Known for his visually arresting designs and fascination with the patterns, rhythm, and architecture of type, Martin Venezky prefers, in his own words, "to be as close to the material as possible."

This intimacy results in a process that is both high- and low-tech, as Venezsky often juxtaposes found material with layers of heavily treated type and digitally reproduced images. For issue number 20 of Speakmagazine, for instance — which Venezky art directed from 1995 to 1991 — he photographed and scanned cherry stems; using computer-imaging software, he then duplicated and reoriented the images to create kaleidoscopic effects.

Venezky earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and since 1993 has taught typography at the California College of Arts in San Francisco. In 1997, he founded his design studio, Appetite Engineers, in San Francisco. He has undertaken influential commercial work for Reebok and the Sundance Film Festival, and also created an award-winning design for Open: The Magazine of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which was provided to museum members between 2000 and 2001.