The New York Times Turns 175 With a Custom Blackletter Mark and Collage System

How Does a Legacy Brand Mark an Anniversary?

Abduzeedo walks through The New York Times 175th anniversary identity, a project in which XYZ Type drew a custom blackletter 175 to sit beside the masthead. The feature explains how the numerals were shaped to echo the letterforms of the wordmark, and how that custom mark was then carried across print, posters and physical installations. It also shows how an archival collage approach keeps the paper's history visible rather than dressed up as nostalgia.

For brand builders, the case is a useful lesson in working with a heritage identity without freezing it. The paper gave collaborators loose guidelines rather than a rigid rulebook, and the results range from newsroom artifacts to a rolling broadsheet on a delivery truck. Brand strategists, designers and anyone planning a legacy anniversary will find practical ideas here, and the full feature on the original site is worth a slow look.