Designing with empathy: A Trauma-Informed approach

When I first encountered trauma-informed design, I never expected it to become such a transformative lens for how I approach my work. However, as I explored it further, I began to see the profound impact these principles could have—not just in healthcare or social services, but also in corporate settings, where user well-being often intersects with business goals.

In corporate environments, where deadlines and KPIs frequently take precedence, it’s all too easy to overlook the human element of design. Trauma-informed design challenges us to rethink this dynamic, encouraging us to create products and processes that support—rather than unintentionally harm—the people who interact with them.

A key framework I shared during my talk was the Missouri Model, which illustrates the progression of individuals and organisations toward becoming trauma-informed. Importantly, trauma-informed design isn’t about overhauling everything at once; it’s about taking small, deliberate steps toward greater empathy and understanding.

Through this talk—and now this blog post—my goal is to inspire us all to take that first step forward.
Because, after all, one trauma-informed team member is all it takes to begin making a meaningful difference.