Can the spaces we live and work in help us connect & heal?
In this transformative episode of Connected Conversations, Ghizlaine Mallek explores the world of trauma-informed design—an approach to shaping physical environments with emotional safety, healing, and community resilience at its core.
Ghizlaine also speaks English, Arabic, French, and Derja.
Drawing from her own experience as a migrant from Algeria during the civil war, Ghizlaine shares how design became a personal and professional tool for healing—and how we can all rethink our homes, schools, and public spaces to better support mental health and identity.
Key Highlights:
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How trauma-informed design soothes rather than triggers.
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Ghizlaine’s story of migration, identity, and her father's trauma.
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5 core design principles: safety, agency, connection, identity, nature.
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Personal Story: Ghizlaine shares how her father's post-war emotional struggles shaped her mission.
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What Are Community Spaces?: Schools, libraries, clinics, and shared public areas that foster safety and connection.
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Why Community Spaces Matter: How they influence mental health, identity, and social connection - especially in times of trauma.
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Language & Inclusion: In some communities Ghizlaine works with, up to 42 languages are spoken—design must reflect that diversity.
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Community-centered applications for schools, refugee centers, homes, and beyond.
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Design as advocacy: reimagining infrastructure to foster inclusion.
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Practical tips to transform your own space and mind.
Whether you're a designer, educator, policymaker, or someone navigating emotional recovery, this episode will shift how you think about your surroundings—and the power they hold.
You can watch/listen to this episode here:
🟢 Spotify: https://shorturl.at/JYj0F
⚫ Apple Podcast: https://shorturl.at/x80yu
🔵 Amazon Music: https://shorturl.at/eKrOn
