LabelPatterns.org: A comprehensive pattern library for consumer-decision labels

Abstract

Consumer-decision labels are relatively small panels of information, placed where consumers make decisions, that help those consumers make informed choices and, at times, motivate desired behaviors. They provide information about environmental impact/sustainability, nutrition, health, safety, the quality and suitability of consumer goods, and other domains. Design patterns are expanded guidelines that follow a problem-solution structure, provide more context than standard guidelines, and are supported when possible by citations to relevant research and professional literature. Pattern libraries are sets of coordinated patterns that strive to comprehensively support the design process in a particular domain. Pattern libraries have proven successful and are now used in such domains as urban planning, object-oriented programming, software user interface design, and web design. LabelPatterns.org is a newly launched website currently hosting over 75 design patterns that support the design of consumer-decision labels. It also offers other kinds of information about these labels and related messaging. The patterns and the website were begun as student projects in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering at the University of Washington, USA. It is now being managed and expanded by a volunteer project team.