If you have not yet submitted your work for the National Design Award of Latvia 2025, you can do so until 30 November. The organisers - the Latvian Design Centre - invite designers and clients to submit both large and small projects created since January 2022. The widest possible range of entries allows not only to identify and evaluate the overall picture of Latvian design, but also to compare designers' achievements in a meaningful way and to create a discussion about the design potential. Participation in the competition is also an opportunity to promote yourself and your work, as well as to be evaluated by other professionals in the field.
Submission of the works is carried out in two periods
The submission period for NDLA 2025 is open twice a year: the autumn submission period is extended until 30 November 2024 and the winter submission period runs from 1 February to 20 March 2025. Submissions can be made on the NDLA website, where the entry form is available. pieteikuma forma.
Entries for the National Design Award of Latvia 2025 may be submitted by the author of the work or by another individual associated with it, such as the owner or commissioner. Submissions are open to both natural and legal persons, including public administrations, municipalities, educational institutions, companies, organizations, and others. Eligible entries include works created since January 2022, either realized in Latvia regardless of the nationality of the authors, or realized outside Latvia, provided that their country of origin is Latvia.
Evaluation process
Entries submitted to the NDLA are judged in two rounds. In the first round, the selection jury evaluates the entries received during the submission period and nominates the candidates for the next round. In the second round, the final jury evaluates the nominees and nominates the finalists. The final jury will also decide on the winner of each category and the winners of the Latvian Design Award Grand Prix and the title of "Young Designer". The second round of the competition will conclude with the Design Award ceremony at the end of May 2025. The exact dates will be announced in due course on the NDLA website.
Evaluation criteria
The evaluation of the entries for the National Design Award of Latvia will take into account the design objectives and action lines defined in the Latvian Design Strategy 2022-2027, as well as the values of the European Commission's New European Bauhaus initiative. The evaluation of the entries will be based on the following quality criteria:
- originality and creativity of the idea,
- the defined problem and task(s), and the chosen solutions to solve the problem,
- co-creation, stakeholder involvement and cooperation in the work process,
- functionality and technological solution,
- aesthetics and other dimensions of quality of experience,
- economic relevance, sustainability, and circularity,
- social relevance, inclusion, availability and accessibility.
The National Design Award of Latvia is an award of national significance in design with the aim to identify, evaluate and promote the outstanding performance of Latvian designers, to encourage the use of design created in Latvia and the development of the Latvian design industry, its links with other industries and long-term growth. The award was established in 2017 with the support of the Ministry of Culture. Until May 2025, it is organised by the Latvian Design Centre, a member of The Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA) and an official partner of the European Commission's strategic initiative "New European Bauhaus". The Latvian Design Centre contributes to national design policy, research and education by initiating cooperation and strategic partnerships with other design organisations, designers, companies and design users. With the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Latvian Design Centre maintains the creative industries communication platform FOLD.