Mission

Limn is an experiment in collaborative inquiry. Published in print and open-access online editions, the journal gathers scholars, artists, and activists to illuminate–or limn–problems emerging at the interface of technology, politics, and contemporary life.

Limn is a scholar-led, not-for-profit publication – and itself an experiment in intellectual form and function. Collaboration, curation, and design are at the heart of who we are and what we do. At Limn, we look at things differently. We respond to the political and technological concerns of the present by working collaboratively to cast the world in fresh, unexpected light. 

Each Limn issue takes on a particular topic and challenges contributors from diverse fields and backgrounds to explore it at oblique angles. Working creatively and collaboratively, Limn’s goal is to provide clear, quick-hitting, and well-designed interventions that are both timely and timeless. 

Vision

Design is foundational to how Limn organizes knowledge and communicates concepts. We work closely with contributors and our art directors to create accessible, engaging interventions. Our curated and collaborative mode of inquiry enables each issue to become its own aesthetic and intellectual experience.

Limn is a diamond open-access, more-than-just-scholarly publication. Our projects gather insight from contributors working in diverse fields and contexts. And we are committed to producing work that is understandable, provocative, and accessible for diverse audiences. Though we sell our beautifully designed print editions (to help offset our production costs), every issue of Limn can be read for free online. All content on this website is freely available under a Creative Commons 4.0 Share-Alike License.

History

Limn was founded in 2010 by Christopher Kelty, Andrew Lakoff, and Stephen Collier as an alternative to conventional academic models. The open-access, design-forward publication quickly carved out a unique niche and loyal following. For the next decade, it produced issues on topics such as public infrastructures, little development technologies, big data, and logistical chokepoints. Limn went dormant in 2018. It returned in 2024 with new editors, a new look, and a renewed vision. 

Editorial Collective

Ashley Carse
Jason Cons
Timothy W. Elfenbein
Gökçe Günel
Townsend Middleton
Jerry C. Zee

Art Direction

Ian Searcy & Ryan Thompson

Webmaster

Matt Lembo

Copy Editor

Anna J. Barańczak

Editorial Assistant

Sara Pollack-Toro

Advisory Board

Janneke Adema
Nikhil Anand
Stephen J. Collier
Deborah Cowen
Heather Davis
Christopher M. Kelty
Andrew Lakoff
Shannon Mattern
Amy Moran-Thomas
Raj Patel
Peter Redfield
Rafico Ruiz
Bharat Venkat

Founding Editors

Stephen J. Collier
Christopher M. Kelty
Andrew Lakoff

For inquires please contact [email protected]

Limn lives because of the generous support of our donors. To pledge your support, visit the website limn.press.

Institutional Supporters

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology
Rice University, Department of Anthropology
Transart Foundation
Tulane University, Department of Anthropology
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Libraries
Charter Supporters
Judith Cons
Damien Newman
Charlie Piot
Dee and Richard Pietsch
Travis Rejman

Supporters

Jatin Dua
Lieba Faier
Catherine Fennell
Rachel Fensham
Cansu Günel
Lisa Hoffman
Frédéric Keck
Annika Lems
Duncan McDuie-Ra
Townsend Middleton 
Andrew Mills
Aihwa Ong
Jonathan Padwe
Elliott Prasse-Freeman
Ali Riaz
Kitty Schaum
Dina Siddiqi
James Slotta and Courtney Handman
Richard and Nancy Steeves
James and Paula Vicenzi
Malte Ziewitz
Stephen Zigmund