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University of Kentucky College of Design

99% Retention Rate

We have the highest rate of student retention of any college at the University of Kentucky.

561 Enrolled Students

Big enough for top-tier facilities and resources; small enough for individualized instruction.

50% Education Abroad

More students study abroad in the College of Design than any other college at UK.

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Academic Programs

Undergraduate Degrees

Discover your creative potential and shape the future of design with innovative undergraduate programs at the University of Kentucky College of Design.

Architecture

Interiors

Product Design

Graduate Degrees

Elevate your expertise and redefine possibilities in design with advanced graduate programs at the University of Kentucky College of Design.

Architecture

Heritage Resources Administration

Historic Preservation

Interiors

Certificate Programs

Tailored to meet evolving demands of today's industries, enhance your skills and expertise with flexible certificate programs at the University of Kentucky College of Design.

Design Build (Undergraduate) Design Build (Graduate)

Historic Preservation (Undergraduate) Historic Preservation (Graduate)

Universal Design (Undergraduate)

Urban & Environmental Design (Graduate)

Online Programs

Advance your career from anywhere with flexible and accessible online graduate programs in administration and preservation at the University of Kentucky College of Design.

Masters in Heritage Resources Administration

Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation

Recent News

Spring 2026 Elective Preservation Design Studio

Oct 29, 2025

College of Design, Historic Preservation

What makes a successful modern intervention within a historic context? This studio explores that question through design thinking, case studies, and hands-on projects across Kentucky. Students will design restoration, adaptive reuse, and contextual infill projects, learning how to balance innovation with preservation and engage local planning and preservation groups. Embrace ambiguity. Challenge assumptions. Discover how modern design and historic fabric can coexist meaningfully.

Kauner Shacklette poses as the T in an interactive ETHIOPIA sign photo opp at Entoto Park.

IIE NextGen Service Fellowship connects student design to global impact

Haley Simpkins

Oct 29, 2025

Education Abroad, International, Architecture, Research, University of Kentucky

As an inaugural recipient of the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) NextGen Service Fellowship, Kauner Shacklette was tasked with putting his design knowledge into action by reimagining spaces that could help an Ethiopian YMCA better serve its community.

Design faculty and staff awarded 2025-26 Sustainability Challenge Grants

Haley Simpkins

Oct 29, 2025

Architecture, College of Design, Historic Preservation, Interiors, Research, University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky College of Design faculty and staff are part of several interdisciplinary teams to have been awarded UK’s 2025-26 Sustainability Challenge Grants.

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Upcoming Events

Interiors Graduate Program: Virtual Open House

Nov 11, 2025, 9:00 – 10:00 AM

College of Design, Interiors

The graduate program in the School of Interiors explores the interdisciplinary territory of environmental design, engaging students in research and studio work that addresses social, behavioral and ecological dimensions of interior environments. Housed within a Research 1, land-grant university with internationally recognized faculty and access to state-of-the-art fabrication facilities, the program emphasizes design research through cross-disciplinary scholarship and experimental inquiry.

Lecture and Workshop Natural Building with Ziggy Liloia

Nov 14, 2025, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Architecture, College of Design, Interiors

Join Ziggy Liloia for a lecture and workshop exploring natural building methods and materials. With years of experience building with mud and other natural materials, he leads workshops year-round and has designed and constructed numerous homes and structures across the U.S. This lecture will introduce key concepts of building with natural materials—namely clay, straw, wood, and stone—and emphasize the use of locally available resources, energy-efficient design, environmental benefits, and the creative and aesthetic opportunities these materials offer.

Design Lecture Series Eric Höweler

Nov 17, 2025, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

Architecture, College of Design

The College of Design, in partnership with AIA Central Kentucky, proudly welcomes Eric Höweler, FAIA, LEED AP, as the featured speaker for this year’s annual lecture. Free and open to the public, the event invites guests to enjoy refreshments and a cash bar beginning at 5:30 p.m., with the main level galleries open for attendees to explore before the lecture begins. Bus transportation is available for students.

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