MIT Technology Review magazine, published by MIT, covers the social, political and economic impacts of new technologies. Founded in 1899 as the alumni magazine of the institute, it’s regarded as an authority in its journalistic niche.

In 2017, FAY founder Aron Fay rebranded and redesigned the magazine in collaboration with Michael Bierut at Pentagram. As part of this work, a new ‘TR’ monogram, wordmark, typography, layout structure and supporting graphic and photographic styles were designed—all while honoring the institute’s legendary modernist heritage.

Three years later, the magazine approached FAY to create the cover art for its annual “10 Breakthrough Technologies” issue: a roundup of the year’s most promising tech. FAY created a wide range of possible solutions. MIT’s chosen artwork was an illustration of the number 10, concentric outlines emanating from its center—a literal breakthrough—paired with custom drawn typography.