In the 1980s, the design profession experienced substantial growth with the emergence of a dominant retailing sector and the mergers and de-mutualisation of major financial institutions. This investment in design was especially in interiors, corporate identity, packaging and graphics. Graphics/corporate identity/packaging companies dominate the profession and these companies serve retail and service companies in the UK, as well as exporting their services. This part of the design profession is closely associated with a strong advertising industry with international groups, such as WPP, Lowe Howard Spink, Wolf Olins and Inter-Publics. .
