Generally, a system for generating a magnetic field having a desired magnetic field strength and/or a desired magnetic field direction is provided. The system can include a plurality of magnetic segments and/or a plurality of ferromagnetic segments. Each magnetic segment can be positioned adjacent to at least one of the plurality of magnetic segments. Each ferromagnetic segment can be positioned adjacent to at least one of the plurality of magnetic segments. In various embodiments, a size, shape, positioning and/or number of magnetic segments and/or ferromagnetic segments in the system, as well as a magnetization direction of the magnetic segments can be predetermined based on, for example, predetermined parameters of the system (e.g., a desired magnetic field strength, direction and/or uniformity of the magnetic field, a desired elimination of a magnetic fringe field and/or total weight of the system) and/or based on a desired application of the system (e.g., performing a magnetic resonance imaging of at least a portion of a patient and/or performing a magnetic resonance spectroscopy of a sample).