In 2015 The New York Times Magazine embarked on the most extensive redesign in its history. Gail Bichler, the magazine’s Design Director, will discuss that process, focusing on the development of an entirely new suite of typefaces and showcasing the ways in which those typefaces as well as customized typography have been used in the magazine’s covers, features and special issues. London type designer Henrik Kubel will co-present.

Gail Bichler is the design director of The New York Times Magazine where she and her team have won numerous awards for their print and interactive design as well as their groundbreaking work in virtual reality. In 2016 they were named “Magazine of the Year” by the Society of Publication Designers (S.P.D.) and received two Grand Prix awards at Cannes. In 2015 they were named “Design Team of the Year” by the Art Director’s Club (A.D.C.). In addition Gail’s work has been recognized by D&AD, S.P.D., A.D.C., the American Institute for Graphic Arts, the Type Directors Club, American Photography, and American Illustration.

Gail began her career at a small studio in Chicago catering to museum and publishing clients. She later founded her own practice in Minneapolis and served as a visiting professor and critic at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. In 2004, she relocated to New York, freelancing for studios and magazines before joining the staff at The New York Times. She has lectured internationally and has served as an executive board member of S.P.D.

Henrik Kubel
In 2000 Henrik Kubel & Scott Williams founded A2/SW/HK, a London based design studio. Recently the team designed custom fonts for Moscow Department of Transport in collaboration with Ilya Ruderman and Margaret Calvert, The New York Times Magazine, Aperture Magazine, CNN Style, CNN Travel, UK Government and Wired. In 2010 the team set up A2-TYPE as a platform for releasing and distributing their own fonts. Scott and Henrik are members of Alliance Graphique Internationale, AGI. www.a2-type.co.uk

Photo illustration by Sagmeister & Walsh
Custom typeface by A2/SW/HK