Pattern languages in the wild: exploring pattern languages in the laboratory and in the real world

For more than two decades much of the pattern language literature, within the field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI), has focused on the possible benefits pattern languages may provide, but there has been very little empirical work to support these claims. In fact, existing controlled studies show practically no benefit of using pattern languages in design. Despite this lack of evidence, interest in pattern languages continues. In this paper we examine how pattern languages are used in experimental settings and in the real world. We explore two questions here: Are pattern languages real? Are pattern languages useful? We argue that the answer to both of these questions is yes . As a community, we believe that we have been looking in the wrong places to find evidence of pattern languages and have been looking for the wrong benefits. Said differently, we have been overlooking the existence of and the benefits of pattern languages. This study began exploring pattern languages in a laboratory setting, but then continued that exploration in a real setting where we encountered evidence of the existence of pattern languages and of their benefits. By continuing these explorations, we argue that, the HCI community will then begin to see the benefits from all the great efforts in this area.