GDES Alum Delivers Second Dunlop Lecture

A classroom with students seated facing a lecturer at the front. Two large screens display the word MATEY in capital letters.

This fall, the School of Graphic and Industrial Design (SIGD) held the second William Dunlop Lecture and featured Graphic Design (GDES) alum Josh Carnley ‘14.

Josh Carley '14
Josh Carley ‘14

The School’s first official lecture series, which honors the teaching legacy of Lecturer Emeritus William Dunlop, was created to bring distinguished graphic design professionals to campus and enrich the educational experience of students and faculty.

The series introduces GDES students to designers who demonstrate exceptional achievement and diverse ways of thinking and establishes a formal platform for ongoing engagement with leaders whose work and teaching have shaped the discipline.

A woman in a red jacket stands in front of a man feeding seagulls by a wooden table, with blue wave decorations and a painted sky background.
Carnley founded Matey with his wife Shelton, a graduate of Auburn’s College of Liberal Arts.

In early September, Carnley shared his expertise as a partner and creative director at Matey, a studio specializing in strategy, positioning and branding for destination-minded brands. He works alongside his co-founder and wife, Shelton Carnley ‘14, to create glimmers of escapism that challenge the mundane and bring joy to everyday life.

“I’m excited to be back in Auburn and share where I’ve been and where I’m going as a creative,” Carnley said. “My hope is that honest discussion around branding, process and the workforce can empower students to take the foundation they build at Auburn and find their own way to apply it to their lives and careers.”

A neon-lit sign reads Bygones Cocktail Bar, 210 22nd St South, mounted on a brick wall with a stylized sword and cherry graphic.
Matey drew inspiration from a cocktail spear for the brand identity for Bygones Cocktail Bar.
Assorted red and pink Valentines Day cards with romantic messages, including I love you to the moon and back, arranged on a pink surface.
Matey developed a campaign for MoonPie’s Valentine’s release.
A Pizza Grace box with a yellow and white checker pattern sits on a wooden table, showing BHM and ALA beneath the logo.
Pizza Grace features a yellow and green scheme with a logo that combines a dove and a slice of pizza.

Matey’s clients include MoonPie, Pepper Place, June Coffee, Bowden Hospitality, Wildsam and Visit Highlands, NC. The studio’s work has been recognized by Brand New, The Dieline, Communication Arts and Mindsparkle Magazine.

Box of June brand coffee next to a Chemex coffee maker, a mug, and a bowl of limes on a wooden surface by a window.
The June Coffee campaign also featured packaging design for coffee blends.
The studio designed a set of billboards to promote tourism in Highlands, North Carolina.
The studio designed a set of billboards to promote tourism in Highlands, North Carolina.
Vertical sign on a city street reads BHMs Delicious Tradition Since 2000. The Farmers Market at Pepper Place with a tomato graphic. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.
Matey draws inspiration from the clients’ mission and goals.

Before launching Matey, Carnley worked at the Variable in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Garden & Gun magazine in Charleston, South Carolina. During that time, he contributed to award-winning creative teams recognized by Ad Age, the National Magazine Awards and the Society of Publication Designers.

A person presents in a lecture hall with a slide showing dozens of business logos to an audience seated in rows.
Matey draws inspiration from the clients’ mission and goals.

His lecture covered Matey’s design process, the studio’s approach to brand building and why brands matter. Carnley also wove in lessons he learned from his time as a junior designer through to building his own business, helping SIGD students see how they can keep learning throughout their careers.

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Alumni, Alumni Engagement, Alumni Recognition, Lectures, Student Experience

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