diff --git a/traits.hpp b/traits.hpp
index 67975b8..4caf953 100644
--- a/traits.hpp
+++ b/traits.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  *
  * Copyright:
- *      2016, Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
+ *      2016-2017, Danny Robson <danny@nerdcruft.net>
  */
 
 #ifndef CRUFT_VK_TRAITS_HPP
@@ -21,7 +21,32 @@
 #include "./fwd.hpp"
 #include "./vk.hpp"
 
+#include <type_traits>
+
+
 namespace cruft::vk {
+    /// describes the corresponding value for sType in native structures
+    template <typename T>
+    struct structure_type {};
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    #define DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE(KLASS,VALUE)                  \
+    template <>                                                 \
+    struct structure_type<KLASS> :                              \
+        public std::integral_constant<VkStructureType, VALUE>   \
+    { }
+
+    DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE (VkInstanceCreateInfo, VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_INSTANCE_CREATE_INFO);
+
+    #undef DEFINE_STRUCTURE_TYPE
+
+
+    //-------------------------------------------------------------------------
+    template <typename T>
+    constexpr auto structure_type_v = structure_type<T>::value;
+
+
     ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
     template <typename T> struct id_traits { };