CUDO’s mission is to cultivate a vibrant design culture that engages and enriches our local community.
Join our growing community of professionals, students, and design appreciators! Sign up for a membership at www.thecudo.org/membership.
For more information about CUDO, please contact us at gro.oducehtnull@ofni
CUDO is run by a small group of passionate design-lovers and we’re always looking for more people to join our team! There are plenty of ways to get involved, so check out our volunteer page for more info.
CUDO was founded in early 2009 by a group of local designers who were eager to meet others who shared their passion for design. While CUDO started as a professional organization for graphic designers, it has since evolved to be a far more inclusive organization for everyone who loves design, whether you are a professional, student, or avid fan (aka design nerd).
Since its inception, CUDO has held events that range from socials to gallery shows to the popular PechaKucha Night C-U, which highlights inspiringly creative local stories in a unique fashion. We have also held workshops, movie screenings, and have run a highly popular (and free!) job board that has connected local designers with the community. Fundamentally, we’re a collection of people from all walks of life who love design and want to meet and hang out with other kindred design-loving spirits.
CUDO hopes to inspire people to take an active role in creating the world around them.
CUDO is run by a fantastic crew of individuals committed to the design community of Champaign-Urbana. Learn more about them and how to contact them below.
Want to be a part of our board? We’re currently accepting applications for the 2016/2017 board year.
Apply for the CUDO board
David Michael Moore began his own design and illustration business in 2012 and now primarily works as a facilitator and scribe for strategic planning, visioning and brainstorming meetings. A longtime fan of CUDO, David has worked with the organization on many occasions before coming on to the board. He has served on the PechaKucha committee for over 10 volumes, created a board game as a part of the first season of CUDO Plays and designed the Sister Cities t-shirt for CUDO’s Localitees project. David learned to embrace spontaneity, positivity and collaboration from many years of performing improv in downtown Champaign. He is passionate about using design to create spaces where everyone gets to play.
Liza Wynette is a freelance designer, illustrator, and instructor at Parkland College. In 2006, she graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a MA in ceramics and drawing. After several years of working in the fine arts field, Liza transitioned to commercial art after completing the Certificate of Digital Illustration program at Parkland College. A self proclaimed “natural history geek,” Liza spends her free time outdoors investigating local flora and fauna. She also enjoys a good sci fi novel, drawing insects, and vegetable gardening.
Gloria Roubal is the Design and Promotions Coordinator at the Champaign Public Library, graphic designer and letterer, musician/singer/songwriter, health/fitness enthusiast, meditator, animal rescuer, and lover of people, animals, nature, and life. Treasurer of CUDO since November 2015, she keeps all of the organization’s finances in order. She thrives on creating as well as being surrounded by nature and other beautiful things, laughing a lot, and connecting and collaborating with other people. Gloria is excited about bringing CUDO to new and greater heights. (PS – Gloria thinks everyone should have at least one totally crazy pair of shoes.)
Tim Kuehlhorn is fascinated by design as an expression of values and priorities. Working as a mobile application developer, Tim constantly explores the intersection of design and technology. He has shared his enthusiasm for technical creativity by coaching a middle school LEGO robotics team, co-founding a university tabletop gaming club, and organizing networking events to encourage stronger faculty-student interaction. Tim received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Illinois.
A 2012 graduate of Northern Illinois University, Aaron Kapper graduated with a BFA in Illustration and has been a freelance illustrator ever since, though he dabbles in the crossover between image and design elements in traditional and digital mediums. Much of his self-initiated illustration work features history, humor, and portraiture. Aaron has a passion for education, and as CUDO’s networking director, he dreams of CUDO supporting peer-to-peer skill building, mentorship programs, and the nurturing of creatively fulfilled relationships within Champaign-Urbana’s creative community through events, workshops, and good old-fashioned conversation. He also loves pizza.
Mallory Simonds is passionate about typography, branding, and sweet loot drops. She explores everything with a creative mindset and endless enthusiasm. Her hidden talent is hand lettering. Everyone she knows says she has the best handwriting ever. Mallory is the Associate Art Director at Surface 51, a local brand strategy firm. In her spare time, Mallory enjoys playing guitar, video games, graphic novels, and collaborating with her husband on video and animation projects. You can view their work at vimeo.com/mallorysimonds.
A New Hampshire native, Catherine graduated with a bachelor’s in biology from the University of Rochester. She then moved to Urbana and after working in a lab at UIUC for two years, decided to study graphic design at Parkland College. There she discovered the world of design and has been passionate about it ever since. Currently she works as a designer at Wolfram Research. In her free time, Catherine enjoys casual ballroom dancing, a good tennis game, and playing board games. She is an avid Hearthstone player and is always eager to meet others who play as well.
In 2013, Briana graduated with a BFA in Visual Communications from NIU. She currently works at Wolfram Research as a Graphic Designer. Briana loves good layout, typography, and visual organization. Spare time hobbies include cooking, eating vegetables, browsing Pinterest, reading about design things, drinking coffee, drinking more coffee, and hiking Illinois State Park trails. Briana loves living in Champaign-Urbana, with all the good people, food, coffee, and activities. She loves eating pizza with Aaron.