Many architecture posters, slideshows and papers require using the hard work of others--photos, drawings, articles, and maps.  When you create, you're making your own intellectual property (IP), but the challenge--especially in creative fields--is that your own intellectual property is frequently built on intellectual property that came before and inspired you.  In order to be a responsible IP creator (and even law-abiding when it comes to copyright laws), you should attempt to cite your sources as thoroughly as possible.

While there are many different standards for citing text-based information, unfortunately, there is no comprehensive or definitive style for citing images.  The major citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) do have some guidelines, but they currently all fall short of addressing the vast array of sources the internet presents us--especially when it comes to architectural images.  

Therefore, it is recommended you follow the guidelines.

FOR IMAGES (PHOTOS, DRAWINGS, ETC.):

Use the style recommendation examples below.  This is a locally-created (Cal Poly Architecture) style designed to address the gaps left by the major citation styles. Four examples are provided to cover various sourcing scenarios.  If any of your images fall outside or between the examples provided, do your best to reflect the key information requested in the examples.

FOR ORIGINAL IMAGES YOU CREATED OR PHOTOGRAPHED YOURSELF:

You have two options for self-created images.  Either (at minimum) state your full name and year as the caption or, if you choose no captions, put a statement at the top of your reference list claiming, "All uncredited images were created by the author/designer of this project."

FOR IMAGES CREATED WITHIN A GROUP PROJECT:

Discuss the issue with your group members.  If an image was created by a single individual, it's best to credit their name in the caption.  If an image was created with multiple people's input but not the entire group, credit the contributing members in the caption.

FOR IMAGES PARTIALLY OR FULLY CREATED USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

Procedures for citation are still evolving, so indicate in the caption, at minimum, that AI was used to create the design.

FOR IMAGES FROM PRINTED TEXTS (OR ANY TEXT-ONLY CONTENT REFERENCED BUT NOT ASSOCIATED WITH A CORRESPONDING IMAGE):

Use the American Psychological Association (APA) style.  APA is one of the more user-friendly citation styles for text-based research, and currently provides the most extensive free advice for overall citations on the internet, here:  https://apastyle.apa.org/.  For more detailed guidance than the website provides, you can access a print copy at the Kennedy Library (Crandall Gym, Building 60) Research Help Desk: Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association: The Official Guide to APA Style. 

TIP:

If you're wondering about the origin of an uncredited image ,search engines like Google and TinEye allow you to search using the image itself so you can see other places where it exists on the web.

Each image should have a shorter citation as a caption and a corresponding fuller citation in the reference list.  Both types (caption and full) are shown for each example below.  PLEASE NOTE: We understand that while these do not cover every possible example of image sources, our hope is that they cover a broad range, and that common sense can be used to provide the similar information for images that fall outside the examples.

*NOTE: We can't show indentation in the cut-and-paste text provided due to the dynamic nature of web text (though it is illustrated in the examples), but use a hanging indentation for each citation in the reference list, meaning that all lines after the first are indented.

1. FORMAT FOR SITE/LANDSCAPE PHOTOS SOURCED FROM WEB:

TEXT* FOR CUT-AND-PASTE:

Figure Number: Project Name by Architect / Studio (Date of Completion or n.d. if no date given), Project Location or unbuilt. Photo: Photographer First Name and Last Name (Photo Date or n.d.). Retrieved on Date from URL

KEY

EXAMPLE 1

2. FORMAT FOR STRUCTURE PHOTOS SOURCED FROM WEB:

TEXT* FOR CUT-AND-PASTE:

Figure Number: Project Name by Architect / Studio (Date of Completion or n.d. if no date given), Project Location or unbuilt. Photo: Photographer First Name and Last Name (Photo Date or n.d.). Source--Publication or Website--in Italics. Retrieved on Date from URL

KEY

EXAMPLE 2

3. FORMAT FOR SITE AND STRUCTURE PLANS, SECTIONS, ELEVATIONS, DRAWINGS, ETC. SOURCED FROM WEB:

TEXT* FOR CUT-AND-PASTE:

Figure Number: Project Name Type of Drawing by Architect / Studio (Date of Completion or n.d. if no date given). Source--Publication or Website--in Italics. Retrieved on Date from URL

KEY

EXAMPLE 3

4. FORMAT FOR DIGITIZED IMAGES FROM A PRINT-BASED SOURCE:

TEXT* FOR CUT-AND-PASTE:

Figure Number: Project Name Type of Drawing by Architect / Studio (Date of Completion or n.d. if no date given). Photo: Photographer First Name and Last Name (Photo Date or n.d.).  Refer to APA Format to Reference the Publication

KEY

EXAMPLE 4

EXAMPLES IN PRACTICE:

CAPTIONS

IMAGE REFERENCE LIST

The following example has been provided for guidance from 2021-2024.  While potentially helpful, will be removed after the end of the school in June, 2024, as it is no longer consistent with the newer recommendations above.