A Pattern-Based Framework for the Exploration of Design Alternatives.

Design patterns serve the documentation and sharing of proven solutions for recurring design problems. Additionally, patterns can provide guidance on design alternatives. In this paper we present a pattern-based framework to support the designer in the exploration and evaluation of design alternatives and their tradeoffs. Based upon the systematic identification of recurring design problems and solution alternatives and their tradeoffs the framework consists of a generic hierarchy of design problems and solution alternatives as well as of two generic interaction design pattern templates. The presented framework can be used to specify design problems and existing solutions for a specific platform or application domain as well as to think about design alternatives and to develop new solutions. In addition, it can be used to structure interaction design pattern collections. The approach is illustrated by a case for interactive television applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]