Design + Restorative Justice research and practice
Services
“Make space for something new to come”
- Workshop participant, PhD research
Using design + restorative processes I can support you to effect change through making space.
Research
I am a multi-disciplinary researcher who enjoys the interaction between research and practice. My research crosses borders between restorative justice, design, craft, material culture, desistance, sociology, arts, nissology (the study of islands), and aspects of linguistics. I am an experienced workshop facilitator, speaker and presenter at conferences and seminars.
My particular academic interest is in the role of design processes within restorative justice practice. Specifically, their roles in facilitating change, such as in desistance, peace-building and recovery from trauma. In parallel with this, as an islander, I am interested in the different research and practice perspectives of the mainlander and the islander.
In my recent doctoral thesis I develop a concept of Design as RJ (Restorative Justice). This means that the design process is indivisible from the restorative one when facilitated by a practitioner dually trained in design + restorative justice. This also builds on the work of Gamman and Thorpe (2016).
“Clair's knowledge of Restorative Justice and the nuances of it as practice enabled her to bring design research into this new space in a ground-breaking way. This is work that needs to be seen and heard about”
- Dr. Steve Kirkwood, The University of Edinburgh and Prof. Jon Rogers, Northumbria University
Service design
I conduct service reviews and workshops that are bespoke for each context and client. They are relevant for workplaces, individuals or groups who want to facilitate personal or whole systems change.
My service reviews and workshops include participatory design and design thinking + restorative justice processes to co-create spaces for dialogue, evaluation and change.
“Thank you for opening your world, for opening our world, to those parts we can only enter with your hands, with your drawings, with your craft”
- Prof. Gema Varona Martínez, Basque Institute of Criminology
Design commissions
I design and make bespoke commissions for individuals and organisations. My particular,
but not sole, interest is in design commissions relating to restorative justice, peacebuilding and the promotion of dialogue between differing stakeholders. Most recently these have included a European Restorative Justice Award commissioned by the European Forum for Restorative Justice, and a Peace Award commissioned by the Basque Institute for Criminology.
Where I outsource the making of a commission, I offer project management services for the fabrication stages.
“I loved to work with Clair on the concept and making of the European Restorative Justice Award because of her passionate, co-operative, generous and humble working style”
- Emanuela Biffi, European Forum for Restorative Justice
Photo credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography.
Restorative justice
I have over twenty years' experience of facilitating restorative justice processes with people harmed (victims) and people responsible (perpetrators) of all ages. I am additionally trained to deliver sensitive and complex cases including those involving domestic abuse and sexual harm. I also offer restorative justice consultation, supervision, mentoring and training.
I often make handmade objects with the people I'm working with as part of their restorative justice processes. These objects are sometimes gifted to the other person/ people involved in the process. This is because crime causes trauma which can limit the ability to articulate what has happened in words. Consequently, for some, it is easier to speak whilst making or to use the making process itself as a physical language.
Working with all those affected by any one crime is one of the greatest privileges of my life. I continue to be deeply moved by each person who chooses to share their story with me.
“What could have easily been the worst experiences of my life have turned out to be some of the most transformative and helpful”
- Luke (not his real name), a restorative justice + design participant, speaking about the process
