There's a lot to love about Champaign-Urbana and we're here to foster your community pride.
Make It Champaign-Urbana, a joint collaboration between Experience Champaign-Urbana and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation is providing you with ways to share why you live, work and play in Chambana.
Experience Champaign-Urbana
Champaign County Economic Development Corporation
Chambana Proud Podcast
Think you know all about Champaign-Urbana? Think again. With the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as our anchor, this area is bursting with impressive people, vibrant arts and culture, tantalizing local flavors, exciting sports, and endless activities. Carly from the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, and Terri from Experience Champaign-Urbana—two self-professed community gurus—catch up every other week on what’s going on and things you need to know. Good things happen in Chambana every day, so give Chambana Proud a listen to catch up with the many people, places, and events that will make you proud to live in the C-U area.
Thank you to our sponsors!
We want to hear what you love about Chambana! Tell us what makes you proud to be here; share a recent positive experience; or what makes you smile. Have questions you want answered? Submit those here too!
Shop Chambana Proud
ARTIST PROFILES
We partnered with 40 North and local artists to come up with a few fun t-shirt designs that put our points of pride out there for the world to see.
Whether it's the life-changing innovations from the University of Illinois, the award-winning culinary scene, the micro-urban community feel, or the affordability, there's a lot to celebrate.
Hat tip to our local artists who created our t-shirt designs. Here's a bit more info about these talented designers and how you can support local art.
Scott Barber
T-SHIRT DESIGNS
Whipped Cream
We're Super Sweet
Scott Barber is a designer and illustrator in Urbana who tries to create art that affect those who see it by putting a smile on their faces. He does everything from logos to murals, from chalk painting to oil painting. He also has a side project of building a hot sauce company. Most of his time, however, is spent with his clothing line, Scobar, which can be purchased locally at Dandelion and Bohemia. He has a lovely wife and a house full of more cats than he needs.
David Michael Moore
T-SHIRT DESIGNS
Outside of Ordinary
Top Spots in CU
David is a graphic facilitator who has called Champaign his home for 13 years. He has been working in graphic design since 2004, and six years ago began the practice of graphic facilitation—live, visual notetaking at meetings—illustrating strategic planning and visioning sessions for many local clients. He has served as the President of CUDO (Champaign-Urbana Design Organization) and volunteered on the PechaKucha Night committee through 15 volumes. He currently works from his office at Lodgic.
Ralph Roether
T-SHIRT DESIGNS
Chambana Proud
Team CU & UC
We Made the Internet
Thumbs Up
Ralph has been an award winning professional graphic designer for over twenty-five years. He has created logos and branding for many local businesses. He often infuses his graphic design sensibilities into his artwork and illustrations. He currently has a permanent gallery of work at Pour Bros. Taproom in Downtown Champaign.
Matt Wiley
T-SHIRT DESIGN
Big Shot
Matt Wiley works as a Design Specialist for University of Illinois Extension. He draws upon his illustration and design skills for storyboards, animation, and infographics. In his free time, he dabbles in conceptual design, 3D modeling, and long-exposure photography. He self-published a children’s picture book called “My Cat is Depressed,” and is currently developing a webcomic about propaganda, holograms, and punching nazis.
Madelyn Witruk
T-SHIRT DESIGNS
#chambana
Heart CU
Champaign-Urbana Pride
Madelyn is an artist, designer, illustrator and muralist who somehow found her way into the music business. I am a Chambana native who loves coffee, food, and my cat, Lilac. My 9-5 is at Polyvinyl Record Co. where I am the Merchandise Designer. When I’m not at Polyvinyl I am either working on freelance projects, making things for my brand (the OH,OK shop), or volunteering with the local design non-profit (CUDO) that I run.
In collaboration with
CELEBRATING CHAMBANA & OUR INNOVATIONS
Champaign-Urbana is a hotbed for innovation, ranging from the invention of the modern web-browser to whipcream in a can. To celebrate some of these innovations, and to put CU on the map, we asked four local artists to come up with their spin on some reasons why we're proud to call #Chambana home.
Shop shirts, totes and prints at:
Experience Champaign-Urbana, 17 E. Taylor St., Champaign, located between
the Blind Pig Beer Garden and Farren's Pub.
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday
Shop online for items to be shipped or free pickup.
Select shirts also available at the Illini Union Bookstore!
Interested in carrying our products? Contact us for wholesale opportunities.
Super Sweet
Touts the invention of Super Sweetcorn from University of Illinois professor, John Laughnan, that brought this tasty summer favorite to dinner tables and grocery stores for all to enjoy.
ARTIST: Scobar
Heart CU
Let's put Chambana on the map so you don't have to describe where to find East Central Illinois,
ARTIST: Madelyn Witruk
Whipped Cream
A nod to University of Illinois graduate student Charles Getz made whipped cream in a can a possibility.
ARTIST: Scobar
Outside of Ordinary
Showcasing all those attractions and spots around Champaign County that make us Outside of Ordinary.
ARTIST: David Michael Moore
Thumbs Up
We all learned that it's thumbs up or down for films thanks to Urbana native, film critic Roger Ebert.
ARTIST: Ralph Roether
CU Pride Brilliant
With our new CU icon, we're showcasing our Pride. And that's pretty brilliant.
#chambana
We know you've used it. Our own slang for our twin cities, Champaign-Urbana.
ARTIST: Madelyn Witruk
C-U Pride
Team Champaign
Team Urbana
Pride is in Champaign-Urbana's roots. Show your support for all with this fun, colorful tee! Also available in Natural.
ARTIST: Madelyn Witruk
Are you Team Champaign-Urbana? Show which side of Wright St. you're one with this tee!
*Available in kids sizes
ARTIST: Ralph Roether
Are you Team Urbana-Champaign? Show which side of Wright St. you're one with this tee!
*Available in kids sizes
ARTIST: Ralph Roether
Downtown Champaign
Take the iconic image of the Champaign City building of Instagram and wear it on your own tee!
ARTIST: Jan Troutt
Downtown Champaign Pride Edition
Take the iconic image of the Champaign City building of Instagram and wear it on your own pride-themed tee!
ARTIST: Jan Troutt
Chambana Proud
Show your Chambana pride in this cozy hoodie!
ARTIST: Ralph Roether
Chambana Proud Hat
This trucker hat will become your go-to in showing your Chambana Pride. (charcoal/navy)
ARTIST: Ralph Roether
Top Spots in CU
This quasi-map highlights our favorite spots on- and off-campus in
Champaign-Urbana.
*Also available as a t-shirt and print!*
ARTIST: David Michael Moore
CU Stickers
Our stickers feature area favorites like The Virginia Theatre, the University of Illinois Quad, Urbana's Market at the Square, Crystal Lake Park, Downtown Champaign, and Allerton Park
ARTISTS: David Michael Moore & Madelyn Witruk