Italian design remains a leader in Europe in terms of revenue (19.8% of the EU, 6.3 billion euros) and number of employees (19.8%). Italy stands out for its strong connection between design and the "Made in Italy" brand, with a significant presence in the furniture, fashion, and mechanics sectors. The integration of artificial intelligence in the sector is rapidly expanding across Europe: in Italy, 80% of design companies use it, with a peak of 88.9% among businesses.

The design sector employs 46,000 professionals, including businesses, freelancers, and self-employed workers, generating an added value of 3.2 billion euros (+4%) with 63,485 workers (+0.3%). Territorial estimates highlight a strong concentration of design activities in Lombardy, particularly in the province of Milan.