We are interested not only in the products of design, but also in the stories behind the objects: what motivated the designer, who were his/her mentors or influences, why is the work significant, and how does it fit into the larger context of 20^th-century design, as well as into the social context of its time.

While our coverage begins in the 1920s and '30s with Art Deco and related movements, we also consider stories that look at earlier periods if a case can be made for the subject’s link to later movements. We have covered the Wiener Werkstätte and early Frank Lloyd Wright, for example, because their work was clearly seminal for later modernist ideas and production. Our readers are particularly interested in the mid-century period, and we also do stories on 1960s Pop. We generally end with 1980s postmodernism, but we are moving towards more coverage of contemporary design – always bearing in mind the subject’s relevance to the modern movement. We do not ordinarily cover fine art, but we might if the artist had influence on a design movement or did design work in addition to painting or sculpture. A good example is the sculptor Isamu Noguchi, who was also an accomplished furniture designer.

FEATURES
We publish four or five 2,000-2,500 word feature articles per issue. These range from scholarly (though written in an accessible style) to more personal, but all articles are well-informed views of a particular area of modern design. Articles about decorative arts and furniture tend to have an emphasis on collecting; we usually include sidebars with information on the relevant collectors’ market. We also publish interviews with well-known figures in the field, and try to track down living architects and designers whenever possible to interview them about their own work. Examples are designers Eva Zeisel and Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman, and architects Thornton Ladd and E. Stewart Williams.

DIGS
We feature one or two interior design projects each issue — usually as part of a larger story about the renovation of a 20^th-century house. If applicable, we emphasize the occupants’ collections of furniture and decorative arts. We do not cover contemporary architecture in general, unless the owners’ collections within the house merit attention. Length ranges from 1,000 – 1,500 words.

CITY REPORT
These are travel stories for people interested in modernist design. We cover a city or small region, discussing the development of  its 20^th-century architectural styles, and listing and describing notable houses and public buildings. We also list places to visit, such as period restaurants, vintage design stores and galleries, and museums. These are not typical travel stories; we do not list hotels, for example, unless they exhibit notable 20^th-century design. Length ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 words

CLOSE UP
Close Up is a close look at a specific topic such as an individual’s collection, a specific example of historic preservation, an interview with a designer, the redesign of a museum, etc. Length ranges from 1,500 – 2,500 words.

ILLUSTRATIONS
Authors supply illustrations for their articles. Please keep in mind that our photography budget is minimal, so we rely on existing images rather than commissioning new photography. Authors must obtain all permissions for the use of photographs or other images. Permissions fees will be reimbursed with prior approval from Modernism Magazine. We prefer slides, transparencies or photographic prints, but digital images are acceptable if they conform to the following minimum specifications:

• 300 dpi and 9 x 11 inches print size.
• We prefer TIF format over JPEG.
• Submit digital images on a disk; do not email them.
• Include a sheet of color thumbnail images labeled with digital file names.
• Include a typed list of the image file names with complete captions and photo credits for each image in MS Word format.

TEXT FORMAT
Text should be in Times New Roman, double spaced, with indented paragraphs and no space between paragraphs. Email text to andrea@modernismmagazine.com.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
To propose an article, send an email or letter to Andrea Truppin describing your subject matter, angle and illustration material. Please include a résumé and two samples of previously published writing, as well as a sample of unpublished writing. It helps to include images, but for the initial query, these can be low resolution digital files or Xerox copies.

Proposals are submitted on a speculative basis. A writers’ contract must be signed by the author and a representative of Modernism Magazine before the assignment is official.

The mailing address for submissions is:
Andrea Truppin, Editor-in-Chief
Modernism Magazine
199 George Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530

Tel 609/397-4104

Email: andrea@modernismmagazine.com