What is a design?

Designs are intellectual property rights that can be used to protect new features in the way an article looks. For example, these may be features of its shape, configuration, pattern or ornamentation.

The article is usually three-dimensional, although some two dimensional items such as textiles can also be registered as designs. For a New Zealand design to be granted that design must be new. The application to register the design must be lodged before the design is published, used or shown to other people.