What It Can Do

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The toolkit has many uses depending on what your needs are. Architects may be looking to do evidenced-based design research or to get stakeholder input on how to re-envision and re-appropriate institutional space. Social scientists may be looking to engage in new methods of trauma healing or to investigate the impacts of the space on those they are seeking to support. Educators may be using this toolkit to teach common core concepts through design. No matter your reasons for working at the intersection of restorative justice and design, you can expect to be utilizing the toolkit across more than one of these critical categories.
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Creative Expression & Concept Design

This toolkit can be used to inspire the creativity of users in the agency of creating conceptual ideas for re-envisioning spaces that repair and transform. If working as an architect these ideas can contribute to the development of schematic designs informed by knowledgeable and inspired stakeholder group.

Try these tools: Visual Diary, Collage, Model Making with Blocks, Model Making with Paper
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Education & Knowledge-Building

Design tools and concepts serve as a creative way to explore complex social issues, both metaphorically and literally. With thoughtful prompts and debriefing questions, an image or design concept can spark intense dialogue on real-life issues. Through this dialogue, participants learn not only about justice and design theories but also about the world around them.

Try these tools: Peace & Justice Cards, Diagrams, Perspective and Montage, Checklist and Assessment Tools
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Research

As we begin to create spaces that might foster different outcomes within the context of the criminal justice system, research methods that provide data on impact is essential. This tool offers a unique methodology for evidenced-based design research that can be used by individuals coming into the system or institution to do qualitative research and for those living inside to engage in participatory action research.

Try these tools: Peace & Justice Cards, Photo Analysis, Checklist and Assessments Tools
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Well-being
Art creation has been successfully used as a therapeutic resource for improving one’s sense of well-being, including for those who have experienced violence. Barb’s research suggests that the design process may have a similar impact. Through design work, participants have the opportunity to:

  • Express themselves creatively.
  • Communicate in way that doesn’t rely on verbal skills.
  • Release emotions that are difficult to put into words or risky to share outright.
  • Explore what they need to feel nurtured, at peace, calm, etc., and consider ways to achieve those goals spatially.
  • Experience a sense of control over their environment, even if just in their imagination or in a design concept.

The experiences of workshop participants to date suggest that the above are real outcomes that accompany the actual design results of the workshops.

Try these tools: Visual Diary, Collage, Model Making with Paper, Peace & Justice Cards