Recently, the field of industrial design has witnessed a series of exciting developments: Chinese design works have won top international awards, typical infringement cases have clarified industry boundaries through judgments, and global design trend iterations and policy updates have attracted industry attention. From aesthetic breakthroughs on the international stage to the improvement of the standardized market environment, industrial design is becoming a core force driving industrial upgrading and safeguarding the value of innovation.
In international design competitions, Chinese brands have achieved important breakthroughs. On December 19, 2025, the highly anticipated London Design Awards were officially announced. Ora 5, a global strategic model under Great Wall Motors, stood out from numerous entries around the world with its "Natural Aesthetics" design concept and won the "Annual Design Award in the Automotive/Vehicle Product Design Category". As a top global design competition, the London Design Awards are renowned for their rigorous review process. The jury praised Ora 5 as "having an impeccable design concept, setting a model for the market".
It is reported that Ora 5 adopts a "full-curved surface" design language, with body lines conforming to the Fibonacci sequence derived from nature, paired with a 2.74 golden wheelbase ratio, presenting a cross-border visual beauty. Its body color design draws inspiration from global natural landscapes, launching characteristic colors such as "Senna Gray" and "Aurora Green". The interior integrates Oriental aesthetics with the "blank space concept", achieving a perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality. This award not only demonstrates the international recognition of Chinese design but also marks a crucial step for Chinese automotive brands in their global design layout.
In the field of intellectual property protection, a typical case has defined clear boundaries for the industry. Recently, the court concluded an infringement dispute over the design patent of a "bird tapping toy", ordering the defendant to stop infringement and compensate for economic losses. In the case, the defendant sold products identical in appearance to the patented product labeled as "doorbells", arguing that they belonged to a different category from the plaintiff's patented "toy" products. However, the court clearly pointed out that the definition of product categories cannot rely solely on one-sided labeling, but must be comprehensively judged based on appearance, function, and actual consumer perception.
The court found that the defendant's product links contained the word "toys", and numerous buyer reviews showed that the products were widely used as children's toys, possessing the core attributes of toys. The judge stated that this case reveals new challenges in intellectual property protection in the digital economy era. The judgment provides an important example for the protection of design patents, warning market entities not to evade infringement liability by "changing category labels".
Meanwhile, the iteration of policies and trends in the global industrial design field continues to advance. The new version of the Design Examination Guidelines of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) came into effect on May 1, 2025. This update cancels the single category restriction, introduces the concept of "registration mark", adjusts the calculation method of the renewal period, and further optimizes the institutional environment for industrial design protection. In the consumer electronics field, design trends are witnessing a return to fashion. In 2025, the smartphone industry has broken the previous monotonous black, gray, and white styles. Brands such as Apple and Motorola have launched products with bold colors and unique materials, and personalized accessories have become an important direction for design extension.
Industry experts point out that the value of industrial design has gone far beyond the scope of "appearance", becoming a key link connecting technology, culture, and user needs. From international award recognition to intellectual property protection, and from policy and trend guidance, industrial design is driving the accelerated transformation from "Made in China" to "Created in China", injecting lasting impetus into high-quality industrial development. In the future, with the dual improvement of innovation awareness and protection awareness, the field of industrial design will usher in a healthier development ecosystem.
