Applications for industrial designs in Spain grew during 2025, becoming the fastest-growing form of industrial property. This is according to the report. La OEPM in Figures 2025Published by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, which places the increase in industrial designs at 14,8%, above the growth recorded by patents (12%), utility models (8%) and trademarks (11,5%).
This growth confirms the increasing importance of protecting the external appearance of products within companies' intellectual property strategies. In saturated markets, where many products compete on similar functionalities, design can become a decisive differentiating factor.
The highest number of industrial design applications since 2019
The 14,8% growth puts industrial designs at their best level in recent years. In 2025, 16.032 designs were applied for, a figure not seen since 2019 and exceeding the annual average of the last decade.
This trend is particularly significant because it follows several years of erratic behavior. After the declines recorded in the years following 2019, the 2025 data points to a clear recovery in the protection of design as a business asset.
Evolution of national industrial design applications over the last 10 years
Catalonia, Madrid, the Valencian Community and Andalusia lead the map of industrial design
The OEPM report shows a clear territorial concentration of industrial design applications. In 2025, Catalonia was the autonomous community with the highest number of applications, with 3.920 designs, representing 24,5% of the total. It was followed by the Community of Madrid, with 17,2%; the Valencian Community, with 15,8%; and Andalusia, with 10,1%.
These four regions account for 67,6% of all industrial design applications filed in Spain. This distribution reflects the strength of territories with a significant presence of sectors related to design, fashion, footwear, retail, consumer products, decoration, furniture, and the creative industries.
Distribution of national industrial design applications by Autonomous Community
Fashion, ornamentation and decorative objects account for a large part of the applications for industrial designs
The report also allows for an analysis of which product types attract the most industrial design applications. In 2025, the three categories with the highest number of designs were clothing and haberdashery; graphic symbols and logos, surface patterns, ornamentation, and interior and exterior space layouts; and decorative objects.
In the case of clothing and haberdashery, designs related to garments, footwear, accessories, textile embellishments, or ornamental elements applied to fashion products are included. This category once again leads the ranking, with 4.932 applications and a 13,1% increase compared to 2024, reflecting the importance of protecting product aesthetics in industries where shape, cut, silhouette, or visual details can be decisive.
Also noteworthy is the category of graphic symbols, logos, surface patterns, ornamentation, and interior and exterior space layouts, which grew by 23,4%. This category includes designs applied to prints, decorative motifs, graphic patterns, visual elements for interiors, commercial spaces, or packaging. Its growth points to a greater focus on protecting visual elements that contribute to building identity, differentiating products, and reinforcing the brand experience.
Beyond the categories with the highest volume, the report also shows significant increases in classes that traditionally have a smaller share of applications. This is the case for travel goods, cases, parasols, and personal items not included in other classes, which grew by 80,5%; stationery, office supplies, and materials for artists and teachers, which increased by 81%; and construction and building materials, which registered a 76,3% increase. Although these figures are lower than those of fashion or ornamentation, this growth points to a greater use of industrial design in sectors where product appearance, presentation, and the visual configuration of certain elements are becoming increasingly important competitively.
Industrial design classes with the highest number of applications in 2025
The report's data shows that industrial design is gaining importance as a tool for protection within intellectual property. And not only in sectors where product aesthetics traditionally play a prominent role, such as fashion, footwear, accessories, or interior design. It is also beginning to have a greater presence in categories linked to everyday products, packaging, professional-use items, construction elements, and solutions applied to the consumer experience.
This growth reflects an increasingly clear reality: a product's appearance can be a top-tier business asset. In many markets, shape, finish, presentation, and visual design directly influence consumer perception and can be decisive factors in differentiating a product from competitors.
All the graphics included in this article have been taken from the report "The OEPM in Figures 2025", published by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office.
Paloma Querol, associate of Elzaburu
