Everything Type Company (ETC), the graphic design studio run by VCFA faculty member Geoff Halber and partner Kyle Blue recently redesigned SPIN, an American music writing landmark that helped launch the careers of tons of prolific music writers.

By changing the way it uses its media platforms, SPIN changed its strategy for how it presents music journalism. News, reviews, and playlists would be more relevant online, and long form essays with big art sequences could be more invigorating on paper. This strategy was the impetus for Everything Type Company’s redesign of SPIN magazine, and digital juggernaut Area 17‘s redesign of the website, with whom ETC collaborated during the brand relaunch.

A spread from the SPIN Magazine redesign by VCFA faculty Geoff Halber

Everything–Type–Company (ETC) is a NY-based design studio founded by Kyle Blue & VCFA faculty member Geoff Halber. The studio specializes in identity, publishing, and interactive projects for clients spanning culture and commerce. Their design work often employs sophisticated typographic systems and a high-level of craftsmanship to elevate brands and editorial approaches.

A spread from the SPIN Magazine redesign by VCFA faculty Geoff Halber

As a result of the redesign, SPIN grew in size, is now printed on better stocks, and circulates less frequently. ETC drew on the rich heritage of ’80s/’90s SPIN, a no-nonsense, bold, and considered approach to music journalism. This looking back amounted to a blunt use of typography and grids, and elevated use of photography. ETC gave each main section a distinct visual identity. For example, the back section, Guide, references visual cues from zines and early SPINs. ETC also developed a custom font with the Belgian type foundry OurType based on the SPIN logo (which, in turn, actually guided the redrawing of the logo). This font is used throughout the feature section of the magazine, but has also become a primary element for brand expansion and marketing.spy offers | UK Trainer News & Releases