Basic information of the sector

Definition
Design is a process of strategic development, an approach and a way of identifying and solving problems. Effective use of design refers to both the result, as well as the process, while emphasising the importance of design thinking in all levels of decision making and management.
The presence of design – understanding and use – is naturally connected to the promotion of innovation and competition in every field. Design affects not only the traditional industries and their products and services, but also the social field, quality of information and environment, as well as the territorial development.

Design of Latvia 2020
The publication Design of Latvia 2020 is to serve as a comprehensive design guide based on the Design Strategy of Latvia 2017-2020. Its main aim is to facilitate the understanding of the current situation and processes in the design of Latvia in a more interdisciplinary and informal context which transcends traditional sectoral boundaries. The publication also aims to reflect the true picture of design's strengths and weaknesses, define a strategic vision as well as identify its potential at a national level.

Latvian Design Council is a consultative body of the Ministry of Culture, the purpose whereof is to coordinate and facilitate cooperation of the State institutions and professionals of the sector in strategic matters related to development of the design sector and creation of high quality cultural environment in Latvia. The institutions represented in the Latvian Design Council: The Latvian Designers’ Society, the Art Academy of Latvia, the Latvian National Museum of Art/the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, the Culture Capital Foundation, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, the Design Information Centre, the Riga Technical University, as well as design professionals.

National Design Award of Latvia
The National Design Award of Latvia is an annual national design industry competition, whose goals are to identify, judge and promote the best accomplishments of Latvian designers, thus facilitating the long-term development and growth of the Latvian design sector.
The National Design Award of Latvia is an award initiated by the Ministry of Culture.
The design office H2E has won the right to organise the National Design Award of Latvia in 2017, 2018 and 2019, in collaboration with the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Art Academy of Latvia.

The Ministry of Culture takes pride!

A large-scale contemporary design exhibition series “Design Manifestation” consisting of four exhibitions “Reputation”, “Humanisation”, “Information” and “Situation” was carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture. (A group of authors of the “Design Manifestation”: creators / leading designers of the design office “H2E”, professors of AAL Holgers and Ingūna Eleri, design thinking specialist and associate professor at AAL Barbara Abele (Barbara Ābele) and the Head of the Latvian Fashion Chamber and lecturer at the School of Business and Finance in Riga Dita Danosa).

The exposition “Information” of the “Design Manifestation” has gained international recognition – the prestigious Red Dot Award in the category Spacial communication in 2016, SEGD international design award in 2016 and the top award, as well as A’Design Award (Italy).

Contacts

Dzintra Purviņa

Expert in Design and Architecture
Dzintra.Purvina [at] km.gov.lv