Comments on: Levi’s Workshop: Print on Valencia

By: The Experts Agree | TypograFriday: Sagmeister

The Experts Agree | TypograFriday: Sagmeister — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:03:58 +0000

[...] went to see Stefan Sagmeister talk at the Levi’s Workshop last week â€” sort of amazing, really, that one of the most famous designers in the world spoke to [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 08:51:04 +0000

Surfing around earlier, I saw your comment posted verbatim on the Mission Mission blog too.

I think you should just drop by and check it out for yourself. I was skeptical myself, but I feel differently now, having been there.

Maybe the people who took the job figured (if the pay you quote is true) that $13.50 being printmakers is better than $9.00 (or less) making coffee somewhere, or $4 plus tips waiting tables, or even worse, how about $0.00 looking for work?

Having actually been to the shop myself, I think I am qualified to say that they HAVE put their money where their mouth is. Those presses had to cost something, plus paper & ink, plus what looks like at least a half dozen people with jobs, plus the people who had to rebuild that old place, (painters, electricians, glass people, drywallers, etc.) and then the part about how they give all of those materials away for free? Paper & Ink ain’t cheap.

I also read that they are donating ALL of the money they make selling stuff to non-profits in the neighborhood – If that’s true, it doesn’t sound like a “flimsy marketing stint” to me at all, in fact it sounds BRILLIANT.

As an aside, I also Googled around to see where SF ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world. Wikipedia ranks SF as number 36, so on that point, you may actually be right.

By: Tweets that mention The Experts Agree | Leviâ€™s Workshop: Print on Valencia -- Topsy.com

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:44:38 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Martha Koenig, Levis Workshops. Levis Workshops said: Thanks for the words! http://theexpertsagree.com/2010/07/levis-workshop-print-on-valencia/ [...]

By: Katherine

Katherine — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:55:17 +0000

I’m a San Francisco-based printer and was contacted by the media/marketing team behind the Levi’s “print shop” about doing some of their workshops. Initially, I was stoked to be considered for a project like this–I love the idea of putting letterpress in the hands of the public (instead of reserving it for those who can afford fancy, photopolymer wedding invitations).

However: They were looking for folks who could work full-time for several weeks, but were only paying $13.50 an hour. That’s barely a livable wage for us living in one of the most expensive cities in the country (world?). I work full-time, and wouldn’t be able to afford to take several weeks off at that level of compensation. Bummer. It would be great to actually feel like I could make a living doing the art that I love, even for only two months.

I haven’t been to the space yet. I don’t want to trash talk it. I can’t help but feel, though, that if a corporate sponsor like Levi’s genuinely wants to recognize the value of a unique art form–and support the artists and the community behind it–they’ve got to step up and put their money where their mouth is. Otherwise, it’s just another flimsy marketing stint from another large corporate brand.

Okay. That’s the end of my rant.