Yes, usually all you know to begin with is how much fabric to buy of lights, meds, & darks.
Most are then given a little bit of the pattern at a time. First you cut some and piece some
then more. You do not know what it is going to look like until you get the last instruction.
I have made about 5 of them and have had a lot of fun. The ones I have made were in my quilting group at church and there would be anywhere from 5 to 15 of us working on it at the same time.