Blueprint Design Challenge

Design Challenges are a fun means to score extra goodies while building non permanent cities.  I like the idea of getting Blueprints just for submitting a design, so the vote does not completely dictate how what you have available in the Design Challenge Blueprint exchange.

I do find it odd as well to vote for submissions that clearly were just meant to fulfill an assignment in CoM.   I play in the Platinum league and honestly I'd like to just vote for Platinum League Designs.  As for which designs the voters choose to like, this is more of a complex issue involving trends in the game and available assets designers have.

There is a trend or "Meta" in player submissions where cities are being built around landscape and parks rather than park and landscape  surrounding the cities themselves.  This Design Practice creates the "Disneyland " or " Disneyworld" appearance of submissions I believe you are referring to.  Often these designs appear not to focus on the theme of the challenge.  For example a  " Smart City Design"  may end up having a large quantity of parks or Landscape items in the center with the Educational items at the periphery.  The focus is on the greenery not the contest theme.

The problem is the Voters are choosing to like  these " Disneyland" designs as you describe them instead of City Centric or the Design theme the submissions are supposed to follow.  This has allowed this " Meta" to basically dominate DCs.  If you are a DC player and you know a winning formula, why are you going to change the way you play to reduce your chances of winning?

This design trend also requires a player to have a good deal of Landscape and Park elements.  I think this where your " Lots of Money" comment comes in.  Those Sakura forests and  Plumbob parks are not cheap...I guess the higher level Design Challenge Leagues are meant for players with more assets.

I think a solution to some of the angst you are having in regards to DCs..is for EA to create maps solely for Design Challenges.  Add Mountains , hills  or bodies of water across maps to break up the potential of a design submissions that look more like floral presentations.

I don't think EA has the time to do this but it could help tilt the "Meta" in Design Challenge Submissions and Voting.to more something you might expect.