One of the last remaining letterpress print shops in SF if not the very last. They take pride in preserving a manual printing process and their shop is an amazing resource for learning as well as picking up their curated stationary and art supplies. There is something quite cool about mixing ink and printing using plates, it's all easily visible from the front of the shop. If you know what blackwing pencils are they have them here and so much more. Fancy scissors, tons of erasers, and all kinds of writing instruments that have selected based on their history and functionality. Definitely worth stopping by to browse, you'll see stuff from all over the world. I would say these are more for the conneseiur and are priced as such and even though I didn't get anything I was tempted by some of their unique rulers. They also sell cards and posted that are printed in house, the prints would give your interior a nice analog vibe. read more

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Was taken here as a part of the Heath Ceramics Workshop Tour on Friday, as its in the same building Heath Ceramics occupies. Probably never would've found it otherwise. Interesting place if you're in the vicinity. If you are in need of custom printing, some art supplies, or want to see some really old printing machines, come by. They can also give you estimates online as well. I bought a multi-colored pencil here for just $2.00. It's an interesting place to spend a few minutes, if you find yourself nearby, say after shopping at Heath. The staff is super nice too. read more

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I stopped by this charming place which is next door to Tartine Manufactory. I bought some unique Christmas gifts for my daughter who is an artist and they were also having a 25% off sale. Happy to support artists, especially during the pandemic. They have beautiful artwork as well so check it out! read more

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My whole experience with The Aesthetic Union was awesome. Sent them a private message on Instagram to discuss what I was looking for. The owner helped me find pieces that would work with my room and fit my budget. I couldn't be happier with the results. The attention to detail was spectacular, even down to the packaging. Will definitely be coming back for more pieces soon. read more

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I was hired to do a soft brand audit for KQED this Spring. Nearing towards the finish line, the client expressed interest in celebrating the refresh with its 500+ staffers in a memorable and fun way. I came up with an interactive wheel chart design and immediately thought of The Aesthetic Union to execute the job. As a matter of fact, I designed it around them--taking full advantage of their capabilities. The result included: letterpress, hot foil stamps, 4 spot colors, die cut, and custom rivets--all assembled by hand. There is nothing these guys can't do and their service and attention to detail is spot on. Daniel helped me from concept to completion and offered honest advice for the best outcome. James oversaw the whole production. The entire process was a collaborative effort between myself and the AU crew; and it was a beautiful one. Needless to say-- the client was over the moon with the final product. I couldn't be happier. Hire The Aesthetic Union, they'll make you look good and bring more business to your business. read more

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The Aesthetic Union is a fine letterpress print shop located in the Mission District. I had the good fortune to attend a tour of the premises, and I found it fascinating & insightful. James led us through the quaint shop, introducing us to 2 vintage Heidelberg windmill presses & other printing apparatuses from years ago. I even had the chance to crank out my own letterpress card, which was really neat for a layperson like myself. I gave my masterpiece to my new friend, Timofer, from Bulgaria. I asked if the ink James uses is soy-based. He responded by saying no, as he's against monocropping & GMO. I appreciate that, as I also agree with that philosophy. Unfortunately, I forgot what his inks are based of. I'm assuming petroleum. At the front of the shop, a counter made out of an old tugboat has art tools for sale. Pencils, pencil sharpeners, calligraphy pens, erasers, etc. Sketchpads are on hand to try out your penmanship prior to making a purchase. Service was great. James exhibits a passion for his craft. Besides business cards, Aesthetic Union creates silkscreen, mimeograph, linoblock, flyers, wedding invitations, bookplates - you name it, they can make it. And, they create unique works of art with each commissioned job, sometimes not making a lot in money, but earning a lot with respect for the craft. Aesthetic Union is located in the same building as Blue Bottle Coffee and is next to Heath Ceramics studio & store. I had an informative time taking a tour of Aesthetic Union. I learned a lot about printing presses & the upkeep of trying to keep these machines going. We're talking duct tape & chewing gum, MacGyver-style. During my trip to San Francisco, I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit the Aesthetic Union Highly recommend! read more

I just attended the "soft opening" of the Aesthetic Union, a new fine letterpress printery run by James and Risa. (James used to be the letterpress printer at Hello! Lucky before striking out on his own.) The shop boasts two huge Heidelberg windmill presses plus all kinds of other vintage printing equipment. It was a treat to see the main Heidelberg in use, up-close! The Aesthetic Union does other printing besides letterpress, such as silkscreen, linoblock and mimeograph, and both James and Risa have great graphic design skills to augment their printing skills. James says that they're going to offer letterpress printing classes, which I'm excited about taking. They can do business cards, holiday cards, wedding invitations, stationery, bookplates -- all kinds of things. I had them lay-out and print some invitations for me and the results were even better than I had hoped! The shop doesn't just do printing, it also sells printed booklets, notebooks, cards and other printed goodies that you can't find anywhere else (most of them by local artisans), as well as an amazing selection of classic pencils, pencil sharpeners, and so on. The counters are made of the decks of an old tugboat, there are nautical antiques here and there, and the blue and yellow walls make it a wonderful space to wander around in. Countless gift ideas came to mind. The Aesthetic Union is a destination in itself, but the building also boasts a Blue Bottle Coffee, and is right next to the big Heath Ceramics studio and store. Anyone with an appreciation for great design, handcraftsmanship and things that last should definitely check out the Aesthetic Union! UPDATE: I've now had the opportunity to commission a few printing jobs from James and I have to say that his results exceeded my expectations! Not only was the presswork perfect (with a nice deep impression on the beautiful cardstock he chose) but he did the lay-out with an eye for balance, legibility and impact. Take a look at the photo I added to the gallery; it's the invitation card with a Masonic design in a rectangle and the phrase "You are cordially invited to..." read more

The Aesthetic Union - Invitation on heavy cotton ragg cardstock with perfect layout, just the right color, and the ideal type impression on the paper! - Print Media Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Aesthetic Union, conveniently located around the corner from droolworthy Heath Ceramics and a Blue Bottle Coffee outpost, is a great stop for anyone in need of classic writing desk hard goods (notebooks, cards, etc), expert handling of a print project, or just some visual fuel. Two gorgeous Heidelberg presses and a curved tugboat decks repurposed as counter? Yes! Partners James and Risa have a great set-up and I look forward to sending my next print project their way! Until then, I'll stop by for friendly hello, the wittiest greeting cards I've come across in a long time, and to see what's on the presses. read more

We went on the tour for Heath Ceramics and they brought us on a tour of this shop. It is really fun to walk around and look at the machines as well as their well curated products. We haven't had them make cards for us but saw samples of work they had done for other clients and they looked great. Definitely a fun visit for anyone interested in art and design. read more

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Avoid at all costs. Rude, unprofessional, miserable interaction. Could go on forever.

James is the owner here. He's very sharp; a true craftsmen. I won't be going anywhere else. read more

The Aesthetic Union - Hard at work. - Print Media Near Me - San Francisco, California

Studio, shop, gallery, a stone's throw away from Heath Ceramics and Blue Bottle Coffee. Go-to destination for the curious minds and print lovers. read more

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I was fortunate enough to have James design invitations for an event I threw and I could not have been more impressed with his work. The skillful way the folks at The Aesthetic Union blend old and new technologies to create something one-of-a-kind for you is awesome, and the prices are eminently reasonable, especially when you consider not only the labor that goes into the production, but the artistic skill and technical prowess that underlie the whole operation. Can't wait to use them again! read more

First time having letterpress business cards made for me. Some friends in SF recommended James. Because I live in NJ I thought this was crazy. I've looked locally and there are some nice shops but my friends really raved about this place. James was very helpful and we exchanged a few emails and then I sent him my template following his guidelines. So, I sent him my file and he got to work. I got an email when he finished up my cards saying they look great. A few weeks later I had them in my hand and boy did they ever! Thank you James! Awesome job! I'll definitely be recommending your shop to others. Thank you! read more

James made me some custom cards for my business that he designed as if he was able to read my mind and then printed beautifully after my approval. James was professional, friendly, and clearly an expert in his craft. Highly recommended! read more

I stopped by the store and it's a treasure. I bought some nice, high-quality watercolors and paper. I also enjoyed checking out the cool machinery they have in there! read more

First of James and Risa are both amazing people, visit their shop and buy all their things! Creating my business cards with James was a great experience. James is very easy to work with and has an unmistakable aesthetic. Since I live in Los Angeles I worked with James remotely and I can vouch for him being prompt with email responses. I definitely recommend working with James if you want to create something unique and memorable. read more

Visual appeal - this place gives you the yearning to print ink on paper. And you can do so on their letter writing Tuesday night. They will even deliver your letter to the post office for you. read more

I've been meaning to write this for a while but have not had the time. Let's just say the printing and finish work at AU is down right sloppy. Also, they did not fully follow the specs I sent them for my job and printed without notifying me for a press check so that I could check some of the things I had an issue with before running the whole batch. They were less than professional about fixing the issues. BEWARE: if you are looking for high quality letterpress printing. They seem like they more interested in being hipsters rather than professional printers. read more