Australian designers across every discipline will be counted, for the first time, under a dedicated professional group in the upcoming census on 11 August.

The Australian Census of Population and Housing, which is held every five years, is a compulsory national population count that reveals information about the country's demographics, including respondents' occupation.

This year marks the first time that design will have its own classification. In total, 92 design occupations across 11 occupation codes will be recognised within their own dedicated occupational group: Minor Group 242 Design Professional, which sits under Sub-Major Group 24, Design, Engineering and Science Professionals.

In the country's previous classification system, design had no independent standing but sat under the architecture category,

Professions that will be counted under the new classification system include graphic designer, industrial designer, interior designer, jewellery designer, fashion designer, multimedia designer, UI/UX designer, web designer, textile designer, animator, VFX artist or illustrator.

Census will be "the first national benchmark of Australia's design workforce"

"For the first time, designers will be counted under their own professional group in the Australian Bureau of Statistics' new occupational framework, creating the first national benchmark of Australia's design workforce," CEO of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) Simone LeAmon said.

According to DIA, the advocacy body of Australia's design industry, the design profession has largely remained invisible despite contributing an estimated $67.5 billion to the Australian economy each year.

The lack of an accurate number of design professionals within the workforce makes it hard to demonstrate the evidence that will lead to industry investment and public policy-making.

"Reliable workforce data provides a stronger evidence base for government, education and industry," LeAmon told Dezeen.

"It can help inform workforce planning, skills development, higher education, migration settings, industry investment and public policy, while also strengthening recognition of design's contribution to Australia's economy and society," she continued.

Designers encouraged to identify themselves in new campaign

LeAmon believes the modernised classification framework ensures a better reflection of the diverse contemporary design practice.

"The significance isn't that Australia has finally recognised designers while other countries have not," she said.

"Rather, it modernises the country's occupational classification and, for the first time, provides a comprehensive framework recognising 92 design occupations and titles within a dedicated Design Professionals Minor Group."

To encourage designers across every discipline to identify themselves as designer in the census, DIA has created a national campaign. Called Write Designer, it features a wide variety of design projects by leading Australian designers.

The campaign was produced pro bono by creative agency Clemenger BBDO.

The projects mentioned in the campaign include the world's first modular, self-fitting hearing aid Facett, designed by Leah Heiss and Peter Blamey for Blamey Saunders Hears and the chaise lounge Lockheed Lounge designed by Marc Newson in 1986.

"Designers prove you can celebrates a profession built on challenging assumptions, solving problems and turning limitations into possibilities, and this year's census is a chance for the industry to come together, be counted and finally make the scale of that contribution visible," executive creative director of Clemenger BBDO Giles Watson said.

The photography is by Shutterstock.