Learnability Patterns
A working collection of evidence-based design patterns for learning experiences applied to page and screens and spaces.
Learnability Patterns is a curated collection of evidence-based design patterns for building effective learning experiences. Each pattern is grounded in research — multimedia learning theory, cognitive load theory, self-determination theory — and illustrated with real examples from EdTech products.
What’s in the collection
Twenty patterns organized across categories like Multimedia Learning, Practice & Feedback, and Inclusive Design. Each pattern includes:
- The principle and the research behind it
- Real-world examples from products like Duolingo, Khan Academy, and Coursera
- Screenshots showing the pattern in action
- Links to the underlying academic references
Why this exists
After years of building EdTech products, I noticed the same design principles appearing across every successful learning experience. These patterns are my attempt to codify that knowledge — partly as a reference for my own work, partly to show how learning science translates into product decisions.
The patterns draw from Clark and Mayer’s e-Learning and the Science of Instruction, Sweller’s cognitive load theory, and Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory, among others.