First published in London in 1990, Eye was founded by Rick Poynor, a prolific writer on graphic design and visual communication.

Frequent contributors include Phil Baines, Steven Heller, John-Patrick Hartnett, Richard Hollis, Paul Kahn, Robin Kinross, Jan Middendorp, J. Abbott Miller, John O'Reilly, Rick Poynor, Elizabeth Resnick, Alice Twemlow, Kerry William Purcell, Steve Rigley, Adrian Shaughnessy, David Thompson, Christopher Wilson, Steve Hare and many others.

Recent issues have included photographs by Philip Sayer, Maria Spann and Francesco Brembati.

[2] Other contributors have included Louise Sandhaus, Gavin Bryars, Anne Burdick, Brendan Dawes, Simon Esterson (art director since issue 58),[3] Malcolm Garrett, Anna Gerber, Jonathan Jones, Emily King, Ellen Lupton, Russell Mills, Quentin Newark, Tom Phillips, Robin Rimbaud, Stefan Sagmeister, Sue Steward, Erik Spiekermann, Teal Triggs, Val Williams and Judith Williamson.

[4][5] The magazine has had five publishers: Wordsearch, Emap, Quantum Publishing, Haymarket Brand Media and Eye Magazine Ltd, formed by John L. Walters, Simon Esterson and Hannah Tyson in April 2008, after a management buyout.