The term ‘design patterns’ has been used in computer science to refer to computer techniques that can be re-used rather than having to be worked out from scratch every time. Now the term is being hijacked by the web design community to refer to design problems that can be solved once and then reused. If you design websites you need to know what this is about.
Yahoo are perhaps the most advanced uses of this technique. They have a design pattern library which you can access here. http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/
Each pattern is specified with:
- An image showing how the design is presented
- A problem summary (e.g. The designer needs to call attention to where a data value or content has changed…)
- Use when – A list of places where the solution would be used.
- The solution. A specification of the solution e.g. Change the background color of the content area or data value to a light pastel color.
- Rationale. The reason for adopting this approach
- Accessibility. A discussion of the accessibility of this pattern.
This very formal presentation forces the designer to think through the part of the design and to make sure that every issue has been covered.
By doing this once and then pulling the pattern off the shelf when it is needed the design team:
Prevents continual reworking of ideas
- Makes sure usability and accessibility issues are thoroughly thought through
- Ensures a consistent user interface throughout the site. The customer only has to learn one way of doing things
Bob Browning's blog 
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