The Latvian Design Award 2026 has brought significant success to the young designers of the MIKC “Riga Design and Art High School” this year. The school’s students and recent graduates have received high marks in the product design category and special recognition from the jury representatives, demonstrating their ability to create creative, functional and socially significant solutions.
“For the ‘Young Designer’ award in the product design category, several works by RDMV Visual Arts pupils and Product Design graduates were nominated – the ‘Lifesaving Float Rack’, the interactive educational toy for children before a visit to the dentist ‘Healthy Teeth’, the large‑scale construction set ‘Štābiņš’, and the board game ‘Protect or Steal’.”
On 20 May the finalists, Product Design graduates Una Beļeviča and Anete Meiere, presented their projects to the final jury, and on 21 May they received high evaluations at the awards ceremony and won two significant prizes.
Una Beļeviča became laureate of the ‘Young Designer’ award in the product design category with her work ‘Lifesaving Float Rack’.
Project description:
The Lifebuoy Rack is designed to reduce the risk of dangerous situations at swimming spots, especially small river and lake beaches where safety solutions are often lacking. In addition to providing quick access to a rescue lifebuoy, the rack also serves as an emotional and physical support point for visitors. The structure allows people to sit down to put on shoes, to lean on, and to conveniently hang towels or clothes during swimming, making the bathing area more comfortable for users. Close interaction with the lifebuoy reminds users of safety aspects and raises awareness that there are situations in which the ring may need to be used. The rack’s bright colour was chosen so it can be easily noticed. A key requirement in the development was to keep the object affordable so that even smaller‑scale bathing‑area managers can purchase it. The steel construction ensures high durability and a long service life, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.
Qualification supervisor: Uģis Gailis
More about the project: https://dizainabalva.lv/darbi/glabsanas-rinka-novietne/
Meanwhile, Anete Meiere received the special award from the Patent Office for the interactive educational toy for children before a visit to the dentist, “Healthy Teeth”.
Project description:
“Healthy Teeth” is an interactive educational toy designed for waiting areas in dental clinics. It offers children a simple and practical way to learn the principles of tooth brushing, replacing complex and ineffective information leaflets. The interactive format encourages children to actively participate, making the waiting time not only more engaging but also more meaningful. This approach improves the overall experience of a dental visit and supports the development of healthy habits in the long term. To reinforce the knowledge gained after the visit, the designer has also created an informative dental‑floss box that is a scaled‑down version of the toy and repeats its vivid visual identity. The box can hold and replace a dental‑floss reel and at the same time functions as an everyday reminder of proper oral hygiene, presented in a child‑friendly and accessible form.
Qualification supervisors: Indra Merca, Jānis Zvirgzds-Zvirgzdiņš
More about the project: https://dizainabalva.lv/darbi/interaktiva-izglitojosa-rotallieta-berniem-pirms-zobarsta-apmeklejuma-veseligie-zobi/
In the second round of the Latvian Design Award Latvian designer Letīcija Kalvāne was nominated with the Large‑scale construction set “Štābiņš” (project supervisor – Elīna Bušmane).
Also nominated was the Board game “Protect or Steal”, created by third‑year pupils of the Visual Arts programme – Adele Balode, Anna Vanaga, Sofija Damberga, Elīza Mona Bērziņa, Dārta Vanaga and Evita Alberte, under the guidance of teacher Oskars Veiland.
Thank you for your contribution to the students’ growth – to the Product Design teachers and programme coordinator Baiba Lindāne, as well as to the Visual Arts teacher Oskars Veilands!
Thank you to the organisers and jury of the Latvian Design Award!
We are proud of our talented young designers! Not only for their courage to experiment, create, and look for solutions that improve everyday life in society, but also for their confidence to enter a national‑scale competition.
