What is a Design Pattern Approach?
The design pattern approach, embodied in the participatory pattern workshop methodology described here, provides a powerful way of bridging the gap between research and practice. Designs patterns provide a meaningful way of capturing and then sharing knowledge in a particular domain. At their core, they can be described as providing a solution to a problem in a context. As Alexander (1977) writes in his seminal volume on pattern languages:
Each pattern describes a problem which occurs over and over again in our environment, and then describes the core of the solution in such a way that you can use this solution a million times over, without ever doing it twice. (Alexander 1977)
Alexander defines a design pattern as being constructed in three parts. First the 'context', which asks under what conditions does this pattern hold. Second the problem statement which is often described as a 'system of forces'. And third, the 'solution' which indicates a design configuration that is capable of balancing the system of forces, in effect indicating a path that solves the problem/s presented.
What makes patterns such a powerful design tool is the way in which they can scaffold non-experts in making rapid and grounded design decisions in what might be relatively unfamiliar areas of practice. Gamma (1995) neatly summarises how expert problem solvers design solutions in their everyday professions by reapplying previously successful approaches:
One thing expert designers know not to do is solve every problem from first principles. Rather, they reuse solutions that have worked for them in the past ... These patterns solve specific design problems and make ... designs more flexible, elegant, and ultimately reusable. They help designers reuse successful designs by basing new designs on prior experience. A designer who is familiar with such patterns can apply them immediately to design problems without having to rediscover them (Gamma et al. 1995)