2007 Giants: They Just Got Even Bigger

The Top 100 Giants kick off the 75th anniversary of Interior Design with their own numbers to celebrate. To begin with, a tie in earnings increased the actual number of giants to 101—which, together, earned $2,080,060,594. Accounting for the additional Giant, that’s an increase of 17.6 percent in average earnings over the previous year. Only 12 firms posted losses, and two firms remained at their previous level.

Perhaps most interesting, the total earnings figure is 30 percent more than the top Giants’ income in 2001, the last great year before a deteriorating economy and terrorist attacks had a chance to wallop the design industry along with everyone else. Since then, the dollar value of Giant installations has increased 34 percent to $47,390,842,736, and total space installed has risen 7.2 percent to 611,912,884 square feet.

Foreign work has steadily increased from 7.5 percent for the 2001 ranking to 11.6 percent for 2006. Only 27 of the Giants worked exclusively in the U.S., with the vast majority of those falling in the lower 50 rankings. China drew 37 Giants, followed by the United Arab Emirates at 26, the U.K. at 25, India at 18, South Korea at 14, Canada and Mexico at 13 and 12 respectively, Russia at nine, France and Japan at eight, Hong Kong, Italy, Qatar and Thailand at seven, and Singapore at six.

The specialist most likely to be found on a Giant’s staff is the sustainability analyst: Three quarters of the Giants have at least one, compared to 47 percent in 2002, the first year we began asking ‘green’ questions. Approximately 20 percent of Giants prefer to hire a candidate equipped to design spaces that qualify for LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. On average, eco-friendly products represent 24.4 percent of those specified, compared to 21.1 percent the previous year. Strangely enough, however, clients have become less likely to initiate discussions about sustainability, leaving design firms to carry the ball.

Two Giants refused to tell us the size of their interior design staffs, but the 99 who did employed 9,645 professionals, handling an average of $241,395 of work apiece. A single individual actually handled $1,152,174. The average amount per employee has increased 15.5 percent since 2001.

For many Giants, upgraded technology, often customized, and continuing in-house training and development made these numbers possible. One firm reveals that it ‘always looks for well rounded candidates who can think, rather than specialists.’ Another firm says it attributes its success to ‘communicating early and regularly with the clients, so they clearly understand what to expect. This has made a huge difference in profitability and the number of personnel needed on a project.’ Still another firm credits its own office’s increased daylight and improved air quality.

See the Second 100 Giants here.