a poster with a grid of researchers faces and photos representing their work, text democratizing high performance research computing, empowering research in more fields with technology. High performance computing isn't just for computer science anymore.

Poster & Misc. Graphics: Democratizing High Performance Computing

This is a graphic I drafted as part of an effort to increase interest in using high performance research computing resources at UMass Amherst. We wanted to change the public impression that high performance computing is for computer scientists only by highlighting work being done by researchers in a wide range of fields.

This graphic concept was intended to accompany previously published handouts highlighting researchers, and to be a precursor to several feature articles detailing specific interesting research applications of high performance computing (which are still in production, delayed due to pandemic and staffing).

I produced several alternate versions to use as a banner ad, a handout, and a multi-page magazine spread.

View poster pdf

A stack of quarter page sized handout versions of the poster

Visual themes I wanted to incorporate into this graphic include:

High color photographic elements to increase the feeling of diversity of ideas and styles
Clear, highly legible closeup portraits to add a human element
The idea of erasing boundaries and misconceptions
Strong connection to the university brand through prominent use of our primary color, while avoiding putting too much focus on the university itself (Many of the university's research computing resources are connected to a joint project, the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center)

Another goal was to grab attention from a wide range of people, while still giving enough information for them to take action.