Implicit to explicit: developing individual patterns for co-design in urban regeneration

China’s urban regeneration often faces challenges in integrating physical and non-physical complexities while fostering inclusive stakeholder collaboration. Despite extensive studies exploring the urban conditions and stakeholder roles, it is not explicit how design strategies emerge from the environment interpretation, nor how stakeholders are effectively incorporated into the design processes. Grounded in pattern language theory, a design-thinking-based theory, this study proposes a co-design framework to develop tools for urban regeneration in China. Through a three-stage process – drafting, consolidating, and validating patterns – it clarifies the process of co-design by applying pattern-driven design thinking. Applied to Hanzheng Jie, Wuhan, a historic area, the framework developed 20 patterns, with the representative patterns discussed for their connotations and implications. Results demonstrate its potential to enhance inclusive urban regeneration, advance pattern language theory, and provide adaptable design tools for China’s evolving urban contexts, with implications for future research in diverse urban settings.