Rudy VanderLans is a founder and principal
of Emigré, one of the most controversial and influential design
groups of the past two decades. Founded in 1984, it has transformed
type design, magazine layout, and the critical discussion of design,
primarily through its quarterly journal, Emigré magazine. Emigré’s
designs have won the most distinguished awards in the field, including
the AlGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) Gold Medal, the Publish
Magazine Impact Award, and the Chrysler Award for Innovation in Design.
Originally intended as a cultural journal featuring the work of emigrants
to the U.S., the first issue of Emigré was published in 1984,eventually
becoming a full-fledged graphic design journal in 1988. Emigré
magazine concentrated on work neglected by mainstream design publications,
either because it did not adhere to traditional canons or was still
in its formative stages. The issues, each built around a theme, explored
new territories on design and its relation to culture. Through 69 issues,
Emigré altered its format to reflect changes in design and VanderLans’
own formal and intellectual interests. VanderLans’ work also includes
Emigré Music, an independent label, and various books featuring
his photography and texts. VanderLans was born in The Hague, Holland,
and attended the Royal Academy of Fine Art. He received a graduate degree
in photography from University of California Berkeley.
[extracted from 2005 brochure]
