Celebrating 100 Years of Design Protection

The Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs

From timeless icons to tomorrow’s innovations, design defines our world. The Hague System has helped creators protect their designs globally — and continues to empower them for the future.

100 Years of WIPO’s International Design System: Celebrating Iconic Designs for the Ages

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100 Years of Design Protection

Symposium - November 6, 2025

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Creativity in action

From daily essentials to life-saving machines, design shapes the way we live, work and connect. It is the interface between creativity and functionality, driving industries, inspiring culture and solving pressing challenges.

For 100 years, the Hague System has supported this vital force, evolving from eleven founding signatories in 1925 into a truly global framework covering nearly 100 economies today.

More than two million designs have been registered through a single international procedure that lowers costs, reduces complexity and opens the door for creators of every scale — from individual innovators to global brands — to bring their ideas confidently to market.

1925-2025: A century of design registration

Download our commemorative publication, featuring data, infographics and 100 remarkable designs registered under the Hague System [PDF]

Iconic designs, protected through WIPO’s Hague System

Fabrique des Longines / Switzerland / 1931

Born from Charles Lindbergh’s vision, this watch transformed aviation navigation, introducing the hour angle for faster longitude calculations and pioneering features decades ahead of contemporary timepieces.

Braun / Germany / 1963

Dieter Rams’ T 1000 World Receiver exemplifies minimalist elegance and intuitive functionality, concealing advanced technology within a clean, ordered form - a landmark of industrial design.

The Laughing Cow / France / 1971

The 1971 redesign of The Laughing Cow simplified and stylized the mascot, linking it to its iconic wedge packaging while reinforcing playful, recognizable and enduring brand identity.

Sony / Japan / 1994

The original PlayStation combined compact, ergonomic design with CD-ROM technology, redefining gaming aesthetics and establishing interactive entertainment as a mainstream cultural phenomenon.

Piaggio / Italy / 2019

The Vespa GTS carries a postwar design legacy into the modern era, blending timeless curves, elegant proportions and advanced engineering for a symbol of style and mobility.

Icewind / Iceland / 2019

Designed to harness energy from unpredictable winds, the Njord RW500 vertical-axis turbine operates efficiently from any direction, ideal for sites with rapidly shifting wind patterns.

Xiaomi / China / 2023

The Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 blends ultra-slim precision and folding functionality, delivering a portable, ergonomic and aesthetically refined device that bridges smartphone and tablet use.

Empowering creators for tomorrow

As the Hague System enters its second century, design has never been more important - or more complex. Digital and virtual environments, AI-generated creations, sustainable innovation and cross-industry convergence are transforming the very definition of what a design can be. Building on recent milestones such as the Riyadh Design Law Treaty (2024), WIPO is committed to ensuring the System remains accessible, reliable and global. Its mission is clear: to help designers, businesses and innovators protect their work, grow their creativity and shape the products that will define tomorrow.

Video: WIPO’s Hague System helps designers shape our world

Advantages of the Hague System

Designed to make design protection simpler, smarter and more accessible, the Hague System offers a number of practical benefits:

Save costs: File one application in a single language, pay one set of fees in one currency and avoid higher expenses of multiple domestic applications.
Reduce complexity: Eliminate the need to navigate different offices, procedures and payment systems, lowering the risk of errors or missed deadlines.
Centralize management: Handle post-registration tasks, such as ownership changes and renewals, directly through WIPO in one streamlined system.
Provide global reach and flexibility: Secure protection for designs across multiple jurisdictions, with durations and renewals managed consistently.
Ensure time efficiency: Streamline filing and management processes to save significant time compared with handling separate national applications.