Despite the central role that well organized and structured course content plays in engaging online learners with content, the authors point to the absence of guidelines for organizing content in ways that meet course learning goals. Recognizing the need for a design solution and, perhaps, the need for a new design model, "design patterns" are proposed as an alternative approach to solving problems of design. Using their own online course design experience, the authors explore the concept of design patterns, borrowed from architects, computer programmers, and Web developers, as an analytical design strategy. The authors conclude with reflections on the power of design patterns as an analytical design strategy as well as questions that might guide a design patterns research agenda.