The New Yorker Gets a (Slight) Facelift

While the design changes coming to The New Yorker's pages this week are seemingly on a small scale, they represent one of those rare instances when the magazine actually makes an alteration to aspects of its appearance

One look at New Yorker mascot Eustace Tilley suggests that the publication he famously represents stands for tradition, a measured approach to the world. Even today, the magazine of David Remnick is not all that different from the one founded by Harold Ross in 1925.

So while the design changes coming to The New Yorker's pages this week are seemingly on a small scale, they represent one of those rare instances when the magazine actually makes an alteration to aspects of its appearance. No, this isn't a big deal as when the magazine ran its first photograph in 1992 (a Richard Avedon portrait of Malcolm X). Nevertheless, those attuned to graphic design are sure to notice the changes.

Reports The New York Times:

The magazine is updating its table of contents, contributors page, “Goings On About Town,” Briefly Noted and Fiction sections. These changes include changing the number of columns, redrawing the Irvin typeface and introducing Neutraface as a secondary one.

According to The Times, the changes were undertaken under the guidance of Wyatt Mitchell, the magazine's creative director. The changes appear to give The New Yorker's front-of-the-book listings a cleaner, contemporary sensibility. As The Times explains, the redesign is essentially an effort at removing clutter:

The changes include a cleaner presentation of the table of contents and contributor pages. The most notable change may be on the “Goings On About Town” pages, which start with a more distinctive presentation of the section’s opening image and include less detail on museum and show listings. The revised pages also highlight the work of the magazine’s critics.

Here is Mitchell talking about the changes: