Redefining Justice: A Look into Restorative Justice Centers
This month at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we had the privilege of hosting Deanna Van Buren of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (DJDS) as part of our Visiting Artists and Designers Program. Deanna’s mission is revolutionary: to end mass incarceration and structural inequity through architecture and design. While I couldn’t attend the live lecture, I caught the recording on Zoom—and better yet, my class was invited to participate in a special Peacemaking Workshop.
Who’s Deanna?
Deanna is a visionary and founder of a nonprofit and multidisciplinary design firm that engages communities to co-create spaces for healing, restoration, and growth. They challenge traditional models of justice architecture, replacing courthouses and prisons with spaces like peacemaking centers, transitional housing, and mobile villages. Their work is rooted in community engagement and evidence-based design, crafting environments that address the root causes of mass incarceration while promoting reconciliation and equity.
The Peacemaking Workshop
The highlight of Deanna’s visit for me was her interactive small-group Peacemaking Workshop. She invited each participant to bring an item that brought them peace. These items were placed in the center of our circle and used as inspiration to create a palette for an imagined peacemaking space.
At first, my students were hesitant to share, but the exercise quickly evolved into something deeply meaningful. As we discussed the items, the atmosphere became open and reflective, and the conversation took an unexpectedly profound turn. Many students shared personal experiences and considered how restorative justice—fostering dialogue with those who have "wronged" us—could lead to healing and growth.
By the end, we collectively agreed that restorative justice is far more productive for rehabilitation and personal development than the punitive experiences typically found in prisons. It was a powerful moment of connection, empathy, and hope for a different kind of justice system. And then in small groups, we were given a plan, tracing paper, and markers to pull together a conceptual design for our own restorative justice center. I was amazed how each group focused on different strategies, but also much overlap there was between them.
Designing for Restorative Justice
This experience resonated with me deeply, especially as I’ve recently become fascinated with Trauma-Informed Design—an approach that aligns perfectly with the principles of restorative justice. Both focus on creating spaces that promote healing, safety, and connection, and they share many design elements:
Soft, calming color palettes that reduce stress.
Biophilia, or access to plants, materials, and textures found in nature.
Circular seating arrangements to encourage equality and open dialogue.
Natural materials and light to foster a sense of calm and grounding.
Nested Layers, so that some occupants can sit alone while others can interact with the community.
This workshop reinforced how today’s designers must think beyond aesthetics to incorporate sustainability, inclusivity, and trauma-informed practices into their work. By doing so, we can shape environments that reflect values of kindness, empathy, and equity.
Why It Matters
Spaces have the power to shape behavior and reflect societal values. Traditional justice architecture often reinforces power imbalances and punishment, whereas restorative justice spaces—like those designed by Deanna—focus on reconciliation, healing, and community.
For my students, this workshop wasn’t just an exercise in design; it was a life lesson. They saw firsthand how the principles of restorative justice and trauma-informed design can intersect to create environments that truly support human dignity.
Moving Forward
I’m incredibly grateful to work in a school that brings in such inspiring creatives. This month’s program not only expanded my students’ understanding of architecture and design but also gave them tools to think critically about the role of designers in building a more just world.
As we move forward, I’m excited to continue exploring how trauma-informed practices and sustainability can merge to create spaces that heal—not harm. If this month taught us anything, it’s that design has the power to make the world a kinder, more equitable place.
To learn more about Deanna and her groundbreaking work, visit the Design Justice + Design Spaces website.
