Trauma informed participatory design: definitions, practices and resources

Trauma-informed participatory design brings attention to lived experience and the lasting impacts of trauma, yet it remains under-defined with limited practical guidance, particularly given the diverse ways trauma can manifest. This paper draws on a nine-month study in which we conducted trauma-informed PD to co-design a mental health recovery app. Through collaborative reflections, interviews, and surveys, we collected both empirical and reflective data from facilitators and co-designers with mental health lived experiences. Our findings identify three key dimensions – preparation, process, and people – that illustrate how trauma-informed PD can be cultivated in practice. Building on these insights, our study advances theory and practice in three ways. First, we propose a new definition of trauma-informed PD as a continuous learning mindset. Second, we highlight continued reflection as a key practice for trauma-informed PD, enabling people to address the dynamic nature of both trauma and the PD process. Third, we design the trauma-informed PD Reflection Canvas as a practical resource for ongoing reflection and adaptation, helping people navigate unforeseen challenges in trauma-informed PD. These contributions establish trauma-informed PD as a direction that guides the practice for understanding, addressing, and responding to trauma in participatory design.