This document summarizes discussions from conferences on pattern languages that explored expanding the theoretical frameworks and methodologies used in pattern languages. Key areas discussed included applying pattern languages to architecture, urban planning, software design, social science, systems theory and more. Participants also discussed the usefulness of pattern languages in enabling experience-based knowledge, expanding perspectives on problems, and establishing social relationships. Steps toward developing a theory of patterns were proposed, drawing from diverse fields, as were new approaches and methodologies for working with patterns.

1. The Future of
Pattern
Languages
A Discourse from PURPLSOC
(Krems 2017 – Amsterdam 2017)
Thieu Bresselinck - Tree Bressen – Anna Fink - Christian
Köppe – Christian Kohls - Hajo Neis – Jenny Quillien –
Doug Schuler – Wolfgang Stark - David West - …
World Café at PUARL/PLoP
(Portland 2018)
facilitated by
Tree Bressen – Doug Schuler – Wolfgang Stark
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 1

2. APL
Architecture
Urban Planning
Software
Design
Agile Processes
Innovation
Organisational
Design
Design Thinking
Community
GroupWorks
Liberating Voices
IBA Lab (Tokio)
Teaching –
Cooperation -
everyday patterns
Teaching
Service Learning
Entrepreneurship
Education
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 2
Pattern Language
Application Areas

3. c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 3
Domains at the PURPLSOC 2017 Conference (https://www.purplsoc.org)

4. Towards an
Expanded
Pattern
Language
Science of
Life and Beauty
Rational Thinking
plus
Implicit/Tacit
Knowing and
Artistic Procedures
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 4

5. Expanded
Theoretical
Framework
APL
Nature of
Order
Theory U
(Otto Scharmer,
MIT)
Grounded
Theory
(Glaser & Straus)
Languages
of Art
(Nelson Goodman)
Pragmatism
and
Experience
(John Dewey)
General
Systems
Theory
(Jay Forrester et al.)
Actor
Network
Theory
(Bruno Latour)
A Diversity of Theoretical
Concepts from Architecture,
Urban Planing, Software
Design, Social Science,
Systems Theory, Art Theory
and Transformation Science
is bringing added value
towards the understanding
of patterns of implicit and
tacit knowing and
experiential knowledge
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 5

6. Usefulness of PPL (Doug Schuler)
• We see in patterns – and
patterns help us see
• They expand views on problems
instead of focusing
• They include emotional aspects
and aspects of beauty
• PPL span a variety of disciplines
• PPL are based on collaboration
in groups
• PPL are enabling experience-
based knowledge and wisdom
• PPL are establishing and
nourishing social relationships
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 6

7. Steps toward Patterns Theory building
(Gary Swartz – Hajo Neis at PUARL 2018)
• Patterns by Thomas Kuhn
• Patterns by Gregory Bateson
• Systems science: Yaneer Bar-Yam
• McLuhan: pattern is a ‚message‘
• Pattern as ‚Performatives‘
(Luciano Floridi)
• Patterns as Culture
• ‚Meta‘ means not above, but in
between, among etc – basically a
pattern
• Mapping
• Embodiment, Embeddedness,
environment - enaction
• Swartz: communication and
Curation
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 7

8. New Approaches – New Methodologies
(Paul Mehaffy – Ward Cunningham – Yodan Rofe at PLoP/PUARL 2018)
New Approaches
• Pattern based
calculation of foresights
• Configuration of patterns
• Invent a general pattern language
• APL for the 21. Century
New Methodologies
• Method mapping at GroupWorks
(Dave Pollard/Tree Bressen)
• ‚Real Time Innovation‘ using the
Theory U method (Sailer/Stark)
• Speck et al:
Smart growth manual book
• Pattern wiki
(http://puarl.ward.wiki.org)
c/o Wolfgang Stark 2018 8