Michelle Babyok, our newest designer in Charlottesville, grew up in Everywhere, USA; her father was in the Air Force and they moved every two or three years on assignment. Eventually, her parents retired to the Charlottesville area, which is why she relocated here from 2010-2013, and then again in March 2021. She is the eldest of three; her sister is a school administrator in Arlington County, VA, and her brother is a computer engineer, running research projects at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. She has two nieces, her sister’s children.
We asked Michelle, “How did you become interested in this field of work?” She said, “ I have a master’s degree in interior design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY., and I credit this program with changing how I think about the world!” She continued, “ I worked on boutique hotel and retail design projects while living in NYC, then worked on some residential and retail projects in the DC area while studying for the NCIDQ” (the professional exam for interior designers). Michelle went on to explain that she started working on museum exhibit design in 2010, which involved a lot of fixture and cabinet design along with embedded A/V and other interactive elements, and it got her interested. Then she said, “and just like that I am starting the next chapter of my career.”
We asked “What are your interests or hobbies outside of work?” Michelle said she enjoyed, Oil painting, swimming, and birdwatching as her favorite hobbies. She said she’s involved with a few groups in the Charlottesville community, including one that organizes a local design festival each April. I also love to travel, visit museums, beautiful landscapes and immerse myself in different cultures.
We asked Michelle, “What is one thing on your bucket list?” She said that her bucket list includes several trips but also a gallery show of her paintings: most of which are based on photos I have taken on my travels of various trees!
Welcome Aboard Michelle!
