Design knowledge recycling using precedent-based analysis and synthesis models

New models of abstracted typological classes that encode forms, functions, processes, concepts, scenarios, principles and components of previous design products are introduced. They are presented as seven precedent-based knowledge management constructs that depart from the dissection of existing design compositions into simple explicit forms in order to facilitate classifying, analyzing and reusing their information to derive new designs. They aim to formulate reference prototypes that may help guide pre-design reasoning, inspire design processing, and direct post-design evaluation. The research design consists of theoretical, action and survey researches. These are applied to devise the models, involve participants in improving their designing techniques, and test participants' feedback, respectively. Examples and results of the action and survey researches are illustrated and discussed.