“Love Me, I’m Vulnerable” represents the journey of examining my relationship with my heritage, compelling me to embrace vulnerable parts of myself and my history. Born to a Puerto Rican mother and Honduran immigrant father, my roots are deeply intertwined with a complex history of resilience, displacement, and survival. Curious about how the historical events that shaped my ancestors have influenced me, I explore how these histories have shaped my creativity and, more broadly, the Hispanic American experience across generations. This intersection of Latin American art history and my passion for sociology has expanded my understanding of how communities create visual identities through design.

The absence of Latin American design in the Western design canon is often attributed to the lack of “influential” art from a community historically seen as unable to participate in mainstream design. However, many impactful design elements have emerged from Hispanic culture, reflecting spirituality, virtue, and the influence of Catholic and European aesthetics. The patterns and forms used in clothing, body modification, and adornment are deeply rooted in these visual elements

My research sheds light on how design, art, and cultural practices are intertwined with history, community, and identity, while considering how these elements continue to evolve and influence the present. This will be showcased through a small collection of jewelry, original looks, and branded items that embody this cultivated design language. Combining the romance of Catholic aesthetics, gothic letterforms, Hispanic American fashion, and the body as a canvas—rooted in pre-Columbian society—my brand “Destroy Our Future” reflects this visual identity.