American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Logo

Small Firms, Great Projects, 20th Edition

Open to architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, and architectural lighting firms with 19 or fewer employees, Small Firms, Great Projects provides a platform for small firms to feature their best work in print and online. The magazine will be distributed at Architecture + the City Festival programs and the Small Firms, Great Projects launch party on October 16, 2025. Interested in exhibitor opportunities at the launch party? Learn more about program sponsorship HERE.

SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY DIGITAL EDITION SPONSORSHIP

One–Page Layout
Members:
  • Early Deadline: $675
  • Regular Deadline: $725
Non-Member:
  • Early Deadline: $975
  • Regular Deadline: $1,025

Two–Page Spread
Members:
  • Early Deadline: $975
  • Regular Deadline: $1,075
Non-Member:
  • Early Deadline: $1,675
  • Regular Deadline: $1,775

Entry Fees are nonrefundable. Submissions must be fully completed and entered before the deadline.

The online submission form will collect:

  • Firm Details + Description
  • Firm Logo — recommended 3” W x 3” H image in a JPG format, 300 DPI Resolution
  • Main Image + Caption — recommended 12” W x 10” H image in a JPG Format, 300 DPI Resolution
  • Detail Image + Caption — recommended 3” W x 3” H image in a JPG format, 300 DPI Resolution
  • Full-Page Image + Caption (2 Page spread only) — recommended 10” W x 12” H image in a JPG Format,
    300 DPI Resolution
  • Photographer Agreement (recommended, but not required) — a suggested template for the agreement (specific to a design competition, but adaptable for other uses) is made available by the American Society of Media Photographers here

All image specs are recommended to ensure content is of the highest quality. Copy must be clear, concise, and written in the third person.

AIASF is excited to partner with Innovative Publishing on the publication of the Small Firms, Great Projects program. For advertisement opportunities outside of design firm profiles, please contact Innovative at 844.423.7272 or advertise@innovativepublishing.com.

Open to small firms representing San Francisco Bay Area architecture, landscape architecture, interior architecture, and architectural lighting, Small Firms, Great Projects 20th edition provides a platform to feature their best work in print, online, and in conjunction with AIASF programming.

Featured work and profiles may include any client sector, or built project type completed within the past five years. Firms may submit work for a profile in a one-page layout or two-page spread. Firms may submit projects previously published in Small Firms, Great Projects, or other publications.
You’ll Get Exposure (for a long time!)

It’s true: submitting to Small Firms, Great Projects gives you exposure to potential clients for the long-term. Individuals are still coming into our office for our complimentary past publications. With quarterly content refreshes tied to AIASF topical programming conversations, viewers will visit the dynamic digital publication throughout the year. Participants are featured in the weekly AIASF newsletter (6,000+ subscribers) and on our social media channels (7,000+ followers).

Networking

In the design world, collaborating with people is integral to business. Having your work in our publication alongside other skilled design firms is an easy way to connect with like-minded people.

Strengthen Your Firm's Reputation

Having your work in an AIASF publication increases the chances that a client will trust your business. AIASF is nationally and internationally recognized, and engaging with AIASF elevates your firm’s profile!

Programming Opportunities
Through curated firm tours, topical panel discussions, and a highly anticipated launch party, AIASF and the Center for Architecture + Design spotlight SFGP participants throughout the year. Interested in submitting a SFGP-related program proposal for the Architecture + the City Festival (September 4-25)? Submit HERE through June 25, 2025.

Submit an editorial pitch for an article for consideration in either the print or digital editions. Editorial submissions are reserved for participants who have submitted a firm profile and would like to highlight content different from their profile. These articles offer participants a chance to showcase a different project or highlight a specific area of expertise. AIASF will contact selected contributors to coordinate their submission. There is no additional charge to participate.

Stay tuned for more information about this year's theme and focus!

We reserve the right to make edits to all submissions for grammar, clarity or otherwise noted.

AIASF collects submissions using the Submittable platform. To access the submission form, you will need to log in to an account with Submittable; if you do not already have a login, you may set one up here.

Q: Do the projects need to be located in the San Francisco Bay Area to be considered?
A: No, but the firm does need to be based in the Bay Area to be considered.

Q: Do the projects have a “time of construction or design” constraint?
A: For built projects, construction must have been completed within 5 years of the final submission deadline. 

Q: Are firms allowed to submit non-housing projects?
A: Yes, featured work and firm profiles may include other project types or client sectors and will be accepted.

Q: And are we allowed to do more than “one” 2-page spread, or are we limited to a “two-page” spread per firm?
A: Yes, firms are welcome to submit more than one two-page spread.

Q: Can firms with 20 or more employees participate?
A: SFGP is limited to firms with 19 or fewer staff.  

Q: I’m not a small firm, can I still participate in SFGP?
A: Yes! There are a number of advertising opportunities available. Email advertise@innovativepublishing.com for details.

Contact us with your questions!
Sophia Teng, AIASF Communications Coordinator, steng@aiasf.org