News

The works selected for the second round of the National Design Award of Latvia 2026 autumn application session have been announced. A total of 53 submissions were received, and the selection jury advanced 29 works to the next stage of the competition, including five submissions by emerging designers. The highest number of nominees — 11 in total — is in the Product Design category. It is followed by Communication Design and Environmental Design with six nominees each. Four Digital Solutions and two Service Design projects have also advanced. The winter application session for the National Design Award of Latvia is open until 20 March.

The application procedure for the National Design Award of Latvia 2026 allows authors or commissioners to submit works in two periods — autumn and winter — making the application and evaluation process more convenient. 

The winter application session has just opened and will continue until 20 March. Works may be submitted in five categories — Product Design, Service Design, Communication Design, Environmental Design and Digital Solutions. The achievements of emerging designers will be evaluated separately. Submissions are accepted via the website www.dizainabalva.lv, where you can find the application form. 

National Design Award of Latvia 2026 Autumn Nominees Announced

All works submitted in the autumn session were evaluated by the selection jury composed of recognised Latvian design professionals — each category includes a chair and two jury members. Category chairs are: designer at studio «Mammalampa» and brand «PAA» Creative Director ays Ieva Kalēja, Chair of the Product Design selection jury., partner and Design Director at «Kid Design» 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 architect and co-founder of «MADE arhitekti» Linda Krūmiņagraphic designer and co-founder and lead designer at «Madara Cosmetics» Liene Drāzniece, designer, architect and co-founder of «Gateris Works» Reinis Leo Miķelsons, designer and founder of «Don’t Panic Design Solutions» Mārcis Ziemiņš, product developer and co-founder of data visualisation platform «Infogram» Alise Dīrika, Creative Director and author of the donation platform «Stopify» Māris Upenieks, Director of the Patent Office Agris Batalauskis and UX designer and accessibility specialist, Head of company «Turn Digital» Pēteris Jurčenko.

After evaluating the strongest qualities of the submitted works, the jury decided to reassign several entries to different categories. One communication project has been nominated in the Service Design category, and one service has been moved to the Product Design category.

Product design

In the Product Design category, 22 submissions were received, and 11 works — including four developed during the study process — advanced to the second round. «We thank all applicants for the high quality and diverse perspectives that vividly reflect the development and creative potential of the Latvian design sector. From functional everyday products to conceptual and socially responsible projects, from technological innovation to interpretations of cultural heritage — the submitted works demonstrate a broad spectrum of approaches and a high level of ambition. The works selected for the second round stand out for their clear conceptual grounding, thoughtful execution and ability to address both local and international audiences. They show courage in experimenting with materials, technologies and form while maintaining high quality standards,» says ays Ieva Kalēja, Chair of the Product Design selection jury..

Product Design nominees

1. Candle «Altar at Home». Author and commissioner — Mārcis Ziemiņš.
2. Interactive Guide for Families with Children «Travel Bag». Authors: Latvian National Museum of Art, Art Museum «Riga Bourse»; idea author and project lead — Nikola Rundāne; design and graphic design — Dārta Hofmane; product development and design — Beāte Seile; bag design — Ginta Šmite. Commissioner — Latvian National Museum of Art, Art Museum «Riga Bourse».
3. Tableware collection «OPiece». Author and commissioner — Zane Tetere–Šulce.
4. «Sky–Set» light. Author — Dace Sūna. Commissioner — European Union exhibition «Design Beyond Things» Expo 2025 Osaka.
5. «PineSkins» pouf. Author — Sarmīte Poļakova. Commissioner — European Union exhibition «Design Beyond Things» Expo 2025 Osaka.
6. «Freckle Chair». Author — «Gateris Works». Commissioner — European Union exhibition «Design Beyond Things» Expo 2025 Osaka.
7. Interior Object Collection «The Parade of Winter Guardians». Authors — «Ausme» and Katrīna Paula Vītola. Commissioner — «Ausme».

«Emerging Designer» Award nominees in Product Design

1. Large-Scale Construction Set «Štābiņš». Authors — Letīcija Kalvāne, Elīna Bušmane. Commissioner — MIKC Riga Design and Art Secondary School.
2. Interactive Educational Toy for Children Before a Dentist Visit «Healthy Teeth». Author — Anete Meiere. Commissioner — MIKC Riga Design and Art Secondary School.
3. Chair «Gloriosa». Author — Ernests Kurmis. Commissioner — RTU Institute of Architecture and Design.
4. Jewellery collection «Sargi». Author — Katrīna Paula Vītola. Commissioner — Art Academy of Latvia.

Environmental design

In the autumn session, 12 submissions were received in the Environmental Design category, six of which advanced to the second round. Chair of the Environmental Design selection jury Artūrs Analts comments: «We advanced projects demonstrating genuine creativity and added value, considering the environment and the purpose for which each project was created. Essential was the ability to perceive the environment as an active co-author, where materials, scale, light and social context form a unified and interconnected system. We highly valued solutions in which the environment becomes not merely a backdrop but a creator of experience, influencing human perception, movement and interaction. We encourage submissions of various types of interiors and indoor and outdoor design solutions where the environment is thoughtful, sustainable and capable of enriching everyday life.»

Environmental Design nominees

1. Exhibition «Courage and Care. Architecture and Design: The Roche». Authors — Inese Baranovska, Dāvis Gasuls, Aleksejs Muraško. Commissioner — Latvian National Museum of Art and Museum of Decorative Arts and Design.
2. Centenary Exhibition and Publication of Gunārs Birkerts «Birkerts. Libraries. Light.». Authors: curator and concept author — Jānis Dripe; spatial concept — «Arhis arhitekti»; graphic design — Tatjana Raičiņeca; lighting design — Jevgeņijs Sisojevs, Jānis Škutāns et al. Commissioner — National Library of Latvia (NLL), NLL Support Association.
3. Exhibition «Is a Library a Birthright?». Authors — Maija Treile, Pauls Daija, Krišs Salmanis. Commissioner — National Library of Latvia.
4. Art installation «Meatrack». Authors — James Taylor Foster and design studio «Ēter». Commissioner — «Weekday» / «H&M».
5. Interior design of café «CCAF. Cacao Apothecary Firm». Author — design studio «Ēter», Dagnija Smilga. Commissioner — «CCAF. Cacao Apothecary Firm».
6. «Molberts» Ice Cream Production Facility Design. Author — «Gateris Works». Commissioner — «Molberts Saldējums».

Communication design

Nine works were submitted in the Communication Design category. The jury advanced six works to the second round, including one developed during the study process. Maija RozenfeldeChair of the Communication Design selection jury, states: «The works selected for the next round demonstrated comprehensive contextual research and a masterful approach in all nuances. The jury unanimously supported projects that were unmistakable in their message, applying witty and fresh approaches to addressing familiar challenges.»

Communication Design nominees

1. «The Drying Flag» Campaign. Author — «McCann Rīga». Commissioner — State Blood Donor Centre.
2. Fundraising campaign «SSE500». Author — «McCann Rīga». Commissioner — Stockholm School of Economics in Riga Alumni Association. 
3. The visual identity for the International Folk Festival «Baltica». Author — «Ausme». Commissioner — Latvian National Centre for Culture.
4. «Silence Comes at a Price» the advertising campaign and visual identity for the «Recoder» instrument. Author — Katrīna Marta Riņķe. Commissioner — «Gamechanger Audio».
5. Book «Treasures of Latvia». Author — «KID Design». Commissioner — «The Red Jackets».

«Emerging Designer» Award nominee in Communication Design

1. Co-creation Workshop and Installation «The Woven Cycle Archive». Authors — Elīza Grīva, Lote Loreta Lūse. Commissioner — Art Academy of Latvia.

Service and digital solutions design

Three works were evaluated in the Service Design category and seven in Digital Solutions. The jury advanced two services and four digital solutions. Mārcis Miķelsons–Germs, comments: «This session highlighted both ambitious, technologically challenging digital solutions and witty approaches to contemporary interpretations of tradition. The Service Design category was more difficult to assess, as applications lacked information about users and clearly defined results. In the new application round, we encourage creators of digital solutions and service design — as well as their friends, relatives and acquaintances — to apply. As demonstrated, it is entirely realistic to compete with the autumn nominees.»

Service Design nominees

1. Biometric wallet «Handwave». Authors — «Handwave», «Cube». Commissioner — «Handwave».
2. Dizaina un amatniecības sadarbības projekts «Dižaina». Darba autori — MIKC LMMDV Produktu dizaina un Modes aksesuāru dizaina izglītības programmu audzēkņi un pedagogi. Darba pasūtītājs — MIKC Liepājas Mūzikas, mākslas un dizaina vidusskola.

Digitālo risinājumu kategorijas nominanti

1. Biometric wallet «Handwave». Authors — «Handwave», «Cube». Commissioner — «Handwave».
2. Visualisations for Arturs Skutelis Concert «Simply Words». Authors — Kristaps Kazaks, Emīls Kālis. Commissioner — Arturs Skutelis.
3. Project «Digital Scales». Author and commissioner — «Wrong Digital». 
4. LMT – 20’000 Mobile Phone Light Show. Author — «Wrong Digital». Commissioner — LMT.

Submit your work to the National Design Award of Latvia 2026!

Works created since January 2023 may be submitted. Eligible projects include those implemented in Latvia (regardless of the author’s nationality) and projects realised elsewhere if the author’s country of origin is Latvia. Submissions may be made by the author or another person associated with the work, such as its owner or commissioner. Applicants may be individuals or legal entities, including public administration institutions, municipalities, educational institutions, companies and organisations. 

Applications are open until 20 March. The application form and competition regulations are available at www.dizainabalva.lv. www.dizainabalva.lv.

Works submitted in the winter session will be evaluated by the selection jury until the end of April. The second round will follow, in which an international final jury will select finalists from among the autumn and winter nominees. The final jury will also determine the winner in each category, as well as the Grand Prix of the National Design Award of Latvia and the «Young Designer» title. The second round will conclude with the award ceremony in early June 2026. Exact dates will be announced on www.dizainabalva.lv.

About the Competition

The National Design Award of Latvia is a national design award aimed at identifying, evaluating and promoting the most outstanding achievements of Latvian designers, fostering the development of the Latvian design sector. Established in 2017 with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the competition is organised by the Latvian Design Centre for the period 2026–2028.

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.