Architecture in Perspective 41 — Competition Rules

Architecture in Perspective 41 — International Architectural Illustration Competition

Professional Competition | Student Competition

Terms & Conditions: Professional Competition

Submission deadline: May 1, 2027

A. Eligibility

The Professional Competition is open to all current ASAI members in good standing. Jurors, the ASAI executive director, ASAI contractors and other participants in the adjudication process are ineligible.

B. Submissions

What to submit

The Competition consists of two Sections: Rendering & Observational.

Renderings (Speculative Images) depict proposed new construction, or renovations to existing buildings and environments. Work may be client-commissioned, self-commissioned or imaginary. Style of execution may vary from ultra-realistic to abstract. Submitted artworks may be created in any 2D medium and may include drawings, paintings, renderings, and digital imagery.

Renderings may fall into one of two Categories, differentiated by the degree of precision attempted and the degree of detail developed: Formal Presentation Images & Informal (Sketch) Images. In addition, images in the Rendering Section (Formal or Informal) may respond to the Theme “Craft re-Focused. Art of Intent.”

Observational (Topographical) Images depict buildings or environments which wholly exist at the time the image is created. This Section includes formal images, field sketches and plein air drawings or paintings.

Image types: any graphic convention may be used, including, but not limited to: digital images, drawings, paintings, orthographics (flat projections and oblique views), perspectives, and collages. Any two-dimensional medium may be used, including AI-assisted work.
Media: original artwork may be in any 2D media — hand-done, digital or any combination of these — and of any size.
Subject matter: must focus on the built environment, including, but not limited to: architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and urban design.
Identification: images should not bear any indication of the artist’s identity, to the extent possible.
Resubmissions: images previously submitted to AIP, but not selected, may be resubmitted.
Artificial intelligence: AI-influenced images will be accepted, but must be labeled as such. If you use a program that uses AI in any way it must be stated in the media description.
Other considerations: still images only may be submitted — animations or videos of any kind cannot be accepted. At their discretion, judges may move an image from one Category or Section to another, to which it may be better suited.

How to submit

Submissions must be made online via the ASAI website: https://www.asai.org/
Format: only JPG, JPEG, or PNG files can be accepted.
Size: the file size must not exceed 4MB. There are no width or height restrictions.
Resolution: because entries will be viewed on a large monitor, image resolution should be as high as practical. 300 dpi @ A5 paper size, or equivalent, is recommended. Submitters are advised to retain a high-quality, high-resolution image file for publication and exhibition, in the event that their image is selected.

Entry fees

First submission: free for current members in good standing.
Additional submissions: US $65 for one additional entry; US $155 for 4 additional entries; US $305 for 9 additional entries.
Maximum: 10 submissions per entrant.

Important information about copyright & permission

The submitting firm or individual — submitting artist, firm and/or any other copyright holder(s) for submitted images — retains full copyright to the images.

The submitting firm or individual affirms that the work is the submitter’s original creation and does not include or duplicate anyone else’s copyrighted material. Any image that infringes another’s copyright is ineligible for submission and adjudication. ASAI reserves the right to request proof of the originality of an entry. Failure to comply with this request will result in disqualification of the entry.

The submitting firm or individual agrees to allow ASAI to maintain the submitted image in the organization’s archive, and grants ASAI a Non-Exclusive Perpetual License to reproduce submitted images in the AIP catalogs, on the www.asai.org website, on ASAI social media platforms, in ASAI newsletters, and/or in ASAI presentations, marketing and promotional material. Credits, as provided by submitters, will always be included with such uses, but advance notice will not be provided. ASAI affirms that it will not use images for any purposes other than those mentioned.

The submitting firm or individual affirms that it is in a position to make these declarations and grant these permissions, and that there are no other restrictions on publication of the work, such as non-disclosure agreements.

Further information

Judging

Juries are conducted online.

Judges: three independent judges are selected by the current ASAI president from various fields allied with architecture and illustration. The Rendering Section and the Observational Section are adjudicated on the same day.

Anonymity: every effort is made to preserve the anonymity of the submissions. Judging is not open to the public. In the event that a judge recognizes an image and has prior knowledge of it, that judge will recuse him-/herself from any discussion of, and voting on, that image.

Judging criteria: the Jury will select the finest work, representing a cross-section of architectural imagery, encompassing a range of media, subject matter and illustration styles. No more than one selection per artist or three artists per corporate entry will be selected in each Section.

Awards

Entries selected for inclusion in the show and catalog will receive an Award of Excellence certificate. In addition, several special awards are also presented:

Rendering awards

The Hugh Ferriss Memorial Prize is presented for the image deemed by the jury to best embody the highest ideals of architectural representation. The Ferriss Prize is recognized as the highest award in architectural illustration. The creator of the image receives a commemorative framed medallion, and the illustration becomes the signature image of the society for the year, appearing on the cover of the AIP catalog. (Note: an illustrator is eligible for the Ferriss Prize only once every five years.)
The Formal Category Award is presented for the image deemed by the jury to be the best Formal entry.
The Informal Category Award is presented for the image deemed by the jury to be the best Informal entry.
The Juror Awards (three in total) are presented for the image that each individual juror deems singularly worthy of special distinction.
Thematic Award is presented to the image that best responds to the theme. This year’s theme is “Craft re-Focused. Art of Intent.” Submissions are judged according to artistic skill, architectural relevance, originality, impact, and responsiveness to the theme, regardless of artistic medium: traditional, digital, AI, or other.
The Members’ Choice Award is selected online from among all entries, after the Professional Competition is completed. The award is presented for the image that gains the largest number of votes from the ASAI membership.

Observational awards

Observational Best of Show is presented for the image deemed by the jury to be the best Observational submission.
The Observational Juror Awards (three in total) are presented for the image that each individual juror deems singularly worthy of special distinction.

Exhibition & catalog

Entrants agree that, if their artwork is selected, they will submit a high-resolution copy of the selected image(s) for inclusion in the Architecture in Perspective printed catalog. Details and deadlines will be emailed to the selected artists.

Corrections

AIP 41 International Architectural Illustration Competition is an adjudicated illustration competition. All submissions will undergo a preliminary screening and entrants will be advised via email if any corrections need to be made or authorized. All corrections must be submitted and approved by midnight of the deadlines posted above.

This competition is void where prohibited by law.

Deadlines

Due to the extremely tight schedules of the Jurors and of the production processes themselves, deadlines will be strictly adhered to. If any special circumstances apply, submitters must inform ASAI in a timely fashion, and in advance of the deadlines.

Terms & Conditions: Student Competition

Submission deadline: May 1, 2027

A. Eligibility

The Student Competition is open to students enrolled in a full-time university or college program for the 2026–2027 school year.

B. Submissions

What to submit

Image description: submitted imagery may be topographical or speculative, formal or informal, pictorial or abstract; may show proposed new construction, renovations or wholly existing buildings and environments. The work may be part of an academic course, client-commissioned, self-commissioned or imaginary. Style of execution may vary.
Image types: any graphic convention may be used, including, but not limited to: digital images, drawings, paintings, orthographics (flat projections and oblique views), perspectives and collages.
Media: original artwork may be in any 2D media — hand-done, digital or any combination of these — and of any size.
Subject matter: must focus on the built environment, including, but not limited to: architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and urban design.
Identification: images should not bear any indication of the artist’s identity, to the extent possible.
Resubmissions: images previously submitted to AIP, but not selected, may be resubmitted.
Artificial intelligence: AI-influenced images will be accepted but must be labeled as such.
Other considerations: still images only may be submitted. Animations or videos of any kind cannot be accepted.

How to submit

Submissions must be made online via the ASAI website: https://www.asai.org/
Format: only JPG, JPEG or PNG files can be accepted.
Size: the file size must not exceed 4MB. There are no width or height restrictions.
Resolution: because entries are viewed on a large monitor, image resolution should be as high as practical. 300 dpi @ A5 paper size, or equivalent, is recommended. Submitters are advised to retain a high-quality, high-resolution image file for publication, in the event that their image is selected.

Entry fees

All submissions: free for eligible students.
Maximum: 5 submissions per entrant.

Important information about copyright & permission

The copyright owner — submitting artist and/or any other copyright holder(s) for submitted images — retains full copyright to the images.

The submitter affirms that the work is the submitter’s original creation and does not include or duplicate anyone else’s copyrighted material. Any image that infringes another’s copyright is ineligible for submission and adjudication. ASAI reserves the right to request proof of the originality of an entry. Failure to comply with this request will result in disqualification of the entry.

The submitter agrees to allow ASAI to maintain the submitted image in the organization’s archive, and grants ASAI a Non-Exclusive Perpetual License to reproduce submitted images in the AIP catalogs, on the www.asai.org website, on ASAI social media platforms, in ASAI newsletters, and/or in ASAI presentations, marketing and promotional material. Credits, as provided by submitters, will always be included with such uses, but advance notice will not be provided. ASAI affirms that it will not use images for any purposes other than those mentioned.

The submitter affirms that it is in a position to make these declarations and grant these permissions, and that there are no other restrictions on publication of the work, such as non-disclosure agreements.

Further information

Judging

Juries are conducted online.

Judges: the jury consists of three independent judges selected by the ASAI president from various fields allied with education, architecture and illustration.

Awards

Entries selected for inclusion in the show and catalog will receive an Award of Distinction certificate. In addition, special awards are also presented:

Henry Sorenson Student Award (Student Best of Show) is presented for the image deemed by the jury to be the best Student submission.
The Student Juror Awards (three in total) are presented for the image that each individual juror deems singularly worthy of special distinction.

Exhibition & catalog

Corrections

All submissions will undergo a preliminary screening and entrants will be advised via email if any corrections need to be made or authorized. All corrections must be submitted and approved by midnight of the deadlines posted above.

This competition is void where prohibited by law.

Deadlines

Revised: 01/01/2027