British Magazine Design

Book excerpt: What does a magazine's look and feel say about it? Sometimes more than its written content. Starting with the advent of two periodicals--Punch in 1841 and the Illustrated London News a year later--this groundbreaking study investigates the design history of British magazines over the past 170 years, right up to thebeginnings of digital distribution. This pioneering survey of a still-developing story encompasses graphic design, typography, photography, and innovative print technology, and explores why magazines have looked how they do and how they have changed over time. The wealth of superb illustrations is drawn from the V&A'sNational Art Library's unparalleled archive of periodicals.