Advancing Kentucky Together: KayDee Pratt’s drive to design more
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 20, 2025) — Virtual reality and shoes. Those are two things KayDee Pratt, a senior majoring in product design in the University of Kentucky College of Design, loves.
Over the summer, she worked on two research projects — one focused on comparing product models in person versus in virtual reality, and the other focused on creating and designing shoes in virtual reality.
Pratt, a first-generation student, said she took a leap of faith applying to the College of Design. Her weeks of work on those projects resulted in a prototype transformed through virtual reality.
It’s one of the many incredible opportunities offered to UK students in a variety of fields across campus.
Pratt’s story is highlighted in this year’s institutional TV commercial showcasing people at UK and in Kentucky who put in the work to advance Kentucky day and night. They reflect UK’s mission to teach, care, serve and discover.
Pratt and other members of our community — who are also working to help improve the state we all serve — shared their voices for the both the 30-second and 60-second spots. While we hear only a few seconds from each of them, they have powerful stories to tell.
UKNow asked Pratt what it means to be part of the UK community — and of a legacy — of people who are working to advance Kentucky.
Read the Q&A below.
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UKNow: What makes the University of Kentucky special?
Pratt: UK has a sense of pride you won’t find anywhere else. Lexington offers much more than academics. There is a great combination of community you would get in a rural area with the opportunities and energy of a thriving city.
UKNow: What does “advancing Kentucky” mean to you?
Pratt: To me, “advancing Kentucky” means creating growth across health care, art, culture, technology, agriculture, education and beyond. It reflects the state’s commitment to becoming a more desirable place for both residents and visitors through continuous progress and innovation.
UKNow: How has your time at UK helped you be part of UK’s mission to advance Kentucky?
Pratt: As a designer, my goal is to improve lives through thoughtful products and experiences. As a proud Kentuckian, I am committed to ensuring that innovation flourishes in our state. UK has provided me with the opportunity to create solutions that empower people across the state to reach their highest potential.
UKNow: What is your hope for UK’s next 160 years?
Pratt: My hope for this university is that it continues to grow as a leader in all fields, including medicine, education, design, fine arts, agriculture, business, engineering and more. I hope to see UK expand its efforts in sustainability and community impact, creating even greater opportunities for future generations to excel.
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As we celebrate 160 years of UK, UKNow is sharing more about these members of our community and what inspires them to do more and be more for the people of Kentucky.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.