EU Design Registration: Step-by-Step Guide for Businesses in 2026

Protect your product's appearance throughout the European Union

Updated July 2026

What Is an EU Design Registration?

MyTrademarkPartner was originally created to make trademark registration simple, transparent, and affordable for businesses worldwide. However, trademarks are only one part of a company’s intellectual property portfolio.

Many businesses invest significant time and resources into developing products with a unique appearance. Whether it is consumer electronics, furniture, packaging, fashion accessories, tools, or household products, the visual design often becomes one of the company’s most valuable commercial assets.

A registered design protects the appearance of a product, helping prevent competitors from copying its visual features.

Although MyTrademarkPartner primarily focuses on trademarks, our international network of experienced intellectual property attorneys also provides EU design registration services, with additional jurisdictions planned in the future.

If your product has a unique appearance, protecting its design may be just as important as protecting your brand.

An EU design (REUD) is a single registration administered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). Once granted, it gives your product protection across the entire EU market. Instead of filing separate applications in each country, you cover all 27 Member States with one registration.

What Is an EU Design?

An EU Registered Design (RCD) protects the appearance of the whole or part of a product, including features such as:

  • shape
  • lines
  • contours
  • colours
  • texture
  • ornamentation
  • materials

 

Unlike trademarks, which protect names and logos, design registration protects how a product looks.

Examples include:

  • furniture
  • consumer electronics
  • kitchen appliances
  • packaging
  • toys
  • fashion products
  • jewellery
  • lighting
  • automotive parts
  • tools

One registration provides protection throughout all 27 European Union Member States.

Why Register Your Design?

A registered design gives its owner the exclusive right to prevent others from using a design that does not create a different overall impression on an informed user.

Registration offers several important advantages:

  • Exclusive rights throughout the European Union
  • Strong evidence of ownership
  • Easier enforcement against copycats
  • Increased business value
  • Greater confidence for investors and distributors
  • Valuable intellectual property asset

For many businesses, the appearance of a product is one of the main reasons customers choose it over competing products.

What Can Be Registered?

Almost any product with a new and distinctive appearance may qualify for protection.

Common examples include:

  • consumer products
  • furniture
  • packaging
  • electronic devices
  • medical devices
  • fashion accessories
  • industrial equipment
  • household products
  • sporting equipment
  • decorative articles

The design must generally be:

  • new
  • have individual character

This means that no identical design should have been publicly disclosed before filing (subject to certain exceptions).

EU Design Registration Process

The registration procedure is relatively straightforward when the application is properly prepared.

Step 1 – Prepare Design Images

The most important part of the application is the set of design views.

The images define the scope of protection. Once the application has been filed, they generally cannot be changed.

High-quality images significantly improve the clarity of the registered design.

Step 2 – Prepare Application Information

The application includes:

  • applicant details (name and address)
  • product indication (short description)
  • designer information
  • design views

Step 3 – Filing

The application is filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

EUIPO does not examine novelty or individual character before registration. Instead, it performs a formal examination of the application.

If the application satisfies the formal requirements, registration usually proceeds quickly (2-14 days).

How Much Does EU Design Registration Cost?

One registration covers all EU territory including all 27 member states

Official fees

1 class

350 EUR

/one design

Note that:
  • Additional design 125EUR

Attorney fees

1 class

150 EUR

/one design

Note that
  • Each additional design 30 EUR

Total

1 class

500 EUR

/one design

Note that:
  • Filing in 1-2 working days

Why Professional Assistance Matters

Although the registration procedure is relatively simple, mistakes made before filing can significantly reduce the value of a registered design.

Professional assistance helps ensure:

  • appropriate selection of design views
  • correct preparation of the application
  • compliance with EUIPO formal requirements
  • strategic filing advice
  • efficient communication throughout the process

Our network of experienced intellectual property professionals regularly files EU design applications for businesses across various industries.

Image Requirements for EU Design Applications

The design images form the legal basis of your protection, making image quality extremely important.

The following specifications are recommended:

  • High-quality JPEG images on neutral background
  • RGB colour mode
  • Minimum resolution of 800 × 800 pixels
  • Between 72-600 DPI (recommended 96 DPI with DPI metadata correctly saved)
  • Maximum 2 MB per image
  • Up to 10 views per design
  • Avoid Progressive JPEG format
  • File names should not exceed 25 characters (using numbers 1-10 is recommended)

Typical views include: front, rear, left, right, top, bottom, perspective views

Providing clear and consistent images helps ensure the registered design accurately reflects the product.

How to Request Our EU Design Registration Service

Requesting an EU design application is straightforward.

Simply fill out the EU design application request form below.

Please include:

  • the design views (minimum 1, maximum 10)
  • short product description
  • applicant’s full name or company name and address
  • designer’s full name (natural person)

Once we receive your materials, we will review the application and contact you if any additional information is required before filing.

FAQ

Do I Need a Representative to File an EU Design?

If you are applying for an EU design from outside the EU/EEA, you must have a EU representative. MyTrademarkPartner attorneys are glad to help you.

A trademark protects your brand identity, such as a name, logo or slogan.

A registered design protects the appearance of a product, including its shape, lines, colours and overall visual impression.

Many businesses benefit from protecting both.

An EU registered design is initially protected for five years from the filing date.

Protection may be renewed every five years for a maximum total period of 25 years.

Yes. Multiple designs may often be filed together in a single application

In many situations, it is advisable to file application before public disclosure.

Although MyTrademarkPartner was created primarily for trademark registration, we understand that brands and product designs often go hand in hand.

Through our trusted network of experienced intellectual property attorneys, we provide professional EU design registration services with transparent pricing, straightforward communication, and practical guidance throughout the registration process.

Protect More Than Your Brand

Your company’s name is valuable – but so is the appearance of the products you create.

Whether you are launching a new consumer product, developing innovative packaging, or introducing a distinctive industrial design, registering your design helps protect the visual identity of your products across the European Union.

If you are ready to register your design, simply fill out application request form and our team will guide you through the process.

EU design Application form


Ready to Register Your Trademark?

You don’t need to overpay for legal help – and you don’t need to figure it all out alone. Just tell us where you need protection, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Application form