The Emerald family lost a special person in July. Nate Makuch, 34, was a beloved member of the Emerald team during the “Revolution” era and creator of the iconic “E” branding.

Nate served the Emerald with dedication for nearly three years during his time as a student at the University of Oregon. He rose from page designer to art director and played a central role in the Emerald’s rebrand in the 2012–13 effort that redefined the paper’s identity.

Nate’s family recently shared the news of his passing on Facebook.

Nate’s family recently shared the news of his passing on Facebook.

“Hi, this is Nate’s family. We’re sad to share that Nate died in mid-July 2025.
You are probably as shocked as we are. He was only 34. 
He lost his battle with alcoholism. 
We have been humbled and appreciate the outpouring of love and support. Please note that we’ll hold a memorial service this fall in Portland, OR. Nate had so many friends; we’d love to have you join us.”

The service is planned for Sunday, Oct. 5 in Portland. The family encourages anyone to send a note to [email protected] if you’d like more information. They welcome sharing memories and photos.

McKenna Brown, Emerald Managing Editor in 2012-13,  remembered working beside her friend.

“I’ve spent these last few weeks trying to conjure the ‘right’ memory of Nate, something neat and tidy that perfectly sums up who he was as a person,” Brown wrote.  “What I’m remembering instead is how it felt to be his friend. It was, genuinely, an honor to be seen and liked by him. His talent was undeniable. He had the best taste.  His opinions came out fully formed and unwavering. And if he liked YOU, well, you felt a little bit anointed.

“Long after we graduated, he began creating these wonderfully funny, weird digital animations. They were gorgeous and fun, and they got a lot of attention from celebrities, brands and even LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). One day, I opened Instagram to see my name tagged in one — a little rippling shrimp with a neon halo. ‘Holy shrimps!’ read the caption, a reference to my expletive of choice during long nights at the Emerald offices. My heart positively glowed. He saw me. He liked me. And I felt a little bit anointed.”

The Emerald’s “Revolution” received national attention and buzz for its bold reimagining of student media. The new design was at the center.

Sam Stites, Emerald Editor-In-Chief in 2013-14, reflected on Nate’s enduring impact.

“His vision, leadership, and style left a lasting imprint on the publication and helped shape the work of many talented designers who followed,” Stites wrote. “Nate’s contributions strengthened the Emerald in ways that endured well beyond his tenure. He was also a bright, vivacious presence in the newsroom — someone whose energy and spirit will be deeply missed.”

Ryan Frank, then the publisher of Emerald Media Group, recalled how the “E” came to be.

“I can’t recall the first time I met Nate Makuch or the last time we hung out. But I can tell what letter in the alphabet we talked about most and how it made me feel,” Frank wrote.

“In the spring of 2012, the Emerald needed a new look that matched the energy of our new era.

“I had someone arrange a dozen or so designs of the letter “E” on a page and dutifully printed them on an 11×17 piece of paper that I taped to the wall in the Emerald offices. I had my favorites, and I was sure the students would circle around and agree with the opinions of someone they thought had been in college 35 years ago.

“Nate, the newsroom’s top student designer, didn’t think too much of my ideas (which he conveyed respectfully but directly) and he knew his audience better than me. He pulled out a new front page mock-up featuring a football player in a carbon fiber Nike uniform. In the top left-hand corner, there was this sharp, stunning, yellow E looking right back at us.

“Some memories from that era have been fuzzed over by time. But I can still feel the buzz of excitement from watching 15 Emerald students react to the future that Nate had created for us. We all smiled, certain that we were on the cusp of building some really cool shit together.”