Currently Ongoing Research
The research on how design can impact human emotions is ongoing. We bring you information about some of the most exciting studies currently in process.
Trauma-informed Design Society’s TiDEvalK12
This assessment tool was created through research performed by the Trauma-informed Design Society, with assistance from over 100 participating educators and designers. It can be used to evaluate schools and identify changes in the physical environment that can lower the stress levels of students and staff.
Next steps include the creation of a tool kit with design ideas that can address areas of concern identified by the TiDEvalK12 and, hopefully, a longitudinal study to show its effectiveness. We are currently seeking architectural and educational partners interested in engaging in this type of study.
Development of a Design Evaluation Tool for Higher Education Campuses
We thrilled to announce an exciting collaboration with Wrexham University (WU) to pioneer the development of a Trauma-informed Design evaluation tool tailored for higher education campuses.
In extending our research to higher education, the research team, will survey students and staff to identify areas where students and staff are most often dysregulated and potential triggers on WU campuses. This data, combined with a
detailed design assessment, will inform the creation of a tailored Trauma-informed Design Evaluation Tool for Higher Education Campuses.
Seeking Financial Support:
Biometric Measures of Stress in Trauma-informed Designed versus Conventional Spaces
We are actively seeking funding that will allow us to engage in an entirely new kind of study to empirically demonstrate the connection between the physical environment and a person’s stress levels. Our plan is to measure participants’ physiological responses as they are immersed in various environments through virtual reality, using biometric measures such as:
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Heart rate variability (HRV);
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Electrodermal activity (EDA); and
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Eye-tracking.
We expect to see indicators of stress when exposed to conventional medical waiting rooms, classrooms, workplaces, and transitional housing environments that are not present in trauma-informed designed spaces used for the same purposes.
Please reach out if you are aware of any possible funding sources that can help us engage in this type of study.