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Design patterns for cross-cultural collaboration

This longitudinal, ethnographically informed research study investigated patterns of successful design technologies, pedagogies and collaborations across cultures in co-locations (Hong Kong, South Korean, and Austria). Design patterns are considered to be observations of good practice captured in a narrative that allows sharing of tacit knowledge in design. The paper introduces 11 new design patterns that designers can use to support effective collaboration. One exemplar pattern scope that was successfully use across cultures is called an ‘Annotated Design Gallery’. The pattern advocates the textual annotation of design representations that were locally produced through distance collaboration. The proposed design patterns offer a holistic perspective on designing coherent learning experiences and make explicit the underlying theoretical foundations of good practice. The paper highlights several design patterns that were found to support international design project work. It also introduces design patterns that specify their known scope, i.e., which were successful in supporting collaboration across some cultures, but not internationally. Patterns that specify their international scope or known scope can support learning designers to understand deep principles behind learning designs and open up the possibility to transfer the solution to different cultural contexts. Being able to identify and apply design principles across cultures and domains is a distinct advantage for designers in a global design context. The research provides unique insights on how professionals and educators in E-learning can use design patterns to inform ideation and implementation of specific learning designs and technologies. This is part of continuing work (eg Rapanta, C; Lotz (nee Schadewitz) N and Holden, G (2010). Design and communication patterns observed in an eLearning design team: A case-study. In: World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications (Ed-Media 2010), Toronto, Canada, 356–365) which advances the debate on methodologies for design pattern identification and validation.