The works that have advanced to the second phase of the National Design Award of Latvia (NDAL) 2026 winter application round have been announced. A total of 56 applications were received, and the selection jury has nominated 26 works to advance to the next round of the competition, eight of which are submissions by design students. The product design category has the most nominees — nine in total. This is followed by the communication design category with eight nominees and the environmental design category with five entries. Two digital solutions and two service design works have also been selected. On May 18, the final jury will begin its work to select the NDAL 2026 finalists, with the best works to be honoured at a ceremony on May 21.
All works submitted during the winter session were assessed by a selection jury made up of recognised Latvian design professionals — each category has a chair and two jury members. The category chairs are: Ieva Kalēja, designer at the «Mammalampa» studio and creative director of the «PAA» brand; Maija Rozenfelde, partner and design director at the «Kid Design» studio; Artūrs Analts, interdisciplinary designer and author of the design of the Baltic Pavilion at «Expo 2025»; and Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs, head of the UX design department at «Cube». says Ieva Kalēja, Chair of the Product Design selection jury, All works submitted during the winter session were assessed by a selection jury made up of recognised Latvian design professionals — each category has a chair and two jury members. The category chairs are: Ieva Kalēja, designer at the «Mammalampa» studio and creative director of the «PAA» brand; Maija Rozenfelde, partner and design director at the «Kid Design» studio; Artūrs Analts, interdisciplinary designer and author of the design of the Baltic Pavilion at «Expo 2025»; and Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs, head of the UX design department at «Cube». Maija Rozenfelde, interdisciplinary designer and author of the Baltic Pavilion design at «Expo 2025» Artūrs Analts and Head of UX Design at «Cube» Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs.
The selection jury also includes Linda Krūmiņa, architect and co-founder of the «MADE arhitekti» office; Liene Drāzniece, graphic designer, co-founder and lead designer of the cosmetics company «Madara Cosmetics»; Reinis Leo Miķelsons, designer, architect and co-founder of the design studio «Gateris Works»; Mārcis Ziemiņš, designer and founder of «Don't Panic Design Solutions»; Alise Dīrika, product developer and co-founder of the data visualisation platform «Infogram»; Māris Upenieks, creative director and creator of the donation platform «Stopify»; Agris Batalauskis, director of the Patent Office; and Pēteris Jurčenko, UX designer, accessibility specialist and head of «Turn Digital».
Product design
The product design category received 18 entries, with nine works advancing to the second round of the competition, three of which were created during studies. «The product design category is broadly represented this time, confirming that Latvia's design environment is alive, active and in constant development. The works in the winter selection round show that our designers operate confidently in both sustainable solutions and technological innovation. This time, creatively and conceptually strong works stand out in particular, where design approaches artistic expression, going beyond a purely functional approach. The works moving forward are characterised by high quality, deliberate long-term investment in product development, clearly defined ideas and carefully considered execution. It is essential that these works can address both local and international audiences, demonstrating the courage to experiment with materials, technologies and form, while at the same time maintaining professional maturity and a high quality bar,» says Ieva Kalēja, chair of the product design category selection jury. says Ieva Kalēja, Chair of the Product Design selection jury.
Product Design nominees
- Riga Entrepreneur of the Year award. Authors — «Overpriced», «Baiba Glass», «Sporrong Latvija». Client — Riga Investment and Tourism Agency.
- Modular leg covers for wheelchair users. Author — Zane Bērziņa. Client — «Vilbers».
- EB WeightLight lamp series. Authors — «Erlands & Bai Bai». Client — «Erlands Studio».
- Table from the Threshold object series. Author — Aleksandrs Breže. Client — «Asni» gallery.
- Monk Echo guitar pedal. Authors — Matīss Tazāns, Toms Lazdovskis, «Overpriced». Client — «TTT audio».
- Arka acoustic booth. Authors — Valdis Linde, Maksimilians Biezais. Client — «Arka Silent».
«Young Designer» Award nominees in Product Design
- Airbox motocross gear dryer. Author — Ralfs Rojs Kristapsons. Client — Liepāja Secondary School of Music, Art and Design.
- Guard or Steal («Sargā vai zodz») board game. Authors — Adele Balode, Anna Vanaga, Sofija Damberga, Elīza Mona Bērziņa, Dārta Vanaga, Evita Alberte. Client — Riga Secondary School of Design and Art .
- Lifebuoy stand. Author — Una Beļeviča. Contractor — Riga Secondary School of Design and Art.
Communication design
In the communication design category, 15 works were submitted in the winter session. The jury put forward eight entries for the second round of the competition, three of which were created during studies. «Among the submitted works, several original communication campaigns, strong solutions in book design and visual identities stood out, as well as student works that inspire hope and optimism about the future of the industry. We do not wish to single out particular favourites among the nominees at this stage, leaving that task in the hands of the final jury, but the overall level of submitted works was good, and we hope that the stories of this year's award winners will inspire even more designers to take part in the competition,» comments Māris Upenieks, selection jury representative in the communication design category.
Communication Design nominees
- Book art competition catalogue The Golden Apple Tree 2025. Latvia’s Most Beautiful Books. Author — Artis Briedis. Client — Latvian Publishers Association.
- New brand and visual identity for Latvijas Pasts (Latvian Post). Authors — «Kid Design», «Magic». Client — «Latvijas Pasts».
- Cybersecurity Excellence Fund campaign. Author — «Magic». Client — Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, CERT.lv.
- Brand identity for the Latvian Academy of Culture. Author — «Overpriced». Contractor — Latvian Academy of Culture.
- The Living Glove book. Authors — Overpriced, Dans Jirgensons. Contractor — Cimdu ceļš association.
«Young Designer» Award nominee in Communication Design
- Right on Time — a pastime for in-patients of the Children’s Clinical University Hospital. Authors — Ieva Skuja–Zelča, Marta Elizabete Smilga. Contractor — Art Academy of Latvia.
- What’s Under the Carnival’s Mask? book. Author — Grieta Ieviņa. Client — Art Academy of Latvia.
- Latvian Powder — a book about skiing. Author — Markuss Tučs. Client — Riga Technical School of Arts and Media.
Environmental design
In the winter submission session, the environmental design category received 16 entries, of which five works have been nominated to advance to the second round of the competition, including one work created during studies. The chair of the environmental design category selection jury, Artūrs Analts, comments: «It is gratifying that in the winter session submissions, environmental design was presented in various ways and scales — among the works there is private, public and representative space, as well as both large and small projects. The authors of the best works have shaped environments across various layers — from practical and physical aspects to a conceptual approach and emotional impact. We appreciated solutions in which the environment is not merely a backdrop, but actively shapes human experience. In selecting the works, we gave preference to carefully considered, sustainable and socially significant projects.» Artūrs Analts komentē: «Priecē, ka ziemas sesijas pieteikumos vides dizains tika parādīts dažādos veidos un mērogos — starp darbiem ir gan privātā, gan publiskā un reprezentatīvā telpa, kā lieli, tā mazi projekti. Labāko darbu autori veidojuši vidi dažādos slāņos — no praktiskajiem un fiziskajiem aspektiem līdz konceptuālai pieejai un emocionālajai iedarbei. Mēs novērtējām risinājumus, kur vide nav vien kā fons, bet aktīvi veido cilvēka pieredzi. Atlasot darbus, devām priekšroku rūpīgi pārdomātiem, ilgtspējīgiem un sociāli nozīmīgiem projektiem.»
Environmental Design nominees
- Procrastination and Creation — permanent exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music. Authors: concept — Nora Ikstena, Una Rozenbauma, Iveta Ruskule, Liega Piešiņa, Inese Žune, Marians Rižijs; exhibition artist — Anna Heinrihsone; sound design — Jēkabs Nīmanis, Sigvards Kļava; graphic identity — Edgars Zvirgzdiņš; interior — «Outofbox». Client — Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music.
- Design of the Baltic Pavilion We Are One at Expo 2025. Authors: pavilion design — «Variant Studio»; graphic design and concept — «Ozols IR»; production — «Inspired»; architecture — «7 A.M.»; manufacturing — «YesWeCan»; IT solutions — «Datu Tehnoloģiju grupa». Contractor — Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Office of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
- Ārpus rāpus exhibition for families with children. Authors: curator — Kristīne Liniņa; exhibition design — Tatjana Raičiņeca; graphic design — Zigmunds Lapsa. Contractor — Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine.
- VEF kurtuve office design. Authors — «Radadara». Client — «Q.beyond Riga».
«Young Designer» Award nominees in the environmental design category
- Sea Yourself at Home installation. Author — Pēteris Zilbers. Contractor — Design Academy Eindhoven.
Service and digital solutions design
In the service design category, two works were assessed, and in the digital solutions category — five. The selection jury advanced both services as well as two digital solutions. The results are commented on by Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs, chair of the selection jury in both categories: «This time, a very diverse mix has been put forward in the digital solutions and service design categories — from creative projects to strategic tools. Among the nominees are a digital musical instrument that plays on one of Riga's symbols, an educational app for children offering high-quality local content, a service that pragmatically addresses the need for housing to adapt to residents' changing needs, and a strategy that demonstrates the potential of service design in solving fundamental urban environment problems. In our view, all the nominated works serve not only as good examples within their discipline but can also inspire others working in the field.» Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs: «Šoreiz digitālo risinājumu un pakalpojumu dizaina kategorijās tālāk virzīta ļoti raiba kompānija — no radošiem projektiem līdz stratēģiskiem rīkiem. Nominantu vidū ir digitāls mūzikas instruments, kas apspēlē vienu no Rīgas simboliem, izglītojoša lietotne bērniem, kas piedāvā kvalitatīvu vietējo saturu, pakalpojums, kas pragmatiski risina nepieciešamību mājoklim pielāgoties iedzīvotāju mainīgajām vajadzībām, un stratēģija, kas demonstrē pakalpojumu dizaina potenciālu fundamentālu pilsētvides problēmu risināšanā. Mūsuprāt, visi nominētie darbi kalpo ne vien kā labi piemēri savā disciplīnā, bet spēj iedvesmot arī citus darītājus.»
Service Design nominees
- AB+ House — private house design system. Author and client — «GB Studio».
«Jaunā dizainera» balvas nominanti pakalpojumu dizaina kategorijā
- Regenerative Housing — housing accessibility project. Authors — Amanda Strīģele, Kristen Kennedy, Sobia Farooqui, Abhijit Balaji, Margarita Cajas. Client — City of Tallinn.
Digital solutions category nominees
- Tutas lietas app. Authors — «Ausma Media», «Cube». Contractor — «Ausma Media».
- Vantofons digital musical instrument. Author and client — Jānis Vērzemnieks.
NDAL 2026 final events and award ceremony
From 18 to 21 May, the final events of NDAL 2026 will take place, culminating in a gala award ceremony at which the winners in each of the competition's categories will be announced, along with the Grand Prix laureate and the recipient of the Ministry of Culture's monetary award. The «Young Designer» award and several special awards will also be presented. Grand Prix godalgas un Kultūras ministrijas naudas balvas ieguvējs. Tiks pasniegta arī «Jaunā dizainera» balva un vairākas īpašās balvas.
19. maijā plkst 14.00 ikviens interesents aicināts pievienoties finālistu izziņošanas un starptautiskās fināla žūrijas pieredzes prezentāciju pasākumam, kas notiks Latvijas Nacionālā rakstniecības un mūzikas muzejā, Rīgā, Mārstaļu ielā 6. Savukārt 20. maijā interesenti varēs noklausīties finālistu prezentācijas, kas notiks plkst. 14.00–18.00 LIAA Radošo industriju pārstāvniecībā Elizabetes ielā 45–47 (4. stāvā), Rīgā.
The NDAL 2026 award ceremony will take place on 21 May at 19:00, gathering the Latvian design community at an unusual venue — a gas tank at Matīsa Street 108, Riga — where, offering a captivating evening, the authors of the best design works will be honoured in a shared ritual.
More detailed information about the NDAL 2026 final events will follow very soon. We invite you to follow updates on the website www.dizainabalva.lv and on the NDAL social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook. www.dizainabalva.lv un LDGB kontos sociālajos tīklos Instagram and Facebook.
About the Competition
The National Design Award of Latvia is a national-level award in design, the aim of which is to identify, evaluate and promote the most outstanding achievements of Latvian designers, fostering the development of Latvia's design industry. The competition was established in 2017 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, and during the period from 2026 to 2028 it is organised by the Latvian Design Centre.
Latvian Design Centre is a member of the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA) and an official partner of the European Commission's New European Bauhaus Initiative. Latvian Design Centre is involved in design policy making, research and education, and initiates cooperation and strategic partnerships with other design organizations, designers, companies and design users. With the support of the Ministry of Culture, Latvian Design Centre maintains the creative industry communication platform FOLD.