Takashi Iba
Professor, Author
Keio University

Creating Pattern Languages for Creating a Future where We Can Live Well

We live in a complex and changing society, and the future will be determined based on our current actions and experiences. Therefore, methodologies and tools regarding the creation of a future where we can live well are important. In this talk, I will share an idea that I have devoted myself to for a decade, my relevant works and my experience with you.

The idea is to create and utilise ‘pattern languages’ for creative human actions in order to encourage people to improve their practices and dialogue in many domains. Pattern language is the method and tool for identifying common patterns of good practices embedded in specific domains and sharing the wisdom with others. It was originally proposed in the architecture domain in the 1970s and has since been applied to various domains such as software development, education and organisations.

For the past 10 years, my collaborators and I have created more than 60 pattern languages on diverse topics that provide tacit practical knowledge of creative human actions, comprising more than 1700 patterns in total. Topics include the following: learning, collaboration, presentation, project design, open dialogue, education, reading, cooking, living well with dementia, living well with working and parenting, employment of people with disabilities, welfare innovation, management of child care, social intrapreneurs, value-creation marketing, change making, community innovation, hospitality, life transition, beauty in everyday life, natural living, disaster prevention and public policy design. These pattern languages have been practically utilised to improve practices and generate dialogues among people in various organisations and communities. I also have developed a methodology for creating a pattern language that contains aspects of both, science and art.

I will discuss the concept of pattern languages, how to create them and how to use them for a better future.

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