[2021]
Visard
university
Visard is an online platform that streamlines the current design protection application process, relating to design registration in Germany, carried out by the DPMA (German Patent and Trademark Office).
The current state - understanding a frustrating process
Design protection is a broad and complicated subject. People without a legal background must inform themselves in detail about all process steps. The DPMA provides many websites, FAQs, and PDFs to do that. Overall, over 80 pages of information are distributed disjointedly on the website.
Design protection is a broad and complicated subject. People without a legal background must inform themselves in detail about all process steps. The DPMA provides many websites, FAQs, and PDFs to do that. Overall, over 80 pages of information are distributed disjointedly on the website.
Design protection is a broad and complicated subject. People without a legal background must inform themselves in detail about all process steps. The DPMA provides many websites, FAQs, and PDFs to do that. Overall, over 80 pages of information are distributed disjointedly on the website.
To register a design, registrants must check if it can be legally protected, as only unique designs qualify. The DPMA doesn't verify this, so registration doesn't guarantee legal validity. Searching the extensive database of registered designs is time-consuming but necessary to ensure uniqueness.
To register a design, registrants must check if it can be legally protected, as only unique designs qualify. The DPMA doesn't verify this, so registration doesn't guarantee legal validity. Searching the extensive database of registered designs is time-consuming but necessary to ensure uniqueness.
To register a design, registrants must check if it can be legally protected, as only unique designs qualify. The DPMA doesn't verify this, so registration doesn't guarantee legal validity. Searching the extensive database of registered designs is time-consuming but necessary to ensure uniqueness.
The registration can be done by mail or on their external online platform, 'DPMAdirektWeb.' This process has to be done in one go—no option to save. Registrants must have all of the details and pictures of their designs ready before starting the registration.
After registration, the DPMA handles the whole communication via paper mail.
The registration can be done by mail or on their external online platform, 'DPMAdirektWeb.' This process has to be done in one go—no option to save. Registrants must have all of the details and pictures of their designs ready before starting the registration.
After registration, the DPMA handles the whole communication via paper mail.
The registration can be done by mail or on their external online platform, 'DPMAdirektWeb.' This process has to be done in one go—no option to save. Registrants must have all of the details and pictures of their designs ready before starting the registration.
After registration, the DPMA handles the whole communication via paper mail.
If the registrant wants to extend their design protection after five years, they must send a form to the DPMA via paper mail. Since there is no reminder before the protection runs out, meticulous document management is required.
If the registrant wants to extend their design protection after five years, they must send a form to the DPMA via paper mail. Since there is no reminder before the protection runs out, meticulous document management is required.
If the registrant wants to extend their design protection after five years, they must send a form to the DPMA via paper mail. Since there is no reminder before the protection runs out, meticulous document management is required.
The DPMA now
We conducted many interviews with people who have registered designs for their small businesses. Due to the outdated structures and opaque processes, they often felt frustrated and uncertain about their design application.
We conducted many interviews with people who have registered designs for their small businesses. Due to the outdated structures and opaque processes, they often felt frustrated and uncertain about their design application.
We conducted many interviews with people who have registered designs for their small businesses. Due to the outdated structures and opaque processes, they often felt frustrated and uncertain about their design application.
Better together
Manageable information in relevant places ensures first-time users can quickly understand the design protection and scope. Visard contains all the functions users need for comprehensive research, registration, and management in one platform.
Manageable information in relevant places ensures first-time users can quickly understand the design protection and scope. Visard contains all the functions users need for comprehensive research, registration, and management in one platform.
Manageable information in relevant places ensures first-time users can quickly understand the design protection and scope. Visard contains all the functions users need for comprehensive research, registration, and management in one platform.
Let's start this!
Visard allows users to unite their design registration and respective research in one project. They can save searches and open applications, so they don't have to do a design registration in one go.
Visard allows users to unite their design registration and respective research in one project. They can save searches and open applications, so they don't have to do a design registration in one go.
Visard allows users to unite their design registration and respective research in one project. They can save searches and open applications, so they don't have to do a design registration in one go.
Flexible research
The DPMA and other EU patent offices classify designs into product classes. Visard's elastic search narrows down classes for users, saving time. Users can specify search results with three operator fields: 'must include,' 'may include,' and 'may not include.'
The DPMA and other EU patent offices classify designs into product classes. Visard's elastic search narrows down classes for users, saving time. Users can specify search results with three operator fields: 'must include,' 'may include,' and 'may not include.'
The DPMA and other EU patent offices classify designs into product classes. Visard's elastic search narrows down classes for users, saving time. Users can specify search results with three operator fields: 'must include,' 'may include,' and 'may not include.'
Finding what matters
The search results are displayed visually. Clicking a design opens its respective detail page with relevant information grouped and clustered by content. Protection status and duration are shown as a timeline. The image is displayed dominantly to keep the focus. Users can save the search in their project.
The search results are displayed visually. Clicking a design opens its respective detail page with relevant information grouped and clustered by content. Protection status and duration are shown as a timeline. The image is displayed dominantly to keep the focus. Users can save the search in their project.
The search results are displayed visually. Clicking a design opens its respective detail page with relevant information grouped and clustered by content. Protection status and duration are shown as a timeline. The image is displayed dominantly to keep the focus. Users can save the search in their project.
Assisted registration
For optimal protection, clear and comprehensive images of the registered design are crucial. Visard simplifies the process by offering placeholders for the most common views of the object, which users can replace with their images. Additionally, product class specification is made easier with previous research suggestions. Users can save and apply for protection online with Visard's payment system, saving time and eliminating the need for mail communication with the DPMA.
For optimal protection, clear and comprehensive images of the registered design are crucial. Visard simplifies the process by offering placeholders for the most common views of the object, which users can replace with their images. Additionally, product class specification is made easier with previous research suggestions. Users can save and apply for protection online with Visard's payment system, saving time and eliminating the need for mail communication with the DPMA.
For optimal protection, clear and comprehensive images of the registered design are crucial. Visard simplifies the process by offering placeholders for the most common views of the object, which users can replace with their images. Additionally, product class specification is made easier with previous research suggestions. Users can save and apply for protection online with Visard's payment system, saving time and eliminating the need for mail communication with the DPMA.
Organizing the important
Applied and registered designs are stored in the user profile with a progress indicator for status updates. Once approved by DPMA, users can download their certificate, eliminating analog mail correspondence. Furthermore, the user can set an alert that reminds him before the expiration of the protection so that he can request a renewal.
Applied and registered designs are stored in the user profile with a progress indicator for status updates. Once approved by DPMA, users can download their certificate, eliminating analog mail correspondence. Furthermore, the user can set an alert that reminds him before the expiration of the protection so that he can request a renewal.
Applied and registered designs are stored in the user profile with a progress indicator for status updates. Once approved by DPMA, users can download their certificate, eliminating analog mail correspondence. Furthermore, the user can set an alert that reminds him before the expiration of the protection so that he can request a renewal.
A deep dive into german bureaucracy
Design protection is a topic with many facets and creative contact surfaces. To reveal and understand all these facets was a big part of our thesis. We gained a comprehensive insight into the side of the design applicants and that of the DPMA. Most importantly, we understood users' insecurities and frustrations and replaced them with positive experiences, meaningful interactions, and guiding information.
Design protection is a topic with many facets and creative contact surfaces. To reveal and understand all these facets was a big part of our thesis. We gained a comprehensive insight into the side of the design applicants and that of the DPMA. Most importantly, we understood users' insecurities and frustrations and replaced them with positive experiences, meaningful interactions, and guiding information.
Design protection is a topic with many facets and creative contact surfaces. To reveal and understand all these facets was a big part of our thesis. We gained a comprehensive insight into the side of the design applicants and that of the DPMA. Most importantly, we understood users' insecurities and frustrations and replaced them with positive experiences, meaningful interactions, and guiding information.
Thank you for being so interested in this project. If you'd like to read more about it (in German only), download the complete documentation here. Or contact me and we can talk about it! :)
Thank you for being so interested in this project. If you'd like to read more about it (in German only), download the complete documentation here. Or contact me and we can talk about it! :)
Thank you for being so interested in this project. If you'd like to read more about it (in German only), download the complete documentation here. Or contact me and we can talk about it! :)