Radix Media

Radix blends craftsmanship, community, and creativity to offer commercial printing, graphic design, and literary publishing services for a wide range of clients, including social justice organizations, political campaigns, cultural institutions, small businesses, and individual authors.

History

• 2010 – Radix was founded in Portland, Oregon as a one-person print shop with a single offset press, producing printed materials for creative and social justice communities and experimenting with independent publishing (zines, posters, greeting cards, and other ephemera).
• 2011 – OccuCopy, a small worker-owned print shop born out of the Occupy Wall Street movement, opened in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn and became a resource for radical and surrounding communities in New York City.
• 2012 – Radix relocated from Portland to the Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
• 2013 – Radix and OccuCopy merged after nearly a year of collaboration, combining equipment and processes and building a reputation for clear communication, high quality work, and strong customer service.
• 2017 – Radix merged with Wasp Poster and Print, a specialty letterpress shop and design studio, expanding traditional letterpress capacity and adding services such as foil stamping, die-cutting, embossing, and paper duplexing.
• 2018 – Radix expanded its publishing program with the release of its first full title, *AFTERMATH: Explorations of Loss and Grief*, and has since published award-winning titles across genres and forms.

Worker-owned cooperative

• Radix is worker-owned and collectively managed. There is no traditional hierarchy of bosses and workers; the business is wholly owned by the people who work there.
• Workers share responsibility for both production and administrative tasks. The person printing a job may also be involved in estimating, customer communication, or other aspects of running the business.
• Decisions are made democratically, with an emphasis on giving workers control over their workplace conditions and a real voice in the direction of the business.

Union shop

• Radix is a union print shop, organized with Local 1 of the Amalgamated Lithographers Union / International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
• The shop uses the Allied Printing Trades Council label (Allied Label 701), which signals that work was produced by skilled, fairly compensated union members.
• Customers can request the union "bug" (union label) on their printed materials as a visible sign of support for union labor.

Eco-friendly practices

Radix aims to minimize its environmental impact while producing high quality printed matter:

• Uses 100% post-consumer recycled paper whenever possible.
• Uses low-VOC inks in its presses.
• Uses dampening systems free of alcohol where applicable.

These practices are intended to produce books and other printed materials as responsibly as possible while maintaining high production values.

Mission and focus

• The name "Radix" comes from the Latin root of "radical" and reflects a mission to get to the root of what matters.
• Radix is dedicated to keeping the printed word alive and to the proliferation of beautiful, thoughtfully produced printed matter.
• Through its publishing program, Radix prioritizes fresh perspectives and voices from typically marginalized communities, aiming to get to the root of the human experience.

Printing methods

Radix offers multiple professional printing processes, allowing jobs to be matched to the most appropriate method:

• Offset printing – suited for medium to large runs and projects requiring consistent color and high quality.
• Letterpress printing – traditional relief printing ideal for tactile, impression-based work such as stationery and specialty pieces.
• Digital printing – efficient for short runs, quick turnarounds, and variable or on-demand projects.
• Wide format printing – for larger pieces such as banners and posters.

Typical printed products

Examples of items Radix prints include (but are not limited to):

• Business cards and stationery
• Annual reports and organizational publications
• Posters and banners
• Event materials and invitations
• Political campaign materials (posters, palm cards, etc.)
• Zines and other small publications

Specialty finishes and services

Through its combined history with Wasp Poster and Print and its in-house capabilities, Radix can provide a range of specialty and finishing options, including:

• Foil stamping
• Die-cutting
• Embossing
• Paper duplexing (combining papers to create thicker or two-sided stock)

These options are typically incorporated into custom quotes based on the specific needs of each project.

Union printing and union label

• Radix is a union print shop. Work can carry the official Allied Printing Trades Council label (union "bug") to show that it was produced by union labor.
• Customers who need visible union identification on their printed pieces can request the union bug as part of their project.

Approach to pricing and quotes

Radix does not publish a generic price list because print jobs vary widely in size, paper, process, and finishing.

• All pricing is handled as custom quotes based on project specifications.
• Quotes are provided by email. The shop does not give price quotes over the phone or in person.
• For price quotes, customers are directed to contact printing@radixmedia.org with their project details.

For more complex or specialized printing needs, Radix encourages customers to reach out with as much information as possible so the team can recommend appropriate processes and materials.

Graphic design and layout services

In addition to printing and publishing, Radix Media offers in-house design services to help clients develop professional, print-ready materials.

Types of design work

Based on the information on Radix's site, design services can include:

• Logo creation and visual identity elements
• Design of print assets, such as flyers, posters, postcards, and stationery
• Full book layout and typesetting, including interior pages and covers
• Guidance on preparing files for production so they print cleanly and accurately

How design and printing work together

• Radix's design team works closely with its production staff, so designs are created with specific printing processes and paper stocks in mind.
• For book and long-form projects, Radix can handle editing, typesetting, design, and production in-house, giving them control over how each title looks and feels.

Who uses Radix's design services

Clients who may benefit from Radix's design offerings include:

• Organizations and campaigns that need cohesive printed materials
• Small businesses developing or refining their branding
• Authors and small publishers preparing books and chapbooks for print
• Artists and cultural groups producing posters, zines, and event materials

Getting started

To discuss a design project or combined design-and-print project, customers can contact Radix via email (see the contact and quotes document for addresses) with details about scope, timeline, and desired formats.

Radix operates as a working print shop rather than a retail storefront. Shop visits are by appointment only.

Contact details

• Phone: 718-781-5947
• General information: info@radixmedia.org
• Printing and price quotes: printing@radixmedia.org
• Wholesale and retail orders: orders@radixmedia.org
• Publishing submissions: submissions@radixmedia.org

Radix typically responds to emails quickly, but customers are asked to allow up to 24 hours for a reply.

Quotes and order questions

• The website is intended to be a useful resource. Customers are encouraged to read the Terms and Conditions, File Guidelines, FAQ, and Submission Guidelines pages before emailing, as many common questions are covered there.
• All price quotes are handled via email due to the many variables involved in print jobs.
• Radix does not give price quotes over the phone or in person.

For print quotes, customers should email printing@radixmedia.org with their project specifications.

Visiting the shop (appointments only)

• All visits and in-person meetings are by appointment only.
• Appointments are generally scheduled between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
• Radix is not open on weekends and is unable to accept walk-ins.
• Visitors are asked to ring the bell upon arrival, as machinery noise can make it hard to hear a knock.

Customers who wish to see paper swatches, review samples of previous work, or discuss a project in depth should email ahead of time to schedule an appointment.

Directions by public transit (as listed on the site)

Nearby public transit options mentioned on the site include:

• Subway:
• Bergen Street station (2/3 lines)
• 7 Avenue station (B/Q lines)
• Bus:
• B65 bus (Bergen St / Carlton Ave)

Riders should check current MTA schedules and maps for any service changes.

About working at Radix

• Radix is a worker-owned, union print shop and publisher in Brooklyn, NY.
• The shop operates as a collectively managed worker cooperative, with no traditional boss hierarchy.

Where to check for updates

• The status of job openings can change over time.
• Prospective applicants should refer directly to the Jobs page on Radix's website for the most current information about employment opportunities, application processes, and qualifications.

If the website does not list any positions, Radix is not currently hiring.

• Radix publishes fresh perspectives, prioritizing the voices of typically marginalized communities.
• The aim is to "get to the root" of the human experience through books that challenge norms and inspire change.

Types of work and in-house production

• Radix expanded into literary publishing in 2018 with the release of *AFTERMATH: Explorations of Loss and Grief* and has since published award-winning titles across genres and forms.
• The team edits, typesets, designs, and produces all titles in-house, giving them full control over how each book looks and feels.
• Publishing draws on the shop's full range of printing processes, including offset lithography, letterpress, and digital technology.

Selected titles mentioned on the site

Examples of titles highlighted on Radix's website include:

• *AFTERMATH: Explorations of Loss and Grief*
• *Hidden Companions* by Ahmad Nabil
• *Signos: A Fiction Anthology of Filipino Supernatural*
• *The Land is Holy*
• *Is This How You Eat a Watermelon?*

This list is not exhaustive; it reflects a sample of Radix's catalog at the time the site was read.

Submissions and guidelines

Radix maintains Submission Guidelines on its website for authors and artists interested in being published.

• For up-to-date information about what Radix is currently accepting, timelines, and how to submit, prospective contributors should refer directly to the Submission Guidelines page on the Radix site.
• Submission periods and requirements may change over time, so the website is the authoritative source.

For general publishing questions not covered by the guidelines, authors can contact Radix using the email addresses on the contact page.

The union bug (union label)

• Radix prints with the Allied Printing Trades Council union label, also known as the union bug.
• The Allied Label number used by Radix is 701, indicating membership in the Teamsters Graphic Communications Conference Local 1 and the national Allied Printing Trades Council.

What the union bug represents

On Radix's materials, the union bug is described as:

• A badge of quality in printing
• A sign of workplace justice and a fair wage for workers
• A way to show that a project was produced by skilled, well-compensated union members

When organizations, campaigns, government agencies, and socially responsible groups request union printing from Radix, the union label provides visible assurance that their materials support union labor.

Asking for the union bug

• Customers can request the union bug on their printed materials.
• Radix describes the union label as something they are proud to print and encourages customers to "ask for the union bug" on their next print job.

For questions about union requirements or how the bug will appear on a specific project, customers can contact Radix via the usual printing quote email address.

Ask anyway — the agent will say plainly that it is not published rather than guess.