STUDIOIOIO is a collaborative platform for Architects and Designers. In order to start your own architecture practice, you need a first project, to get your first project, you need an established practice. So, how do we solve this chicken-and-egg problem? Design Competitions have, historically, been the way to break this cycle. With pressing issues in the built environment, it is essential that Architects be empowered to bring innovative solutions to realization. By lowering the barrier to entry into practice, we seek to support scalable positive change in our industry.
STUDIOIOIO is a collaborative platform for Architects and Designers.
In order to start your own architecture practice, you need a first project, to get your first project, you need an established practice.
So, how do we solve this chicken-and-egg problem?
Design Competitions have, historically, been the way to break this cycle. With pressing issues in the built environment, it is essential that Architects be empowered to bring innovative solutions to realization. By lowering the barrier to entry into practice, we seek to support scalable positive change in our industry.
"As future Architects, we see what is at stake in our industry. In order to tackle the enormously complex issues at hand, we need brilliant designers to come together in innovative ways that disrupt the status quo. We are building this platform to support emerging designers to address the pressing need for systemic change."
- Nicole and E.J., Co-founders of STUDIOIOIO
Our Mission
The STUDIOIOIO platform accelerates emerging design professionals in being able to bring their vision and passion to realization in the built environment.
STUDIOIOIO is a digital platform for collaboration, serving as a new modality for assembling transdisciplinary teams to work collectively on complex problems in the built environment.
Team
Nicole Biewenga
Co-Founder
Nicole Biewenga is the cofounder and CEO of STUDIOIOIO. She holds dual master’s degrees in Architecture (M.Arch) and Real Estate Development (MSRED) from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP).
With a background in architecture from UC Berkeley and professional experience spanning design, operations, and business development, she is focused on building systems that support equitable entry into architectural practice.
E.J. Shin
Co-Founder
E.J. Shin is the cofounder and CMO of STUDIOIOIO. She holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia GSAPP and a Master of Science in Engineering from Columbia Engineering. Her background spans large-scale infrastructure and international exhibitions, bridging design and engineering with a systems-level approach.
As the founding president of Columbia’s AIAS chapter, E.J. leads national outreach and growth, building a values-driven network of emerging designers across the country.
Milestones
Spring 2025
Summer 2025
Fall 2025
2025 Recipient of the "Ignition Grant: Innovation, Design & Entrepreneurship", Columbia Engineering
Work Presented: Columbia AI Summit (March 4, 2025)
Work Presented: Data Science Day, Columbia University Data Science Institute (April 2, 2025)
We are launching this site to gather feedback from our community to best understand how STUDIOIOIO can provide a resource to support students and early career professionals in Architecture
We will be seeking investment to build out a beta test of our platform with full functionality! Please check back and stay tuned :)
STUDIOIOIO will launch its firm consulting services to match make independently operating designers to contract work and joint ventures.
Co-Founders Nicole & E.J., STUDIOIOIO
“As early career designers ourselves, we saw that there was a need for this kind of platform where we could share ideas and collaborate with other architects. Since we saw it wasn't available, we decided to build it!"