Originally hailing from Wisconsin, Michael Stallsmith is now a proud Charlottean and a member of our AIGA Charlotte Community Board! Passion project turned side hustle, salsa dancing, and the Amazing Race, see all that Michael has to offer in this month’s Member Spotlight!

Where are you from?
Born and raised in Green Bay, WI. I’m a proud Badger and Cheesehead that has called Charlotte home for the last 3 ½ years. And as proud as I am of where I come from, I think I’ve said goodbye to the northern winters forever.

How and why did you get involved with AIGA? Approximately how long have you been involved with the organization?
As a non-designer by profession while working within a creative agency, I saw joining AIGA as an opportunity to become better acquainted with the design profession, Charlotte’s design community and expand my own knowledge and skillset in the process. I do flex my creative muscles in other ways and thought joining AIGA could help in expanding my unique abilities and confidence. 

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I have recently rediscovered a hidden passion for dancing. I am now approaching a year of taking salsa classes on a weekly basis. Go ahead, you can picture me as Ben Stiller in Along Came Polly. It’s pretty accurate. 

What’s one goal (professional or personal) you have for the future?
I desperately want to be on the Amazing Race. Primarily because I want to travel the world on someone else’s dime, but I’m also not opposed to racing for a large sum of money. Check me out on season 32.

What are you currently working on?
My passion project now turned official side hustle. In the month of April, I launched my business, StudeoCo. It is a colearning community in which I am working to build an alternative for continued education for adults as they navigate the length of their careers. I am starting with a learning event series with future goals of building a physical hub modeling much of what you would see in coworking spaces in design, however, with the focus on that of learning not working. I liken it to a “gym for your mind”. A membership community that can support individual learning needs as we all and the world around us continues to change. We’ve been raised and live in a work first culture. I’d like to play a role in creating a learn first culture. 

Would you like to be featured in our Member Spotlight?
Got a big project you want to show off or want to get your name out there? The AIGA Membership Spotlight is a great place to start! If you or someone you know would like to be featured on our blog, just follow these simple steps:

• You must be an active AIGA member to participate. Want to become a member? Sign up here!

• Email Membership Director, Gavan Leatham (gleatham@charlotte.aiga.org) and tell us why you should be featured. If selected, our membership director will be in touch.