E-participation has become subject of considerable research over the past decade. However, trust as a pre-condition and result of e-participation has not yet been extensively investigated in e-participation research. In literature, trust is perceived as a complex construct studied in distinct research disciplines. To identify and implement measures for increasing trust as well as for minimising distrust in e-participation endeavours, a trust model helps to explain the full scope of the trust construct in the context. This contribution introduces a research design that aims on the one hand to analyse predictors and consequences of trust in e-participation based on a trust model for e-participation. On the other hand, a ‘trust-by-design’ approach for designing and implementing e-participation projects is aimed at. The approach combines empirical research to ‘understand’ trust factors with design science research for ‘innovating’ in regards to improving the design of e-participation endeavours by the lessons and insights of the empirical research. Both strands of research also contribute to theory building of trust in e-participation. This paper aims to set the scope of the research, to introduce the research questions and to present the research design with the multidisciplinary setting.