BEDA and EUIPO Are Coming to the Faculty of Design
You create a strong design. A product, a visual identity, a piece of furniture, a fashion collection, a digital solution, or something completely new.
But how do you make sure your work stays yours? What can actually be protected? And what can you do if someone copies or uses your design without permission?
On Monday, 21 September 2026, the Faculty of Design will host the BEDA & EUIPO Joint Hands-on Workshop – a practical morning session focused on design protection, intellectual property, authorship, and the value of creative work.
The event is organised by BEDA – The Bureau of European Design Associations and EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office, and hosted by the Faculty of Design in Ljubljana.
The workshop will focus on the strategic value of design rights and on how protecting creative work can contribute to competitiveness, business development, and long-term value.
Registrate here: https://forms.gle/BRcSqBF3KDNonRZL7
Why should this matter to you as a student?
Because design protection is not something you only need to think about once you have your own company.
If you are designing, creating, developing your own brand, working with companies, or considering an independent career path, it is useful to understand what belongs to you, what can be protected, and what options you have if someone uses your work without permission.
The workshop will also address topics that are becoming increasingly relevant for young designers, especially artificial intelligence, authorship, ownership, and intellectual property.
You do not need any previous legal or intellectual property knowledge to attend. The aim is to present design protection in a practical, accessible, and understandable way for designers, students, creatives, and businesses.
What can you expect?
9:30–9:40 | Welcome and introduction
Opening remarks by representatives of BEDA, EUIPO, and the Faculty of Design.
9:40–10:00 | How and why should design be protected?
Representatives of EUIPO will introduce the value of design rights and the new European design protection framework, including new opportunities for protecting digital and dynamic designs.
10:00–11:00 | Design in Practice
A practical session featuring real-life perspectives and current topics from the design field.
The Value of Design: Why Protection Matters for Business
Dita Danosa, BEDA
Why design protection matters for business development, brand value, and competitiveness.
Design, AI and Intellectual Property: Who Creates the Future?
Faculty of Design – Erasmus+ AIDEA
What artificial intelligence means for creativity, authorship, ownership, and the protection of design.
The programme is also expected to include experiences from companies whose development is strongly driven by design, including Maremico and Intra Lighting.
11:00–11:15 | Coffee break + EUIPO Registration Corner
During the break, the EUIPO Registration Corner will offer practical information about how design registration works, which online tools are available, and where designers can find additional support.
11:15–11:45 | Discussion with BEDA and EUIPO experts
The workshop will continue with smaller group discussions where participants will also be encouraged to join the conversation.
Topics will include:
- How to protect, manage, and enforce your design rights
- Design and AI – who is the author and who owns AI-generated work?
- What can you do if your design is copied or a dispute occurs?
- What kind of support, funding, advice, and education is available to designers and businesses?
The discussions will be led by representatives of BEDA and EUIPO.
11:45–12:00 | Closing remarks
The morning will conclude with a summary of the main insights and takeaways.
When and where?
Monday, 21 September 2026
9:30–12:00
Faculty of Design
Dunajska cesta 129, Ljubljana
The event will be held in English.
Participation is free of charge.
If you create, design, or simply want to understand what happens to a good idea once you have created it, this is a great opportunity to learn about design protection directly from experts working in this field at the European level.
And most importantly – it is an opportunity to ask the practical questions that are often left unanswered during the design process itself.
We warmly invite you to join us.
Registration
Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required.
HERE: https://forms.gle/BRcSqBF3KDNonRZL7
More information and the official programme are available on the BEDA website.
