIGA Design Leaders Confidence Index for the first quarter of 2010 reflects the strongest confidence yet in an economic recovery.
The index rose to 103.73 - up from 51 in October 2008 - and is the highest since AIGA began measuring confidence in the design economy in early 2005.
While most respondents rated conditions moderately better-rather than substantially better over both the past six months and in anticipation of the next six months-the impressions that pushed up the index are widely held.
AIGA had expected results from the beginning of 2010 to reveal whether American businesses had reduced their budgets for design based on 2009's weak start, thus imposing a continuing negative impact on design business.
The data and anecdotal evidence suggest investment in design is reviving.
More than a third of respondents (36.5 percent) believe they will be more likely to hire new designers in this quarter than last; only 15 percent felt they were less likely to hire new designers.
And 48 percent felt their plans of purchasing new hardware and software had increased compared with three months ago.