Computer Science at Illinois

Impact Reports

The Computer Science at Illinois Impact Report highlights the innovations, achievements and contributions of students, faculty and alumni. Each edition offers a look at the people and ideas advancing the field of computer science, the scientific challenges they’re tackling and the ways their work is making a difference.

McKenzie Wagner worked with the Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to design and produce the annual publication. Distributed to alumni, faculty, industry leaders and others in the academic community, the report also plays an important role in the department’s communications and fundraising efforts.

Filed Under:
Graphic Design Print Collateral Print Publication

While each Impact Report is part of a recognizable series, no two editions need to look exactly alike. A consistent design foundation ties the publications together, while the flexibility to adjust layouts, typography, imagery and visual treatments allows each edition to respond to its own editorial content. Several times over the course of these publications, the University updated its standards, which–ahem–impacted color, fonts and other graphical elements.

Our approach gave the report room to evolve from year to year, ensuring the design complements the stories being told rather than forcing every story into the same format. This resulted in a publication that feels familiar to its audiences while remaining fresh and relevant with each new edition.

While the Impact Report reaches a broad audience of alumni, faculty, students and industry leaders, an important readership extends to department heads and academic leaders at computer science programs around the world. These are the peers who understand the significance of the department’s work and help shape perceptions of its standing within the academic community.

Beyond documenting another year of progress, the Impact Report helps reinforce Computer Science at Illinois’ reputation among the academic leaders whose perspectives carry considerable weight.