Why enter a RIBA Competition?
RIBA Competitions delivers choice, inspiration and value to clients through expertly run architectural competitions and competitive selection processes.
Competitions managed by the RIBA are based on over 40 years’ experience and follow best practice criteria. Our aim is to serve clients well and bring fair opportunities for designers.
There are many different reasons for entering a competition, which should be carefully considered before making any commitment. The investment of time can be significant, but good competitions can raise profile, create new business opportunities and provide valuable experience for the team. Exposure through winning or being shortlisted for a competition could be the launch pad for a successful career and can be extremely rewarding professionally.
In the video below a series of architects and designers explain why the competition process can be really beneficial to clients.
The potential advantages of entering
Before you decide to enter a competition, realistically appraise your ability to fulfil its requirements and to meet the client’s expectations. Be selective. Ideally, only enter competitions for projects that really interest you or fit well with your business strategy.
The chances of being shortlisted or going on to win a competition might be slim, particularly in the case of popular competitions. Gauging the number of potential entrants you may be up against is always difficult. The number of entries is typically influenced by the competition format, project/client profile, sector, scale of opportunity, state of the economy and number of other opportunities available.
To find out more about the RIBA Competitions process please download the Guidance for Competition Entrants.
'RIBA Competitions has offered us a fantastic opportunity to test our ideas, skills and professional expertise with exciting briefs. As winners it has given us an opportunity to build projects and relationships with clients that we may not have had the opportunity to work with normally. Most importantly as a small practice it has also given us a priceless platform to showcase our work.'
JaK Studio, winner of BBC Radio 4 The Listening Project – Pod Design Challenge
