Founded in 1925 by Harold Ross, the magazine has grown from a humorous city magazine to a globally influential publication. David Remnick, the current editor-in-chief, describes the evolution as follows: “We retain Ross’s original humour as a weekly, but we have become much more: A magazine dedicated to journalism, poetry, art and deep reflection.

The art of the cover: a century of visual heritage

The visual language of The New Yorker has always been distinctive. From the very first issue, the cover has been a kind of artistic manifesto. The very first iconic cover, by Rea Irvin, introduced the dandy Eustace Tilley as the magazine’s mascot. To mark the anniversary, the editorial team is honouring this tradition with a multi-cover edition: each issue of the Anniversary Edition features both Irvin’s original motif and a post-human techno Tilley by Kerry James Marshall. In addition, each cover features an individual interpretation by artists Diana Ejaita, Anita Kunz, Camila Rosa and Javier Mariscal. In total, four different issues will be published, reflecting the graphic evolution of the magazine.

Design as a narrative force

In addition to its world-famous cartoons and illustrations, The New Yorker has always relied on a design style that underscores its journalistic standards. The magazine’s clean typography, uncluttered layout, and elegant blend of reportage, literature, and satire give it a unique aesthetic. The anniversary issue continues this style, not only in its content, but also through a specially created online collection. This gives readers exclusive access to the history of the editorial team, famous articles and artistically designed covers.

A look back – and forward

In addition to its design heritage, The New Yorker’s centennial year also celebrates its journalistic history: from its beginnings as an ambitious city magazine, to its collaborations with legendary writers like Janet Malcolm and James Baldwin, to its current relevance as a digital platform. The anniversary issue reflects this with essays on the magazine’s most influential voices and a retrospective of epic editorial debates.

100 years after its founding, The New Yorker remains a beacon of high-minded journalism – and design. The anniversary issue is both a celebration of its history and a statement about its future.

The WDR podcast series ‘Zeitzeichen’ also dedicated an episode to the magazine’s centenary.

‘A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker’, an anthology celebrating the magazine’s literary achievements, was also published to mark the anniversary.