Patterns of Patterns II

TL;DR

Patterns of Patterns II extends the PLACARD pattern-language toolkit to five hands-on workshops, proposing a reproducible, pattern-centered approach for co-creation at social-technical interfaces. The authors articulate how PAR, CLA, and DPL combine into actionable patterns and demonstrate their evolution across diverse case studies, from anticipation workshops to university courses and community writers’ workshops. They evaluate reproducibility in methods, results, and interpretation and discuss implications for platform design, open research, and AI-enabled collaboration. The work positions patterns of patterns as an adaptable framework for governance and design of distributed, cross-domain collaboration systems.

Abstract

Our earlier paper "Patterns of Patterns" combined three techniques from training, futures studies, and design in a design pattern called PLACARD that helps groups of people work together effectively. We used that pattern in five hands-on workshop case studies which took place at various locations in the US and the UK. This experience report documents what we learned, including the way our thinking about PLACARD evolved, together with additional patterns our work generated. We evaluate the reproducibility of our methods and results, and consider the broader economic implications of this way of working. We discuss implications of our prototyping work for the design of future platforms, drawing connections with recent developments in cognitive science and artificial intelligence. This positions our patterns of patterns as a toolkit for the design and governance of systems that combine social dynamics with technical components.

Figures (8)

• Figure 1: Left: In the workshop, participants used pattern description cards to structure discussions (cf. the Pattern Language Components and Functional Roles patterns). Right: Facilitators took notes and made diagrams ( Meaning Map).
• Figure 2: Use of diagrams and manipulatives to create Meaning Maps and new patterns. In the upper-left photo, the CLA layers are mapped to concentric circles; from outside to center: litany, system, worldview, myth. The Share Back pattern was used to collect core themes from groups working separately, conceptualized here as the basis of a shared myth, comprising a Meaning Map that pulls together the themes from small group discussions (lower left). Pattern Language Components were then used to sketch solution strategies to key problems and concerns, e.g., Funding of Public Space (right).
• Figure 3: The Pattern Language Components were used organically within the workshop (cf. Destructure Patterns).
• Figure 4: Screenshot of Org Roam UI, showing the development process leading to a draft Open Research Action Plan (ORAP). Color-coding is: (Gray) Background themes and concepts based on interviews (cf. Do Your Research); (Purple) Selected themes from that background material which became the focal themes in the workshop; (Yellow) Workshop themes and concepts; (Red) Key points of organization for workshop themes, including discussions per faculty as suggested by Structure Conversations. The node “Outline of an Open Research Action Plan” includes the ORAP, instantiated here as a bullet-point outline, with links to all the workshop outputs.
• Figure 5: Diagrams created before our first session with the CIS 9590 students, inspired by Causal Layered Analysis. The diagrams describe our working context as guests in CIS 9590 (left), and our initial understanding of the students’ working context (right).