After graduating from the University of South Carolina last May, Liz Yochem moved to Charlotte and joined the Bellaworks Web Design team. For the past year she has been a Digital Design & Support Specialist at Bellaworks. She joined AIGA earlier this year. 

Where are you from? 

I grew up in Nashville, TN, but have been a North Carolina resident since 2005 when my family moved to Raleigh.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

I would love to be a singer/songwriter, BUT I’m pretty sure I’m tone-deaf so I don’t think that dream will come true… better stick to design!

How and why did you get involved with AIGA? 

As an advertising major at USC, I was very involved with the American Advertising Federation. When I moved to Charlotte, I was looking for a similar organization that was more geared towards design.

I wanted the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who shared similar interests. Joining AIGA has been a great way to get involved and learn more about the Charlotte design community.

What is your favorite food? 

Too many to choose just one! But I will always be a fan of sausage and mushroom pizza.

What is the best purchase you’ve ever made? 

A plane ticket to Munich, Germany. Three years ago I participated in a Multimedia Maymester in Munich, a course offered through the USC Journalism School.

While abroad, my peers and I were split into teams and required to create a documentary and print piece on a topic of choice. My team chose Munich fashion, something we quickly noticed upon arriving — aside from beer and cars of course! We interviewed fashion designers, students attending Esmod, and locals to report the current trends.

I left Munich having captured more than what I saw through my camera lens. My time abroad taught me the ability to adapt, the importance of building relationships, and the willingness to seek opportunities that encourage growth. I fell in love with the European lifestyle and hope to travel there again soon.

Each month, AIGA Charlotte strives to highlight one of its members. If you have any ideas for our next spotlight, please contact Mark Iafrate at miafrate@charlotte.aiga.org.