NACE 74.1 – Specialised Design Activities (Textile, Jewellery, Graphic and Similar Design) | Public Tenders
NACE 74.1: Design services in public tenders — corporate design, public-authority logos, graphic design. CPV codes, contracting authorities, bidder guidance.
Definition: NACE 74.1 covers the economic activity of design studios and freelance designers who create designs for textiles, jewellery, graphic works, packaging, interiors, as well as corporate design and visual communication. In public procurement, this group is most relevant for the design of public-authority identities, campaign materials and brand communication.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 74.1 cover?
NACE 74.1 (Specialised design activities) classifies companies and self-employed practitioners that provide creative design services for visual communication and product design — a growing procurement segment in the public sector.
Group 74.1 belongs to Section M (professional, scientific and technical activities) and Division 74 (other professional, scientific and technical activities). It comprises the following typical fields of activity:
| Field of activity | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic design | Visual communication | Logos, corporate identity, printed matter, infographics |
| Corporate design | Brand development | Public-authority CI, style guides, design systems |
| Product design | Design of consumer goods | Textile design, jewellery design, packaging design |
| Interior architecture/design | Spatial design | Exhibition design, trade fair design |
Public contracting authorities in this area are federal ministries, regional authorities, municipalities, public institutions, cultural institutions and state-affiliated enterprises that have their visual communications professionally designed.
Public Tenders: NACE 74.1 in Practice
Public contracting authorities tender design services for a wide range of projects — from the development of a new public-authority logo to the design of extensive communications campaigns.
Typical types of contract
- Corporate design and public-authority identity: Development or revision of logos, colour systems, typography and corporate identities for ministries, cities, authorities and public institutions
- Graphic design for printed matter and digital media: Design of brochures, reports, flyers, posters, newsletters and digital presentations
- Campaign design: Visual design for information and awareness campaigns (e.g. road safety, health prevention, environmental protection)
- Exhibition and stand design: Concept and design of public exhibitions, information stands and museum presentations
- Infographics and data visualisation: Visual treatment of complex content for public communications
- Web design and UX/UI: Design of public-authority websites and digital citizen services
Thresholds and procedure types
Design contracts frequently fall below the EU threshold for supplies and services (EUR 221,000 for central authorities and EUR 443,000 for other contracting authorities, as of 2024/2025) and are tendered nationally. For larger framework programmes, design services are awarded under the negotiated procedure or as a competitive dialogue. Design services can also be tendered as a competition (ideas competition, realisation competition) under the procurement rules.
Relevant CPV Codes for NACE 74.1
CPV codes (Common Procurement Vocabulary) form the search system for tenders on TED and national procurement platforms. The following CPV codes are particularly relevant for design services in the public sector.
| CPV Code | Title | Application |
|---|---|---|
| 79822000 | Typesetting services | Typesetting and layout for printed matter |
| 79822500 | Graphic design services | Logo development, graphic design |
| 79821000 | Print finishing services | Pre-press, artwork preparation |
| 92111200 | Production of advertising and information films and video tapes | Moving image design |
| 79340000 | Advertising and marketing services | Campaign development |
| 71220000 | Architectural design services | Exhibition design, interior design |
Current tenders with these CPV codes are published on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) and on national procurement platforms.
Who is NACE 74.1 relevant to in procurement law?
Public Contracting Authorities
Almost all public bodies occasionally need design services: federal ministries for their public-relations work, cities and municipalities for city brands and communication materials, cultural institutions for exhibition design, and public authorities for accessible information materials. In Germany, federal authorities are required to comply with the Federal Government's corporate design, but commission external studios for its further development and application.
Companies and Bidders
Design studios and freelance designers wishing to participate in public tenders should consider the following:
- Authorisation and trade registration: Evidence of self-employed activity as a graphic or communications designer
- Portfolio and references: Comparable completed projects, ideally with public or institutional clients
- Technical resources: Evidence of mainstream design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma or similar) and suitable infrastructure for file handover
- Accessibility: Knowledge of WCAG standards and accessible design principles is increasingly required
- Insurance: Professional indemnity insurance as an eligibility requirement
Bidding consortia of multiple design studios, or cooperation with copywriting and strategy agencies, are common on larger communications contracts.
NACE 74.1 in Context: Section M and Division 74
NACE 74.1 is part of Division 74 (other professional, scientific and technical activities) within Section M — a broad field of professional services in public procurement.
- NACE M – Professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent section
- NACE 74 – Other professional, scientific and technical activities: Parent division
- NACE 74.2 – Photographic activities: Documentary and press photography
- NACE 74.3 – Translation and interpretation activities: Language services for public authorities
- NACE 74.9 – Other professional, scientific and technical activities n.e.c.: Expert witnesses, surveyors
Frequently Asked Questions on NACE 74.1 and Public Tenders
Which companies fall under NACE 74.1?
Graphic and communications design studios, corporate design agencies, freelance designers and product design studios whose focus is on the development of visual concepts and design solutions.
Can individuals (freelancers) participate in public design tenders?
Yes. Freelance designers can in principle participate in public tenders. For larger contracts with high turnover or reference requirements, forming a bidding consortium or relying on third-party capacity is advisable.
How are creative services evaluated when there is no fixed price?
Public contracting authorities frequently use multi-stage procedures: concepts or designs are first requested (ideas competition), with the contract awarded thereafter. Competitions require a jury procedure with expert judges.
Does NACE 74.1 also cover web design?
Web design services can fall under both NACE 74.1 (the design component) and NACE 62 (IT development), depending on where the focus of the service lies. In tenders, web design and development are often awarded together.
Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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