From the graphics-industry trendwatchers at The Industry Measure comes another bit of news: The number of creative shops in the U.S. grew from 2006/2007 to 2007/2008. The group's "Design & Production Demographic Atlas" counted 52,513 total design and production establishments, a 0.9% increase (about 500 firms). That doesn't seem like whopping growth, but consider the rise in corporate design departments, the sluggish nature of the economy, and the trend toward consumer-generated/viral marketing efforts, and the data is notable.