Adobe predicts web design boom - but expert warns of 'false dawn'

NEWS Software giant Adobe has been slammed for its over-optimistic predictions for the web design industry. In a survey, Adobe claims that of the 150 CEOs and MDs of web design agencies it spoke to, 80 per cent said they will increase the size of their workforce, while a quarter are looking to double the number of staff. The same people are also predicting a 27 per cent increase in revenue for 2001. However, Patrick White, founder of the British Web Design and Marketing Association, expressed a note of caution and said he was concerned the industry could be accused of "patting itself on the back too much". He added that the report, by Adobe and eMORI is "gung-ho". While many of the agencies questioned said they are also looking to expand internationally, White warns that in the meantime there is a risk that the domestic market will be overlooked. He told silicon.com: "There is still much that the industry needs to do in order to maximise the opportunities of our domestic market and improve service delivery to SMEs. Gaining a reputation for integrity in the domestic market is still a requirement in the minds of many B2B buyers." While White supported the report's claims that there is "a true sense of optimism and purpose within the UK new media design industry", he argued that these agencies are being "lured into false sense of security". He added that although the dot-com fallout has made large numbers of personnel unemployed, these people could have been poorly trained, giving the wrong impression to dot com start ups about the availability of suitable staff in the sector. He said: "We suspect that many companies' growth ambitions may be stifled through a lack of high calibre, well-trained talent, with bottom lines eroded through expenditure on recruitment and retention."
The British Web Design and Marketing Association can be found at http://www.bwdma.co.uk