The Society of Architectural Illustrators (SAI) was founded in the United Kingdom by Eric Monk in 1975 to encourage the use of the architectural perspective or model as a valuable part of the communication process between

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

and the general public. It changed its name to the Society of Architectural and Industrial Illustrators in the 1980s in a bid to increase membership. This did not work and the name was finally changed, after a protracted debate, to the Society of Architectural Illustration in the 1990s. This last name change was at the behest of the Charities Commission which insisted that the Society exists for the benefit of the art and not the artist. In 2019 the Society relinquished its charity status and reverted to its original name. The SAI was the first organisation worldwide to provide the services of a

professional body A professional association (also called a professional body, professional organization, or professional society) usually seeks to further a particular profession, the interests of individuals and organisations engaged in that profession, and the ...

to the public and practitioners in architectural illustration and this lead has been followed in other major countries, most notably by the American Society of Architectural illustrators. SAI members work in several disciplines including illustration, animation, model making and photography. The objectives of the SAI are to: * foster the use of the Architectural Perspective as a necessary communication medium between Designer and Layman. * acknowledge the time-honoured status of Architectural Illustration and formalise its position as that of a separate discipline. * establish high standards and the conferring of a

professional qualification Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply ''certification'' or ''qualification'', is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task. Not all certifications ...

to those meeting such requirements. * make regular distribution of details of members to potential clients and provide a clients' advisory service. * hold exhibitions and meetings as required by the membership. Issue journals and newsletters for the exchange of ideas between members. * provide guidance and help in matters of contracts, copyright and other legal and business affairs. * provide an effective human instrument of friendship and co-operation between members. The present patron of the Society is British painter

Ben Johnson Ben, Benjamin or Benny Johnson may refer to: In sports Association football *Ben Johnson (footballer, born 2000), English footballer * Ben Johnson (soccer) (born 1977), American soccer player Other codes of football *Ben Johnson (Australian footb ...

. Previous patrons include Sir

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, ...

, Sir

Hugh Casson Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson (23 May 1910 – 15 August 1999) was a British architect. He was also active as an interior designer, as an artist, and as a writer and broadcaster on twentieth-century design. He was the director of architecture for t ...

and

Gordon Cullen Thomas Gordon Cullen (9 August 1914 – 11 August 1994) was an influential British architect and urban designer who was a key motivator in the Townscape movement. Cullen presented a new theory and methodology for urban visual analysis and design b ...

. The president of the Society is Don Coe FSAI, previously chairman of the Society for 25 years. Richard Rees FSAI took office as chairman at the 2015 AGM.

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Society Of Architectural Illustration 1975 establishments in England Architecture groups Architecture organisations based in the United Kingdom Arts organisations based in the United Kingdom Arts organizations established in 1975 Organisations based in East Sussex Architecture-related professional associations Professional associations based in the United Kingdom

See also

References

External links