To add, if you want to create patterns in which there are large blocks of pieces redistributed in different parts of the cube, than you can actually use
Cube Explorer to find the shortest solution. (Cube Explorer can be used to solve just the corners or just the edges, separately. See
this video if you don't know and are interested to learn more.) See an example big cube pattern algorithm (with an explanation) that I found
here. (I have another big cube pattern algorithm
here, if interested.) You can therefore move pieces in "big chuncks" first (not worrying about a little bit of inconvenience for some extra pieces that are moved where you don't want them to be) to save time.
Even though commutators should be used for more advanced patterns, you don't have to "consciously" apply them to create algorithms for more "uniform" patterns. For example,
here is a (non-conventional) checkerboard pattern on the 5x5x5 which would be a nightmare to switch a few pieces at a time to create. But as you can see with the algorithm (when you click the play button), it's the 3x3x3 Reduction method. So (in theory), such patterns can be created without excessive use (yes, I used commutators for the majority of the reduction phase, but they were solving a lot of pieces, not just moving
one at a time which people usually mean when they say "create a pattern with commutators").
And the biggest (most important) thing to do is draw a plan/picture of some kind so that you know exactly what your goal is (and to see if it's actually possible to create in the exact way that you envision (because patterns, as you know, are not just on one face of a cube, so you can "run out of colors" if you don't plan things correctly)!
