What an increase in art & design demand reveals about students' AI thinking
Nobody wants to be a marketer.
Okay, I’m being a tad dramatic, but recent data from Pathway’s "Understanding Student Demand" report reveals a 1.25 percentage point decrease in demand for advertising, marketing and business occupations (2024 to 2025).
Maybe it’s a change in student priorities - today, 70% of students value a supportive working environment and (55%) flexible working hours. And, according to Deloitte, only 6% of young talent aspires to leadership positions.
If that’s your worldview, then it’s easy to see why a career in marketing might be losing its appeal.
Meanwhile, interest in art and design careers has increased 0.75 percentage points.
That’s probably down to skills.
It’s possible to leave a marketing degree with a lot of theory and little evidence. Your early career success depends on you convincing others of your transferable skills.
But art and design is different.
You leave with a portfolio, AKA an inch-thick folder of evidenced skills.
Proving you can create in a world where AI makes existing knowledge closer to free every day is a hell of an advantage.
Art school won't hurt your chances.
