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Kristen Morris and Lida Aflatoony are driven by a deep commitment to dignity and inclusion, believing that AFO users deserve footwear that celebrates their style and meets their functional needs without compromise. Through human-centered design rooted in the lived experiences of the disability community, they're transforming adaptive footwear from an afterthought into a powerful expression of identity, independence, and belonging.
Award-Winning Design,
Redefining Adaptive Footwear
UltraAdapt's AFO-compatible shoes have been recognized by industry leaders:
GLOBAL
FOOTWEAR
AWARDS
2025 Creative Design Award
2025 Category Winner
Introducing Our Founders
Dr. Lida Aflatoony Ph.D.
Founder
Dr. Lida Aflatoony is a founder of UltraAdapt™ and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. With a Ph.D. in Textile and Apparel Management and an M.F.A. in Design for the Fashion System from Polytechnic University of Milan, she brings a unique blend of academic expertise and hands-on industry experience, having spent five years collaborating with prestigious fashion houses in Milan including Atelier Versace, Roberto Cavalli, and Rosamosario. As a human-centered design expert, Dr. Aflatoony specializes in creating innovative footwear solutions that blend functionality, aesthetics, and inclusivity for underserved populations.
Dr. Kristen Morris Ph.D.
Founder
Dr. Kristen Morris is a founder of UltraAdapt™ and an Associate Professor in the Department of Design and Merchandising at Colorado State University. A two-time CSU graduate with a Ph.D. from Cornell University, Dr. Morris brings a unique blend of industry and academic expertise, having worked as a creative and technical designer for two start-up activewear companies in Denver and as a graphic designer for a sporting goods company before earning her doctorate. Her research focuses on enhancing the performance and aesthetics of functional garments through collaborative, user-centered product development, incorporating users directly into the design process to create commercially viable and culturally relevant solutions.
Kristen Morris, associate professor of product development
“Our normal process as a design scholar at CSU or a university is to develop the work and submit it to the conference, … and then after that, it just kind of goes into our bookshelf or closet. We always want to have an impact with the designs we’re creating, but when they just sit in our closets for years and never make it out into the market, we don’t actually get the opportunity to have that impact. With UltraAdapt, we're moving this innovation from the shelves of our offices to the closets of AFO wearers so this research can make a difference in people's lives."
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