CoContest – Solicit Renovation Ideas

CoContest is a crowdsourcing platform for people who are obsessed with interior design and architecture. Everyday people who are in search of ideas and inspiration for their own renovation projects can create digital contests where designers compete with custom project layouts and designs.

Let’s say you’re interested in remodeling your home or office, and you don’t have a ton of money to spend on the project. The cheapest option would be to spend hours searching for ideas on Pinterest, and the most expensive option would be to hire a professional interior designer or architect for the job. CoContest falls somewhere in the middle. Fill out a description of exactly what you’re looking to do in your remodeling project, select a package—Concept, Project, or Advanced—and set a deadline for designers to submit their proposals. CoContest’s professional users (primarily designers and architects) will get to work coming up with original ideas that fit your description. When the due date you’ve selected finally arrives, you’re able to rate each submitted project and select which designer should win your competition.

In addition to project layouts, designers will also provide you with renderings of your space, recommended furniture options, sections and elevations, and preliminary cost estimates. Although the cost to use CoContest can vary dramatically depending on the scope of the contest, the company says that most users receive an average of 15 to 20 designs for approximately $500.

Practical Uses:

• Consult with professionals on your next remodeling project
• Ask an architect to render drawings for a new home office
• Decorate your business without hiring a professional designer
• Find out how much a whole-house renovation is really going to cost

Insider Tips:

• Ask for section or elevation renderings for a better understanding of your new space
• Real estate companies can use CoContest as an outsourcing channel for projects
• Contests can be completed in as little as seven days
• Most contests receive an average of 10 proposals

What we liked:

• Homeowners with tight budgets can still work with top designers
• CoContest provides young architects with a way to get established
• Users can post any type of interior design project
• The higher the reward offer, the better proposals a user is likely to receive

What we didn’t like:

• Some designers might feel like they’re being asked to work for free if their projects aren’t selected as winners

Alternatives:

• None

Company Info:

• Launched: 2012
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Rome, Italy
• Founded by: Federico Schiano di Pepe and Filippo Schiano di Pepe
• Web site: https://www.cocontest.com

Costs:

• Variable