Fellows of the Professional School of Practical Stereotomy

The Professional School of Practical Stereotomy honours experienced practitioners whose work demonstrates exceptional command of stereotomy, an original contribution to the craft, and a sustained commitment to teaching and stewardship.

Fellowship (post-nominal: FPSPS) is conferred upon those who successfully complete the School’s Professional Certification — a supervised, proposal-driven, project-based pathway closely analogous to a practice-based PhD. Through this process, candidates conceive, execute, and defend a substantial original work that is rigorously examined and ratified by the Board.

Fellows are more than accomplished practitioners. They are mentors, examiners, and stewards of the School’s standards — individuals entrusted with advancing the discipline and guiding those who follow. Fellowship signals technical mastery, independent judgment, and a commitment to carrying the craft forward.

A Fellow (FPSPS) is a practitioner formally admitted by the Board in recognition of sustained technical mastery, original contribution, and service to the craft.

Fellowship is a peer-bestowed distinction. It signifies that the holder has successfully completed a demanding, independent course of work — from proposal through execution to formal defence — and has met the School’s highest standards of craftsmanship and professional judgment.

Fellows demonstrate not only refined technical ability, but also the capacity to advance the discipline through thoughtful, practice-led inquiry. As such, Fellowship represents both scholarly rigour and professional leadership within the field of stereotomy.

What Fellowship recognizes

• Mastery of craft: high-quality workmanship, reliable technique, and sound professional judgement.
• Original contribution: a demonstrable, practice-led project that adds new understanding, methods, or exemplary execution to L’Art du Trait.
• Independent scholarship: capacity to plan, research, execute, document, and defend a complex practical undertaking.
• Peer validation: endorsement and ratification by a body of senior practitioners (the Board of Overseers).
   

Privileges & identifiers

• Use of the post-nominal FPSPS.
• Inclusion in the School’s public directory of Fellows 
• Eligibility to serve as an Advisor, examiner, mentor, or member of governance bodies
   

Expectations & responsibilities

• Act as a steward of standards: mentor candidates, examine proposals and projects, and model best practice.
• Contribute to teaching, exhibitions, publications, or governance as capacity and opportunity allow.
• Maintain professional and ethical conduct; the School retains procedures for addressing serious misconduct.

 The Professional Certification is a rigorous, practice-based pathway requiring a formal proposal, sustained independent work, external review, and a public defence — all centred on producing a substantive, original contribution to the discipline. 

Stage-by-Stage Process

1.  Intent to Apply - Candidates begin by submitting a formal Intent to Apply to the School. This short statement declares the candidate’s desire to challenge for the Professional Certification and outlines prior relevant experience in stereotomy. The School will acknowledge receipt and, if the candidate meets preliminary criteria, provide the Proposal Template and guidance on next steps. 
2.  Advisory Assignment (optional at pre-proposal stage) - Candidates may request assignment of an Advisor — a sitting Fellow from the Board of Overseers — prior to completing the proposal. The Advisor’s role is to advise on scope, feasibility, and proposal preparation; assignment is subject to Board approval and mutual acceptance. 
3.  Proposal Preparation - The candidate completes the Proposal Template, which must include: summary of prior experience, project aims and significance, methodology (drawings, mock-ups, tests, materials), a detailed timeline, expected outcomes, and supporting documentation (images, CV, references). The candidate and Advisor work together to refine the draft before formal submission.  
4.  Advisor Review & Endorsement - The completed proposal is submitted first to the Advisor for internal review. The Advisor and candidate may iterate on content and scope until both agree the proposal is ready. Once endorsed by the Advisor, the Advisor formally submits the proposal to the Board for consideration. 
5.  Board Initial Review & Feedback - The Board of Overseers conducts an initial review. The Board may: accept the proposal as submitted, request clarifications or revisions, or ask for additional documentation. All Board communications at this stage are routed through the Advisor to the candidate to preserve a clear, managed review channel. Revisions are expected where necessary; iterative exchanges may occur until the Board is satisfied. 
6.  Board Acceptance (proposal approval) - When the Board accepts the proposal, the candidate receives formal notification (via the Advisor) that they have permission to proceed. The acceptance establishes the approved scope and timeline that will govern the execution phase. 
7.  Execution of the Project - The candidate conducts the work in accordance with the approved proposal. Progress is self-directed but regularly documented: photographic records, video, drawings, logs, and interim reports are submitted to the Advisor at agreed intervals. The Advisor provides formative feedback and may escalate concerns to the Board if required.  
8.  Documentation & Interim Review - For longer or complex projects, the Board may require one or more interim reviews (progress checkpoints) to ensure the project remains aligned with the approved scope. These are coordinated through the Advisor 
9.  Submission of Final Project Dossier - Upon completion, the candidate compiles a Final Project Dossier containing the finished work (or full project record), technical documentation, reflective commentary, results, and any supplementary media. The dossier is submitted to the Advisor, who reviews for completeness and forwards it to the Board and external examiners as applicable. 
10.  Examination & Public Presentation (Defence) - The candidate presents the project to a panel convened by the Board (the Examination Panel), typically composed of Fellows and at least one external examiner where appropriate. The presentation probes methodology, intention, learning outcomes, and professional judgement. The Examination Panel evaluates originality, technical mastery, craft quality, and the candidate’s reflective account. 
11.  Board Deliberation & Ratification - Following examination, the Board deliberates and reaches a decision. Where the project meets the School’s standards, the Board ratifies the result and formally confers Fellowship (FPSPS). The decision and any conditions (e.g., minor revisions) are communicated to the candidate through the Advisor. 
12.  Admission & Post-Admission Expectations - Newly admitted Fellows are recorded in the School’s public directory, may use the post-nominal FPSPS, and are expected to contribute to the School through mentoring, examining, teaching, publication, or governance as appropriate. The School maintains procedures for addressing misconduct or revocation in exceptional cases. 

If you are ready to test your work, refine your practice, and contribute meaningfully to the discipline, the School welcomes your Intent to Apply.