Rolling Stone has been the journal of record for American music, popular culture, and politics for more than 50 years. In each issue, there is a mix of investigative journalism, cultural criticism, and political and entertainment news and reporting. In the summer of 2024, we launched a full redesign of the Rolling Stone brand, and it began with our flagship, cornerstone product -- the printed magazine.

The July/August relaunch issue is characterized by a uniquely bold new typeface custom made for Rolling Stone. Thoughtful design elements, compelling photography and illustration, guide the reader through the engaging mix of stories. Although the redesign was informed by the magazine’s design history, we resisted the temptation to indulge in nostalgia for this project. Our guiding principle was to make the new design “look like Rolling Stone,” without directly quoting the past.

We returned to our founders’ original commitment to long-form journalism, making the magazine an immersive reading experience. To that end, we increased the point-size and arranged the whole magazine around the body copy. We also returned to a heavyweight newsprint, taking the magazine back to its roots while transforming it into something utterly new.

From the front-of-book “Random Notes” news section, designed as a fast-paced “river” inspired by the continuous scroll on a mobile device, to a visually robust and packed feature well to an extensive Reviews section, there is never a dull moment in Rolling Stone. The launch of the magazine's redesign reflects our continuing commitment to visual storytelling with exceptional design, original photography, and compelling illustration. Rolling Stone rocks on.