From the International Herald Tribune, a slideshow about how designers have been uniquely poised for opportunity during previous economic slumps. From the piece:

Designers will be called upon to advise recession-struck companies on how to cut costs without impeding efficiency. They will also be asked to exploit the entrepreneurial opportunities offered by the recession by developing austerity-friendly products and services. An example is the Virtual Wallet online banking service developed for the young, tech-savvy customers of the American bank, PNC, by the IDEO design group.

In fact, sources we've spoken to indicate that small design firms, if they're well-focused and disciplined, can actually thrive during a down economy. For more info:

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