In 2026, experts of the Latvian Patent Office (LPO) continue to evaluate registered trademarks and nominate candidates for the Trademark of the Year 2026 award. Throughout the year, we will introduce the nominees in a quarterly series of publications.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for Latvia
Category: Figurative Mark
A trademark that goes hand in hand with responsible action to nature – “Mākslīgie Mitrāji”
The story behind the trademark “Mākslīgie Mitrāji” begins with “Skill Up”, a company that combines scientific research, environmental engineering and the development of innovative technologies. One of the company’s areas of activity is “Mākslīgie Mitrāji” (constructed wetlands), focusing on the research, design and implementation of nature-based water treatment solutions.
The company’s representative, Linda Grinberga, explains that the origins of the trademark date back to the time when academic research on the use of the technology for wastewater treatment was done together with Professor Ēriks Tilgals. Initially, a variety of terms were used to name it. Over time, the name “Mākslīgie Mitrāji” became established as the most appropriate one, most accurately describing wetlands deliberately created by humans to improve water quality.
The trademark’s visual identity features aquatic plants characteristic of wetlands, with shapes reminiscent of reeds and cattails. Such plants are among the defining features of constructed wetlands. The circular composition of the logo symbolises continuous and cyclical natural processes, including the circulation of water and nitrogen.
Linda Grinberga emphasises that through the trademark the company wishes to demonstrate that natural processes and engineering are not opposing forces, but complementary tools that can be used to create effective and sustainable water treatment solutions. It is important for the company that the knowledge developed in Latvia is transformed into practical technologies that help preserve cleaner water for future generations.
Nomination: Trademark of the Year for the European Union
Category: Word Mark
Creating and doing: the perception of design in one word – the trademark “RADADARA”
The word mark “RADADARA”, owned by the company of the same name, is derived from the two Latvian verbs “rada” (creates) and “dara” (does). Since the company’s founding in 2015, the name has embodied the design philosophy of entrepreneurs Anete Šalma and Tatjana Raičiņeca. The RADADARA Design Studio operates in the fields of interior architecture and graphic design, combining creative vision with technical expertise and thoughtful execution.
The creators of the trademark, Anete Šalma and Tatjana Raičiņeca, explain that they wanted the name to reflect the essence of the design process: creating ideas and bringing them to life. And the professional challenge lies in knowing when to allow an idea to develop further and when the time has come to act.
At the same time, “RADADARA” is a play on words and reading directions. In its graphic form, the name can be read in all directions, inviting viewers to change their viewpoint, discover new connections and return to the beginning with fresh insight. This interplay reveals the continuous movement of thinking and creating: ideas inspire action, action generates experience, and experience gives rise to new ideas. Even the choice of typeface reflects the underlying concept. The font used is called “Verb”, reinforcing the message already embedded in the name itself: design as a living, dynamic and continuous process.
The LPO’s Intellectual Property Award “Trademark of the Year” is organised in two stages. First, each quarter, experienced LPO’s experts select four trademarks in the nomination “Trademark of the Year for Latvia” and four trademarks in the nomination “Trademark of the Year for the European Union”, which are then put forward for evaluation in the second stage.
The winners in both nominations of the “Trademark of the Year 2026” will be selected from among 16 trademarks registered with the LPO under the national procedure and 16 trademarks registered with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.