A magazine about visual communication
Emigre was published in Berkeley from 1984 to 2005. Founded by Marc Susan, Menno Meyjes and Rudy VanderLans, it developed into a magazine concerned with graphic design, typography and criticism. VanderLans edited and art-directed later issues, while Zuzana Licko’s type designs became central to its appearance.
Layouts and typefaces together
VanderLans began incorporating Licko’s bitmap typefaces into layouts in 1985. Macintosh-based production linked the magazine’s experiments with emerging digital tools. Typeface licensing subsequently helped fund publication, connecting the editorial project with the development of Emigre Fonts.
Reading an issue closely
Read an issue as both an argument about design and an example of design in use. Examine how its typography directs attention, sets pace and establishes relationships between contributions. Then ask where an unfamiliar treatment helps the text and where it requires additional effort. The magazine offers a concrete case for studying those choices within an evolving publishing practice.