Learning teams don’t fail for lack of effort. We fail because we build like every request is brand new. A leader wants a course, a manager asks for a workshop, a team needs a quick module — and we spin them up, one after another, like each problem has never existed before.
But here’s the truth: most of these needs aren’t unique. They feel unique because we don’t have a system to capture what works and reuse it. Without that system, every project becomes a one-off, every win disappears into the noise, and the wheel gets reinvented again and again.
The problem isn’t effort. It’s the lack of systems.
Where patterns come in.
If you look at fields that consistently innovate — architecture, software design, even art — they don’t start from scratch every time. They rely on what’s called, pattern language.
The idea comes from architect Christopher Alexander, who argued that great buildings weren’t accidents — they were built on recurring designs. He captured those solutions as “patterns” and created a shared language that designers could use to solve complex problems more consistently.
Software engineers took the same approach. They documented design patterns that solved recurring coding challenges, allowing them to build faster, smarter, and at scale.
Now it’s time for learning design to have its own version of this, learning patterns.
So what are learning patterns?
A learning pattern is a tested design: a combination of learner factors, techniques, and outcomes that consistently produces results. Think of it like a recipe. If you know the ingredients and steps that make a dish work, you don’t reinvent it from scratch every time. You might tweak it, refine it, add your own twist — but the foundation is reliable.
A Learning Pattern Library is the collection of those recipes for your team. It’s your system of evidence — a library of proven approaches you can pull from, adapt, and scale.
And this isn’t just theory. Leaders in the field like Tim Klapdor are already advancing this work. His project Learning Patterns explores how patterns can make learning design more consistent, scalable, and impactful. I had the chance to connect with Tim and learn from his thinking, and it reinforced for me that this isn’t just a concept. It’s a practical movement that’s starting to take shape in our field.
Why patterns matter.
Without patterns, every project feels like starting from zero. Teams waste energy, reinvent the wheel, and forget what worked last time. The result is inconsistency, wasted effort, and collective amnesia. With learning patterns, you build memory, consistency, and momentum.
And let’s be clear: patterns aren’t the enemy of creativity. They’re the fuel for it.
Think about jazz. Musicians improvise wildly, but they do it on top of scales and chord progressions. Architects dream up bold designs, but they’re grounded in structural principles that keep the building standing. Patterns give you the confidence to take risks because you’re not guessing — you’re building on evidence.
From random acts to repeatable impact.
Here’s the shift: a Learning Pattern Library turns isolated wins into a system. Instead of random acts of training, you have repeatable impact.
Ran a pilot that works? Capture it. Which outcome did it drive? What learner factors mattered most? Which techniques worked? What results did you see? That’s a pattern. Do it again. Over time, you don’t just have scattered notes — you have a growing library of tested designs.
This isn’t about cookie-cutter templates. It’s about a living, breathing library that evolves with your work. Patterns don’t replace creativity. They make it sustainable.
Why this matters for influence.
A Learning Pattern Library doesn’t just make your design process easier. It makes your role more influential.
When you can point to patterns — proof of what works, for whom, and why — you change the conversation. You stop reacting to requests and start leading with strategy. You can say: “Here’s what we know works. Here’s how we can apply it. Here’s how it ties directly to the business.”
Patterns don’t just scale design. They scale influence.
