Beyond Displacement: Design as a Decolonizing Tool

Stephanie Fidalgo // Advisor: Karla Roberts

Beyond Displacement: Design as a Decolonizing Tool

Design is not neutral—it can be a tool for oppression or empowerment. My thesis investigates how architecture and design have historically enforced colonial dominance and explores how they can instead become tools of resistance and healing. Using Puerto Rico as a case study, particularly the neighborhood of La Perla, I examine how design has been weaponized to marginalized communities, from separating enslaved people during Spanish colonial rule to exacerbating vulnerabilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. La Perla, a symbol of enforced segregation, now faces displacement and cultural erasure through disaster capitalism, reflecting the broader challenges Puerto Rico endures due to the long lasting impacts of colonial design. My work envisions a future where design reclaims its power to uplift rather than oppress, creating spaces that preserve cultural identity, foster resistance, and empower communities. Ultimately, this research seeks to redefine design as a force for decolonization, resistance, and collective self-determination.