US industrial designer born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, who received a BS in architecture from the University of Cincinnati in 1943. One of his many co-op jobs during school years was with Raymond Loewy in New York. After graduation in 1943, he served as a 1st Lt. in the US Army, including the occupation of Japan in 1945 and 1946. He then returned to Loewy's office in New York to work full-time on a number of retail planning and transportation accounts. He received a Certificate from the Plastics Industry Technical Institute in 1947. He returned to the University of Cincinnati in 1947 as assistant professor of architecture, when the “Applied Arts” school was made a separate college with full programs including industrial design.
In 1948 he became Chairman of the Industrial Design program and from 1961 until 1989 was a Professor of Industrial Design. In 1963, he became Head of the Department of Industrial Design, in 1973 he became Acting Dean of the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning, and in 1976, Associate Dean. From 1980-1981 he became Acting Director of the School of Design and from 1989 was Adjunct Professor (Emeritus) until his retirement in 1992.
During his career, he was a registered architect and conducted limited architectural practice from his home, with approximately 130 commissions. He was a member of the American Society of Industrial Designers (ASID) from 1956-1965, and the Industrial Design Education Association (IDEA) from 1958-1965, including his term as president from 1961-1963.
An active member of IDSA, he chaired many conference sessions on education and served in a number of national positions including National Secretary (1975-1977), National Vice President (1973-1975) and Chair of the Education Committee (1967-1971). He was awarded IDSA Fellowship in 1971. He was also active on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) from 1974-1977. He was awarded Fellowship in NASAD in 1987. In 1990, he was awarded an Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award by the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati, and in 1991 he was awarded IDSA's coveted Education Award.
Alexander passed away October 23, 2007.
