What is a Precedent?

A precedent is a project done in the real world that can be used to help explain some of the ideas that will be covered in the studio or project. 

Students should locate and critically evaluate precedents and demonstrate how they relate to their projects. 

Precedents generally fall into a number of categories - conceptual, aspirational, and comparable. 

• Conceptual precedents explore ideas related to the studio through critical analysis of a wide range of largely art-based projects. 
• Aspirational precedents look at cutting-edge or futurist implementation of technology as related to the studio topic. 
• Comparable precedents look at nascent or current projects, often in the marketplace, that relate to the theme of the studio at a design and technological level that students can reasonably achieve within the course of the Studio. 

Through a critical analysis and melding of these categories, students can develop ideas for creative and technical innovations based on an expansive understanding of the theme.

What Makes a Good Precedent?

• Meaningful
  • Provides a rich social, historical, or cultural context
  • Highlight examples of current relevant projects
• Inspiring & Exciting
  • Shows a novel approach
  • Shows a novel design solution
  • Exposes students to concepts, projects, and research that they are unaware of.
  • Helps generate conversation about the studio topic early in the research and brainstorming process.
• Focused
  • Shows a novel technical, functional, or mechanical application
  • Shows a conceptual application
• Guiding
  • Shows students options, avenues, and principles at any point during the design process.  Precedents are useful throughout the studio, not just at the beginning.