University of North Texas 
Honoring Douglas May’s Legacy as He Retires from UNT
Alumnus Douglas May, M.F.A., associate professor, designer, entrepreneur, award winner
May's connection to UNT runs deep. He earned his B.F.A. in Advertising Art from UNT
in 1977 before completing his M.F.A. in visual communication at Texas A&M University–Commerce
in Commerce, Texas.
Since joining UNT in 2017, May has played a pivotal role in strengthening the department’s
national and international standing. He earned tenure and was promoted to associate
professor in 2023. Throughout his time at UNT, he brought a combination of leadership,
professional insight, and steadfast dedication to student development. His influence
has helped shape a generation of designers who lead with both creativity and purpose.
May’s career is marked by notable achievements and milestones. His design firm, May
& Co., propelled numerous Dallas-based clients to national and international recognition.
His work supported marketing communication and investor relations initiatives for
emerging companies such as Altsys, PageNet, Units, PCServiceSource, and Ryan during
the 1990s and 2000s. He also helped sustain established brands — including Neiman
Marcus, PwC, The Washington Opera, SMU, Hilti, Texas Instruments, Kaiser Permanente,
Overhead Door Corporation, and Zebco — through design solutions that strengthened
their visibility and influence.
May’s approach to design education combines critical thinking, research, and aesthetic
rigor with real-world expectations. His decades of professional experience — including
recognition as a Fellow of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and service as past
president of the Dallas Society of Visual Communications — deeply informed his instruction.
In his classrooms, students were encouraged to think broadly, design responsibly,
and consider their work’s impact on the world around them. His commitment to teaching
excellence was recognized in 2020 when he received the American Advertising Federation
Dallas Educator of the Year award. He continued to strengthen the department through
curriculum development, service roles, and exceptional mentorship.
The results of his teaching are evident. Since 2017, May’s students have earned more
than 245 national and international design awards. Their accomplishments include a
National Silver Award from the American Advertising Federation, multiple Graphis Gold
and Silver Awards, and contributions to the department’s designation as School of
the Year at the National Student Show in both 2018 and 2020. These achievements demonstrate
not only the strength of the program but also May’s influential role in cultivating
student success.
May has also contributed significantly to the field beyond the classroom. Between
2017 and 2025, he presented lectures at international conferences — including the
International Design Education Expo and Conference in Korea — and authored several
scholarly papers. His design work has been exhibited in venues across the United Kingdom,
Italy, Mexico, South Korea, Poland, Indonesia, Switzerland, Spain, and the United
States. His creative and scholarly activities have reached audiences worldwide, further
elevating UNT’s visibility in communication design.
May retires with a legacy marked by excellence, generosity, and a deep commitment
to his students and colleagues. His impact will continue to resonate across the department
and the broader design community for years to come.