Interview: Dava Guthmiller
What do you accomplish when you’re stuck in a rut? If you are SFist, nothing much. If you’re designer Dava Guthmiller you start Pow.wow, a networking organization for business women, that now has a couple of hundred of members, all of whom are presumably rut free. Less the evil process of social comparison is making you feel like Dava is in a stratosphere well above your own (not that SFist necessarily feels that way, we’re just saying) think on this. She likes the burritos at El Toro on 17th and Mission. She obsesses about free parking as all good city dwellers should. She loves fecalface. See, she’s just like you. Well, except that her day job (yah, pow.wow is just for fun) is pretty kicking too. Hey, this city is so full of amazing people that you’d be disappointed if we lowered our interview standards just to make you feel better, right? Besides, check out pow.wow. It may just be the rut relief you're looking for.
Tell us aboutPow.wow?
In 2003 I got a stuck in a rut, personally. I was lacking motivation and realized I didn't have much of a life outside my office. So, what better way to get inspired than to call in support? I contacted 14 of my friends and acquaintance and organized a little networking cocktail hour. I was looking for other women who own businesses to get feedback, support and networking contacts. What happened is that we all needed each other more than I thought. So, a year and half later, Pow.wow Network is up to 210 creative, savvy, fabulous women (most of whom own businesses). I am so grateful to know them and see them getting inspired and connected that I just can't stop.
We meet once a month for networking. Events cover everything from lectures like Dressing for Success, food or wine tastings, group critiques on products or just plain cocktail time.
What are the best/worst things about running a business in SF?
The best thing about running a business in SF is the clients. We have some of the best services, products and industries here, not to mention the great people I keep meeting. Just love designing for people and companies I believe in.
The worst, our swing economy. Crashing always hurts more as a grownup. Farther to go before you hit the ground than when we were kids.
Name
Dava Guthmiller
Introduce yourself in one sentence
Don't think I can: Designer, foodie, teacher, control freak, and friend.
Age and Occupation
31, Founder and Creative Director of Noise 13 + Founder of Pow.wow Network
Home Town
Galt, CA
How much time have you spent in the Bay Area?
I moved to SF in 1994 to attend the Academy of Art University. Less than 2 years out of school I started Noise 13. I've lived in Pacific Heights, the Richmond, North Beach, and Potrero Hill (my current location and favorite so far). Other than work I've been eating my way though SF, exploring art and wine, and loving it all.
Favorite website
This month it's fecalface, changes all the time
Favorite local business
Google.com
What I'm currently Reading
Prozac Nation, New California Wine, and French Women Don't Get Fat
Best Deal in San Francisco
All you can eat Pizza on Neighborhood Mondays at Goat Hill Pizza in Potrero
Favorite mode of transportation
My car
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Bay Area
Not sure, maybe Grateful Dead or Janice Joplin
Favorite local hangout
Hotel Biron, Kilowatt and Farley's
SF has the BEST:
Restaurants
You've never lived in SF until:
You get three parking tickets in one day
Now that Gavin Newsom is single, who are you going to set him up with?
My roommate
You can tell someone is a local here IF:
They know where to find the free parking spaces
SF would be soooo much better if only:
There were more restaurants with outdoor seating and less homeless people.
Best Burrito:
El Toro on Valencia /17th
Best Restaurant:
Limón and Delfina
Best thing to do in the city in the summer:
Our summer or the typical june/july thing? SF summer: Wine tasting, picnics and hiking
Standard summer: Stern Grove Festival
Place you always tell visitors to check out:
Ferry Building, Dolores Park, Presido and SFMOMA
Favorite Bridge in the area:
Golden Gate
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in SF, what are you going to do?
Saturday morning at 8 am, get my butt on a bike and ride over to the Ferry Building Farmers Market. Spend my money on Pulled pork tacos at Cocina Primavera (about $8) and the rest at Cow Girl Creamery on cheese for lunch.
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist:
Found: an apartment or two and some very entertaining postings
Sold: a computer
Bought: a computer
I want all the SFists out there to know:
Noise 13 is an awesome design studio, (shameless plug)
Please tell us about Noise13:
Noise 13 is a graphic design studio focusing on lifestyle industries. Admittedly these are the things I like most - food and wine, entertainment, fashion, beauty, travel... So why not design for them.
I started Noise 13 in Jan. of 2000. Talk about a false sense of business reality. I thought I was covered in gold dust. Of course, business turned ghost town on us in 2001-2002. Luckily I have great clients and was able to stick it out. I also taught at The Academy of Art during this time - great was to keep yourself up to date. Noise 13 is now over 5 years old, with 3 employees and lots of freelancers.
Most of our clients are local Bay Area small to medium sized business. But, we do have a few NY, LA and Seattle clients as well. Some of our favorites are Festoon Salon, Limón Restaurant and Slow Food San Francisco.
Side note that my employee just mention in my ear: I was recently chosen to be a judge for this years Adobe Achievement Awards. I think this will be the first time I'll hang out in San Jose for more than a museum visit (great by the way).
Coolest thing you've designed?
The coolest (I have 2) #1 was a record cover for Deadweight, a local rock band. It didn't make me a millionaire, but I'd never done an album before. Lots of CDs but vinyl is so much cooler. #2 is Limón Restaurant. Yes, the restaurant itself. I had designed one other interior the year before (Circolo Restaurant) but the Castillos at Limón are like extended family. It was so awesome to help them move from a little 40 seat space to their current 90 seat space. Again doing something different is always cool for me, keeps me interested and forces me to learn something new.