The scent of cornbread and cast iron will drift through South Pittsburg on April 25–26 as the 29th annual National Cornbread Festival returns—drawing tens of thousands of visitors to a town of about 3,000 just west of Chattanooga. At the heart of the celebration is the National Cornbread Cook-Off, sponsored by Lodge Cast Iron, where finalists compete for the title of champion.
Behind the banners, stage signage, shirts and branding are designers whose connection to the festival—and to Lodge—began a few miles east at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Designing the Cook-Off Experience
For Kiley Gunter ’16, a senior designer at Lodge, the cook-off weekend marks the payoff of months of behind-the-scenes work—and one of her favorite moments of the year.
“Every year, it is so fun to see it all come together,” Gunter said. “Getting to meet the cook-off contestants and support them as they compete to win never gets old. And getting to snag a bite of a delicious cook-off recipe when they have leftovers is a sweet perk of the job.”
Gunter designs and implements all materials for the Cook-Off and serves as stage manager during the event. This year, she’ll also take the stage as a performer with her band, Randy & Kiles, after the competition wraps—one of many examples of how Lodge’s creative work blurs the lines between design, storytelling and community.
That blend of creativity and service is what first drew Gunter to UTC’s design program. She knew she wanted a career that combined creativity with serving others, and the program’s emphasis on working from “problem statements” proved foundational.
“In the real world of design, I’m constantly solving problems using creative solutions,” she said. “That’s something UTC really prepared me for.”
Building Careers Through Connection
A similar pull brought Beth Paden ’14 back to Chattanooga after beginning college elsewhere. Drawn to UTC’s BFA structure and tight-knit creative community, she found herself forming relationships that would later shape her career.
“The biggest thing I attribute to my opportunity to work with Lodge Cast Iron was the human connections I made during my time at UTC,” said Paden, now associate creative director of design at Lodge. “Peers and professors were just as invested in our growth as we were.”
Those connections paid off. After graduation, Paden served on the board of Chattanooga’s AIGA chapter with fellow UTC alumni who were doing contract work for Lodge. When a full-time position opened, they encouraged her to apply.
Today, Paden wears what she jokingly calls “many hats”—from directing photography and shaping packaging to helping guide the brand’s visual voice across platforms.
“Young designers and creatives often assume that designing in-house means that you spend day in and day out using the same five colors and two typefaces,” she said. “But with a brand like Lodge that holds so much history and innovation, we are constantly finding and experiencing new avenues of the company and its personality.”
Honoring Tradition While Pushing Forward
That balance—honoring tradition while pushing forward—also defines the work of Daniel Skolfield ’06, Lodge’s creative director. What began as a role focused largely on packaging has grown alongside the brand itself. Skolfield now leads a 10-person in-house creative team of writers, designers, videographers and a photographer—nearly half of whom are UTC Art Department graduates.
“We’re trying to grow with intention, without alienating our current fans as we get bigger, but also making sure the new folks we bring into the fold are as passionate as the ones that are already there,” Skolfield said. “We do that by not acting like a cookware brand, which is to say, we’re not boring as hell.”
Under his leadership, Lodge has sponsored Bonnaroo, built and designed a museum, partnered with Dolly Parton and produced national television campaigns—all while staying rooted in South Pittsburg and its foundry workforce.
Skolfield credits UTC with teaching him not just technical skills but how to think critically about creative work.
“So much of what I do now is rooted in strategy,” he said. “My time at UTC felt like the right precursor to that.”
I’m very proud to say I went through the Art Department at UTC, and I love continuing to be involved with the program. It’s a pretty special place.
Daniel Skolfield (’08)
Cornbread, Cast Iron and a Creative Homecoming
Back at the Cornbread Festival, that strategy becomes tangible. Lodge designers create wayfinding signage, billboards, shirts, giveaway stickers and stage materials, while Lodge employees volunteer throughout the weekend.
“It’s always a good time at the Cook-Off Stage,” Paden said. “What’s not fun about friends and cornbread-inspired eats?”
For all three alumni, the call back to UTC remains strong. Gunter keeps up with the program online and manages a UTC design intern at Lodge. Paden recently found herself reminiscing about senior thesis critiques and late nights in the design lab. Skolfield continues to return as a portfolio reviewer and supporter of the program.
Their advice to current students echoes across generations: Don’t work in a vacuum, value relationships and be someone others want to collaborate with.
“You can be an incredible designer, but if people don’t want to work with you, it will ultimately limit your success,” Gunter said.
As festival crowds gather later this month and skillets hit the heat, the connection between UTC and Lodge will be on full display—not just in the cooking but in the design, storytelling and community spirit surrounding it all.
It’s a reminder that for many graduates, the journey from the UTC nest doesn’t mean leaving home behind—it means helping shape the region’s story, one cast iron skillet at a time.
At its core, it’s about people: making them feel seen, heard and appreciated. That mindset keeps Lodge rooted in tradition while allowing us to evolve.
Kiley Gunter (’16)