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Across the globe, there are entire communities at risk of being erased by rising seas, urban sprawl, or time itself — and if they vanish, their stories will go with them.
Venice’s historic streets are flooding more frequently as climate change accelerates. In Syria, centuries-old heritage sites, including Palmyra, have been reduced to rubble by conflict. In Brazil, a devastating fire at the National Museum in 2018 obliterated over 20 million artefacts, while in Bangladesh, rising seas threaten to submerge some 17% of the nation’s land and displace about 20 million people.
Thankfully, LSU, a designated Land, Sea, and Space Grant research institution in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, offers a lifeline. It is one of the few public universities in the US with a Doctor of Design (DDes) in Cultural Preservation, offering a more affordable alternative to competitors while maintaining high academic standards. Delivered by the LSU College of Art & Design, the programme equips graduates with the expertise needed to safeguard what history leaves behind.
“It asks students to examine the ways that tangible and intangible cultural heritage shapes society today, and how it can leveraged to form more sustainable and healthy communities,” explains Brent Fortenberry, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Art & Design.
It was the perfect platform for Dr. Petrouchka Moïse to research how Haitian artists are perceived, and more broadly, how trauma shapes artistic identity. Her curiosity was fueled by personal struggles — having spent years being seen as an outsider, both within the artistic establishment and in navigating her cultural heritage.
After graduating from LSU, Dr. Moïse was awarded a 2020 CLIR/Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Data Curation for Haitian Visual Arts. Source: LSU College of Art & Design
Moïse’s dissertation, “Mitan-Morphic: The Evolution of the Contemporary Haitian Artist in Relation to Trauma,” reflects this exploration. She sought to challenge the limited, often inaccurate lens through which Haitian artists are viewed — typically as “self-taught” and lacking formal recognition. Through her work, she aims to reframe the narrative, giving voice to Haitian artists who grapple with the collective trauma of events like the 2010 earthquake and their broader diaspora experiences.
After graduating in 2020 as part of LSU’s first DDes cohort, Dr. Moïse continued researching Haitian art in Vodou spaces and spearheaded the Haitian Art Digital Crossroads project to digitally preserve the world’s largest public collection of Haitian art. Two years later, she joined Grinnell College as an assistant professor and cultural and community-based digital curator.
Such outcomes are typical of graduates with multi-disciplinary expertise. Over six semesters, DDes students engage in intensive, one-on-one research with faculty across LSU. “This is one of the only programmes that takes an interdisciplinary-first approach,” says Fortenberry.
“Our students work with historic preservationists, cultural heritage specialists, anthropologists, museum professionals, art and architectural historians, architects, landscape architects, and interior designers to take on complex challenges. By building teams, they gain unparalleled interdisciplinary perspectives on the challenges that face cultural heritage today.”
This approach exists within all three of the specialisations offered within the programme. The Art & Design Studies option leverages LSU’s Fabrication Lab and cutting-edge artificial intelligence research to analyse and preserve artefacts and the built environment in innovative ways.
Meanwhile, the Museum & Archival Studies track prepares students to take on leadership roles in museums, libraries, and archives, combining historical knowledge with modern techniques in conservation and cultural interpretation. Then, there’s the Material Culture Studies option, an exploration of art, architecture, and landscapes through environmental, economic, and social lenses, fostering a deep understanding of how cultural heritage shapes communities.
LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. Source: LSU College of Art & Design
Indeed, all three specialisations see students undertaking diverse and impactful research projects across a wide range of fields. From museum curation to digital technology and the historic built environment, their work is designed to be both scholarly and highly practical. Fortenberry emphasises the applied nature of these projects, noting that they are “not just pieces of scholarship but vehicles of positive impact for heritage stakeholders and communities.”
This commitment to real-world relevance ensures graduates of the DDes programme are both academically proficient and confident in their ability to step into leadership roles within the global cultural preservation workforce. Opportunities within Louisiana alone are plenty, considering the cultural and creative industries are one of the state’s largest sectors.
These industries thrive amid rich heritage. Louisiana’s cultural landscape famously blends influences from African, French, Spanish, Native American, and Creole traditions, reflected in its music, art, cuisine, and festivals. With the state serving as an inspiring backdrop, scholars and practitioners can engage in meaningful research and hands-on experiences beyond campus.
The LSU campus itself is home to a range of facilities essential for DDes students’ learning and creative processes. In the College of Art & Design, they can use the Design Shop, a woodworking studio equipped with advanced tools like 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC mills. The Fabrication Lab fosters collaborative, multidisciplinary learning. The Curriculum (CxC) Art & Design Studio rents out photography and lighting equipment. Meanwhile, the School of Art’s IDEA Hub offers a Red 4K Scarlet camera, large-format printers, a Hasselblad Flextight X5 scanner, a Jet 750 A-2 Platemaker, and much more.
Where better to conduct research powerful enough to make a meaningful impact? Learn more about preserving the cultural heritage that defines communities today.
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