AIGA and Fast Company Launch ‘The Design Pricing Transparency Project’

New survey to reveal what freelance designers are charging and what companies are paying

NEW YORK-AIGA, the professional association for design, and FastCompany announced today the launch of The Design Transparency Project, a joint effort to reveal details surrounding pay transparency for the design community. This survey initiative will gather comprehensive data from both freelance designers and the companies who hire them to offer insight into how designers value their work and how companies determine what they pay.

The Design Pricing Transparency Project aims to close the information gap around freelance compensation in the design industry. Through a survey that takes less than 10 minutes to complete, freelance designers and professionals who hire them are invited to share details about pricing structures, project types, career stages, negotiation practices and the role artificial intelligence plays in shaping workloads and fees.

"It's more important than ever for designers to embrace pay transparency. We hope this survey and the resulting data will make it easier for designers to navigate an industry that's rapidly changing," said Liz Stinson, Senior Design Editor at FastCompany.

The survey can be found online and closes on March 11. Participants who provide their email at the end of the survey will receive a gift link to access the published results on the FastCompany website in Spring 2026. Results will also be shared with AIGA Members.

By providing data-driven transparency, this project supports AIGA's mission to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force. Through this mission, AIGA works to empower designers, promote the value of design in business and society, and foster a diverse and inclusive creative community. Learn more about AIGA Membership.

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Media Contact

Michelle Koenigsknecht

AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, advances design as a professional craft, strategic advantage, and vital cultural force. As the largest community of design advocates, AIGA brings together practitioners, enthusiasts, and patrons to amplify the voice of design and create a collective vision for the future. AIGA defines global standards and ethical practices, guides design education, inspires designers and the public, enhances professional development, and makes powerful tools and resources accessible to all.