Design templates or patterns.

Design templates or patterns. is a detailed work activity in O*NET — a concrete unit of work shared across 11 occupations and seen in 17 occupation-specific tasks. It rolls up into the broader work activity Design materials or devices. in Thinking Creatively .

Detailed work activities are the most granular shared layer in O*NET's work-activity hierarchy (Generalized → Intermediate → Detailed → occupation-specific task). The figures below describe how this activity shows up across the economy and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the work will be automated.

AI exposure

Of the 17 tasks under this activity that the OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rated, 13 (76%) are flagged as directly exposed to language models (E1) or exposed via model-powered tools (E2).

The Anthropic Economic Index observes real AI use on 1 of these tasks, with a mean mapped-usage share of 0.083% per task.

Exposure estimates overlap with model capabilities — whether a model could speed the task up — not whether the work will be done by software. Observed AI use is augmentation and assistance today, not jobs replaced.

Member tasks

Occupation-specific tasks O*NET maps to this detailed work activity, most important first.

• Create a master pattern for each size within a range of garment sizes, using charts, drafting instruments, computers, or grading devices. · Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers · importance 4.7 · exposure with tools
• Use computer software to design patterns for engraving. · Etchers and Engravers · importance 4.5 · exposure with tools
• Draw outlines of pattern parts by adapting or copying existing patterns, or by drafting new patterns. · Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers · importance 4.4 · exposure with tools
• Draw and cut patterns according to specifications. · Sewers, Hand · importance 4.4 · exposure with tools
• Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings. · Patternmakers, Wood · importance 4.4 · no direct exposure
• Draw patterns, using measurements, designs, plaster casts, or customer specifications, and position or outline patterns on work pieces. · Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers · importance 4.3 · exposure with tools
• Create a paper pattern from which to mass-produce a design concept. · Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers · importance 4.3 · exposure with tools
• Plan and develop layouts from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metals. · Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.3 · exposure with tools
• Create computer models of patterns or parts, using modeling software. · Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · importance 4.2 · direct LLM exposure
• Discuss design specifications with designers, and convert their original models of garments into patterns of separate parts that can be laid out on a length of fabric. · Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers · importance 4.2 · exposure with tools
• Design upholstery cover patterns and cutting plans, based on sketches, customer descriptions, or blueprints. · Upholsterers · importance 4.1 · exposure with tools
• Create design specifications to provide instructions on garment sewing and assembly. · Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers · importance 4.1 · direct LLM exposure
• Develop, copy, or adapt designs for garments, and design patterns to fit measurements, applying knowledge of garment design, construction, styling, and fabric. · Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers · importance 3.9 · exposure with tools
• Design and prepare templates of wood, paper, or metal. · Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.8 · no direct exposure
• Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools. · Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters · importance 3.8 · no direct exposure
• Develop templates and models for welding projects, using mathematical calculations based on blueprint information. · Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers · importance 3.7 · direct LLM exposure
• Design and create templates, patterns, or coreboxes according to work orders, sample parts, or mockups. · Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic · importance 3.5 · no direct exposure

Occupations that perform this

• Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers
• Etchers and Engravers
• Sewers, Hand
• Patternmakers, Wood
• Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
• Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
• Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
• Upholsterers
• Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers
• Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-design-templates-or-patterns,
  title  = {Design templates or patterns.},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/detailed-activities/design-templates-or-patterns}
}