Design Registration & Renewal Services
Protect the way your product looks — not just its name
While trademarks protect your brand name, slogan, or logo, design registrations protect how your products look. A registered design gives you the exclusive right to the appearance of your product or packaging, its shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation, which can play a vital part in industries where aesthetics and innovation drive consumer choice such as clothing, footwear or soft furnishings.
At The Trademark Helpline, we don’t just protect your brand name and logo, we can also help protect the visual identity of your products too.
What Is a Registered Design?
A registered design, sometimes called a design mark, protects the visual appearance of a product, not its function or brand name. It covers:
- Product shape or configuration – (e.g. a unique bottle or tech device shape)
- Surface decoration or pattern – (e.g. textile prints, packaging design)
- Graphic symbols or logos in a 3D format
Request a call back
for a free consultation with one of our trademark advisors
Why Register a Design?
Registering a design gives you powerful legal tools to stop others from copying or imitating your product’s look.
Some might argue that Designs sit between Trademarks and Patents. Whereas patents provide protection on complex inventions like A.I, can be a costly endeavour and take years to approve, Designs allow cost effective protection on an aesthetic level which for many unique creations is enough.
With a registered design, you can:
- Stop competitors from producing lookalike products
- Strengthen your brand by protecting more than just the name
- Enhance asset value for licensing, franchising, or sale
- Support enforcement alongside your trademarks for a well-rounded IP strategy
Design registrations are also generally faster, easier, and cheaper to obtain than trademarks. For businesses launching new products, this makes them an ideal first line of defence.
What's Included in a Design Application?
A single UK design application can cover multiple designs if they fall under the same category (Locarno class). This makes design protection not only accessible, but efficient.
- 1 to 10 designs can be included in one application
- Each visually distinct version (e.g. shape, colour, pattern) counts as a separate design
- You can file multiple variants of the same product at once
We help you group your designs appropriately and manage the submission to maximise your protection.
Our service includes:
- Eligibility assessment
- Advice on required views/images
- Classification and preparation
- Filing and representation at UKIPO
- Monitoring and renewal support every 5 years
Who Uses Registered Designs?
Fashion & Apparel
Footwear, clothing details, accessories like sunglasses and handbags.
Packaging & Consumer Goods
Shapes of bottles, containers, boxes or dispensers in cosmetics, drinks, and more.
Furniture & Homeware
Chairs, lighting, kitchen items and home décor.
Technology & Electronics
Device shapes, wearables and even user‑interface layouts.
Toys, Games & Sports
Designs of toys, game pieces, gym equipment and outdoor play products.
Any aesthetics‑led product
If you’ve invested in look & feel, a registered design helps prevent imitation.
Design Renewals
Unlike trademarks, which renew every 10 years, designs must be renewed every 5 years to remain valid, up to a maximum of 25 years. Many businesses lose valuable protection simply by missing these deadlines.
We:
- Track your renewal windows and send proactive reminders
- Handle the paperwork and official filing on your behalf
- Offer discounted renewal services as part of our representation packages
Let us worry about the deadlines so you don’t have to.
How Do Designs Compare to Trademarks?
In terms of process, designs are generally easier and quicker to register than trademarks. They don’t require classification of goods/services in the same way, and they are rarely opposed.
| Feature | Registered Design | Trademark |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | How something looks | The brand name, logo or slogan |
| Registration speed | Faster (often within 2–3 weeks) | Slower (usually 3–4 months minimum) |
| Process complexity | Easier — upload visuals and title | More complex — classifications & legal checks |
| Cost effectiveness | Generally cheaper | More expensive and longer‑term |
| Renewal | Every 5 years | Every 10 years |
Many businesses register both designs and trademarks to protect their brand identity and visual assets together.
Included in Your Representation Package
If you have a monthly representation plan with The Trademark Helpline, your allocated hours can be used for design registrations and renewals as well as trademarks. You’ll only need to cover the official UKIPO fees.
If your hours are fully used for other matters, we’ll always advise you of any additional time or cost before proceeding, no hidden surprises.
Monitoring for Design Infringements
As designs are images, identifying infringements outside the Trademark Registers can be incredibly complex. Learn more about our monitoring and representation packages here.
Book a Free Discovery Call
If your business has invested time and creativity into developing a product’s
look or feel, protect that investment with a registered design.