A UNESCO resolution called for 2011 to be observed as the International Year of Chemistry, with conferences, symposia, lectures, expositions, fairs and art exhibitions that focused on “the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.” UK-based graphic designer/illustrator Simon C. Page (who created the incredible prints for the International Year of Astronomy 2009) was brought in to develop a poster campaign.

Page’s approach was to feature the achievements of some of the world’s greatest scientists through bold graphic images. Beautiful when viewed simply as abstract art, the posters convey their own scientific story of atoms, ions, buckyballs, H2O and the like to knowledgeable chemists and physicists. You don’t have to know chemistry to appreciate these prints.