Growth of the Arch CG industry

[Jeff Mottle]

Hi all,

 

About a year ago I posted an article from the Toronto Star that quote M2 Research as saying that "architecture and industrial design--will average 23% growth" over the next 7 years. Since then the Star has moved it into their archives and you have to pay for it, but after I purchased the article last night and found out about M2, I was able to find another free source of the article that is still online.

 

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/features/article.jsp?content=20030217_52106_52106&page=1

 

I get asked quite a bit about this article, so I thought I'd let you all know.

 

BTW, I'll be presenting a 1 hour session at the AVC conference in Copenhagen in May about the future of the Arch Viz industry and trends within the industry. I'll be launching a very detailed 50-70 question survey this weekend that I will be presenting during the session. There will be quite a few great prizes being awarded randomly to people who take the survey so stay tuned. It should give a very good cross section of the indusry and where it is headed.

[John Dollus]

Jeff, keep in mind that the 23% growth is on the software solution provider side - not on the service provider side. This is an important point. M2 is predicting that our industry will spend 23% more on the tools required to produce our work. It is not a prediction of what subsequent increase in revenue the service provider will see.

[mbr]

That's a good point. I just got back from a meeting with a potential client and was reading some construction magazine while I waited and there was a program (name escapes me) for $1500 that does it all (albeit at a lesser quality). 3000 3D objects, from moldings to furniture to curbs to plants, walk throughs, quick modeling, etc., etc.

It looked interesting and I am sure there are a bunch of them. Obviously not on par with Max/Viz, etc., but it's a turnkey solution for many developers/contractors that want to save cash.

 

Just thought I'd mention it. Nothing new, I suppose, but it's always interesting to see solutions that have 'it all', and then I open Max and see NOTHING that I need!! It all has to be made or bought!

 

Nevertheless, I have optimistic about this profession and do believe the expectations of clients will continue to climb (see OceanPics showreel, and some others) and the features of Max may come in handy...eventually.

[Jeff Mottle]

Hey John,

 

Right of course, but that could also easily traslate into growth on the service end as well. If we are buying more software we are making more money and hence doing more jobs which in theory requires more people, bigger firms and in the end overall growth. My survey will be looking into this end though. I will be askign specific questions about the growth of firms from the past 12 months to 5 years from now. Preseumably most larger firms have esatblished a business plan, so it will be interesting to see where our industry is growing or shrinking as may be the case.

[Jeff Mottle]

I forgot to mention that if you have a specific question that you think would help you determine how you will grow your business in the next few years, post it here and I will let you know if I have already covered it or if I can add it. This is a very broad look at the industry as a whole, so I am not looking at specfic countries, specfic softwares etc.

[Scott Erstad]

Hey Jeff,

 

I seem to remember this survey being posted for all to participate, and was curious as to the results, or when they may be available.

By the way, I thought it was a very good poll topic.

 

Scotty

[Jeff Mottle]

The results will be posted publicly after May 14th.