The challenge of updating a recognized vanguard of culture
"Roger Black, art director of Rolling Stone from 1976 to 1978 and currently chair of Type Network, approached XYZ Type to redesign the classic logo in 2021. As one of Type Network’s foundry partners, we were thrilled at the prospect of putting our own lettering on the cover of this influential magazine, and intrigued by the challenge of celebrating the publication’s visual history by creating something entirely new.
"The assignment was a paradox. How could we make the logo look like it did in the past, without making it feel dated? My hope is that loyal readers will believe the old logo is back, but on closer inspection will be surprised to notice how much it has been modernized." - Jesse Ragan, XYZ Type
The foundry posted a great article about the project, including a complete history of the famous word mark, on their website.
Article: Lettering, Legacy, and Rock ’n’ Roll