Adam Feld named chair of UK Department of Product Design

The University of Kentucky College of Design has named Adam Feld as the next chair of its Department of Product Design, where he will also serve as an associate professor. Feld will join the college from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he serves as associate professor and industrial design program coordinator in the School of Architecture and Design.  

Feld’s appointment follows a period of significant development for the Department of Product Design. Launched as the first program of its kind in Kentucky in 2020, it has continued to grow through a recently updated curriculum and the introduction of a university wide minor. As chair, Feld will provide academic, administrative and strategic leadership for the department while building on the foundation established by its faculty, students and founding leadership. 

“Adam brings valuable experience in design education, industry-connected learning and hands-on making — all of which are fundamental to the future success of the department,” said Dean Ned Crankshaw. “We are grateful for the work that has brought the department to this point, and we look forward to Adam’s energetic leadership as the program continues to grow with care, intention and a strong commitment to student learning.” 

Feld’s teaching and research focus on the relationship between pedagogy and industry, with an emphasis on collaborative and sponsored projects, user interaction, rapid visualization, digital modeling and rapid prototyping. At his current institution, he has helped lead industrial design education through coursework, student research and industry-connected learning opportunities and was named the 2018-19 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor. 

He has also been recognized nationally for his contributions to design education. Feld received the 2018 Young Educator of the Year Award from the Industrial Designers Society of America. 

Feld holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from The Ohio State University and a Master of Design from the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning. 

"I am proud to join the Department of Product Design, faculty and College of Design at the University of Kentucky,” Feld said. “I am excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work supporting the faculty, department and college — building upon the already strong curriculum, faculty research endeavors and outreach efforts to continue to provide the best product design education to the students!" 

Feld will begin his four-year term as chair on July 1, 2026.