Commercial printing has come a long way from the days when everyone learned the trade at a vocational school or through a family business. Today, our industry attracts talent from countless backgrounds — designers who fell in love with print, digital natives who discovered the power of physical media, and yes, plenty of folks who still carry on proud family traditions.
The 2025 Printing Industry Census aims to capture this evolution. For the first time, we're creating a comprehensive picture of who makes up the commercial printing industry. How many of us are first-generation printers? How many are carrying on a family legacy? What different paths led us all to this dynamic field?
The census explores crucial questions about our community:
- How long have you been in the industry?
- What drew you to commercial printing?
- Would you choose this career path again?
- How has the industry shaped your life?
- What keeps you excited about print?
Beyond just work history, we're looking at the complete picture of who we are. Our educational backgrounds, our interests outside of print, and even how we balance the demands of this fast-paced industry with our personal lives.
Your story is part of printing's bigger picture. Share your part of the story here.
Denise Gustavson is the Editorial Director for the Alliance Media Brands — which includes Printing Impressions, Packaging Impressions, In-plant Impressions, Wide-Format Impressions, Apparelist, NonProfitPRO, and the PRINTING United Journal — PRINTING United Alliance.