Abstract

Within this study, the effects of Socioeconomic variables of design professionals on the quality of their income were examined with a view towards ascertaining the quality of life of design professionals. Design professionals in the study refers to architects, engineers and industrial designers/artists, while the socioeconomic variables studied here are age, gender, profession, academic qualification, length of professional practice after graduation, length of residency in the study area and familiarity with the study area. All of these variables were studied in relation to how they affect design professionals’ income. Since a relationship study was carried out between the variables, it required the use of correlation analyses. A well structured questionnaire was designed to elicit information from the design professionals and these questionnaires were administered online to respondents through the respective professional institutions. Correlation analysis using spear man rho and Pearson moment correlation analyses were carried out, while categorical regression analysis was used to predict the socioeconomic variables with the most influence on design professionals’ income. The analyses were carried out using SPSS version 18. The study found that while most design professionals are financially buoyant, their length of professional practice and highest academic qualification portend better income levels, while gender and professional designation have no significant relationship with design professionals' income levels.

Keywords: Correlation analyses, Design professionals, Environment and behaviour, Income, Socioeconomic variables