San Francisco
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- blastofv
looking to make the move - who's worked there, and what should I keep in mind when making a plan for the job hunt?
(Sr. Designer type print/identity work)
- blastofv0
come to think of it, I don't know that I've ever seen SF mentioned on here. No San Francisco representatives on NT then?
- tadcautious0
i've seen jason from ordinary kids on here before. and i think i recall some threads about peeps wanting to move there also. i've never worked there, but would love to if i could afford to buy a house there.
- KevinTx0
i recently thought about that move too, i love that city but dont want 3 roomates.
- material-10
just moved away a year ago. miss the culture and my family but change is good
- kidswift-0
LIved there about 4years back, def one of my fav cities in the world. Some nice design going on there no not as much as I thought there would be. So much to see and do once you get under the surface of the city a freindly up the locals. Rent was mutha fuckin extortionate but i was living in little Italy though... winter is nicer than summer with "the bay Fog" that comes in. Wicked city though!
- blastofv0
yeah, it'd be me and my wife, so we can put two incomes into a modest place and live fine – we're coming from Boston too, which aint cheap – so it shouldn't be too shocking.
I've heard a bit about the job scene – lots of jobs, but a tight-nit community because everyone's a creative, and everyone knows someone looking for work.
I'm trying to gauge how much I should rely on networking over the traditional approach...
and it might help to wait until the West coast is awake too.
- kreydle0
I'd love to move out there too, but what I can afford in North Carolina doesn't come close to what I can afford in SF. I heard its extraordinarily expensive. I visited this past July and loved it.
- kidswift-0
Blastov, its all about networking there. I couldn't crack it in the 8mths i was there but then again i came over fresh from New Zealand not knowing anyone. Though my folio was well recieved and a hell of alot fresher than what was floating around there at the time, everyone that got work got it through mates. Which to be honest I can understand every job I have had in London since has been through mates looking out for me and I have hooked people up plenty in return. Well worth the hassle though, I am sure you will be fine and it fuckin rocks!
- material-10
surprisingly few SF NTers, we did get about 5 people for a drinks night once then the second time it was just me and nick.
two salaries should do you fine. Oakland, where I grow up, is a good alternative to the city itself. Lots of great restaurants and better weather, rents, dog parks. And just 10 minutes away.
- Mimio0
McCann Worldgroup is hiring interactive talent in SF. They're starting to bring it that work back in-house.
- robotron3k0
most of the office close at 5pm and raves are still big there because most everyone is a DJ.
- material-10
most of my work came from people I knew, either from college or personal friends then referrals so yeah, networking was good. There are plenty of placement agencies as well and craigslist(for bottom feeding).
I did well because I could pitch design work and then do the dev as well. Print work is a little harder since it doesn't pay as much and you can't add on dev time etc.
great town though, one of the best, and there plenty of other Bostonians for some reason
- version30
2 Job offers there in the past year, I don't think you can pay me to deal with that weather again. I was there in 04-05 and it rained every 3rd day it seemed. rent was 1800 at golden gate and baker
- material-10
20 minutes in any direction and you're usually in the sun. Marin, east bay, etc. but yeah summer in the city just isn't. Of course I prefer mild temps to hot so it was good for me.
- Typographica0
Don't have job advice, but as for living:
I live in Oakland, work in downtown SF. Rent is far cheaper and takes only 20 mins to get there on BART. If you don't need to live in the heat of it, I'd recommend looking for a place in the East Bay. Best neighborhoods are Berkeley, No. Oakland, Piedmont, Lake Merritt.
- Typographica0
Hilariously, this season is the driest winter ever. So you picket the wrong year to move!
- gramme0
Interviewed there before taking a job here smack in the middle of the country. Cool town, prolly not the best place to live if you plan on having kids as it's sort of the Amsterdam of the US west coast...
- material-10
I would just about kill for a design book store or decent gallery show right about now.
- blastofv0
cool, thanks for the knowledge guys.
anybody doing traditional print work in SF? anybody else spent any time at Landor or one of the other big branding consultancies?
- saint_x0
there is still a lot of traditional print, especially in the brand sphere here. i haven't been in landor for a couple years, but have some fingers in riney and some other med. size shops. shoot an e-mail if you want some more info when you get closer. i can give you some names to contact. nice work you've got. (i lived in boston before moving here. love / loved both places.)