Reading’s Department of Typography & Graphic Communication is to host the exhibition, which will run from June 12 to July 14 and has been co-curated by Francisca Monteiro and Rick Poynor.

Co-founded in California in 1984 by Rudy VanderLans, Emigre was a provocative and highly adventurous fusion of self-publishing, critical writing and experimental typography. It was at the centre of a tumultuous period for graphic design when the impact of digital technology and questioning of the role of the designer led to fierce debate between the design establishment and an energetic new wave to whom Emigre gave a voice.

Emigre published 69 issues in a range of formats, from tabloid to paperback book, before closing in 2005. It was a pioneer of ‘indie’ magazines and perhaps (though VanderLans might shrink from the term) the ‘branded content’ model now so prevalent in publishing, as the magazine was supported and in part acted as a marketing channel for the Emigre type foundry and design studio.

The Reading show will be divided into sections that reflect and examine the range of Emigre’s activities – Rudy VanderLans as editor; The Emigre type foundry led by Zuzana Licko; VanderLans as graphic author; the Emigre Music record label; Emigre as a space for collaborative authorship for designers and writers; Emigre considered in context.

Emigre magazine: design, discourse and authorship is at the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading, from June 12 to July 14. Details here. CR will publish an essay by Rick Poynor on the influence of Emigre on graphic design to coincide with the opening