The UK’s design system has not undergone significant reform since limited updates were made nearly a decade ago. Given the rapid advancement of digital technology and the impact of Brexit, it is evident that a comprehensive review is necessary to ensure the framework effectively supports UK design businesses.

The proposed reforms include a potential overhaul of the current system, driven by the growing influence of AI-powered tools, ongoing technological innovation, and evolving market conditions. These changes are expected to deliver meaningful improvements for design-led businesses.

The government wants ample responses to the consultation from stakeholders, so that it can make policy decisions informed by those who use the UK’s design system the most. However the framework is lengthy and complex in parts. That is why we have created condensed, visual infographics to provide a more user friendly format for selected parts of the consultation.

This infographic series is a must-have resource for all designers and design-led businesses including CAD designers, product designers, and design attorneys, providing a digestible overview of the selected sections of the consultation including key areas such as:

• Search and examination – exploring proposals for targeted checks to strengthen the validity of registered designs.
• Bad faith provisions and opposition/observation – introducing measures to curb dishonest filings and enable earlier challenges to problematic applications.
• Graphical User Interfaces and animated designs – addressing how digital and interactive elements should be protected under UK design law.
• Computer-generated designs – considering the role of AI-driven creativity within the UK’s design protection framework.

These changes aim to modernise and strengthen design protection in the UK, ensuring the system reflects technological developments and supports innovation in a digital age.

We have selected the above parts of the system due to their relevance and likely impact, however, you can see all the sections here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-the-uk-designs-framework/consultation-on-changes-to-the-uk-designs-framework

Part 1: Search, Examination, Bad Faith & Opposition       

Our first infographic is on Section A of the consultation, and is on proposals to incorporate examination and searching in the registration process. This is to tackle the issue of anti-competitive filing practices, and the introduction of a bad faith provision, and/or an opposition or observation period, is also central to this section.

How to respond to the consultation

Responses may be submitted via Citizen Space, a third-party platform used for hosting consultations. You can also send your feedback directly to [email protected]. We would also be keen to hear from you on your views on the options, should you not wish to file a response directly yourself.

For guidance on how to respond to this consultation to understand its potential implications for you, please feel free to contact us.

By engaging with this series, professionals can stay informed about the implications of these changes and how they may impact their work in the UK market.

The consultation ends on 27 November 2025 and stakeholders are encouraged to file responses prior to this date.

For further information regarding this topic, please contact Lakmal Walawage or any member of the Intellectual Property team.