Decorative Maps
Maps are windows showing spatial arrangements and relationships of places in the world.
Decorative maps move beyond simple functionality. They add bright color, lively details, and pleasing design to the spatial arangements.
The mapping process emphasizes how geographic information is presented.
Well-known decorative maps include...
- Dutch cartographic masters who use ornamentation and embellishment to add beauty to geographic information. Plus ships, animals, and vegetation give a sense of human and natural history to their maps.
- Modern map artists who make geographical information accessible and attractive to the reader in many different art styles.
- Cartoonists and illustrators who create pictorial map representations with interpretation, whimsy, and often humor.
Creativity and beauty of decorative and pictorial maps are what I love...
- Borders, symbols and drawings giving an overall sense of place in a map.
- Shapes of land or sea in the design.
- Elegant compass roses and north arrows.
- Colors, patterns and textures in the display of maps.
- Visual impact of map projections.
In this website you will find old and new maps, visual analyses and interpretations of maps, mapping techniques for creating visually appealing maps, and some of my favorite cartographers and map artists.
Types Of Maps
Discover the many types of pictorial and decorative maps and how decoration and embellishment add to their geographic message
Design And Layout
Discover how good mapping design incorporates color, projection, shape, lettering, ornamentation, and symbolism to support a map's purpose and create a sense of geographic place
Projections
Many sites tell you what a map projection is and how they are done, I look at the artistic side of how projections affect map design
Compass Rose Designs
Compare compass rose designs, see examples, and get design ideas
Lettering On Maps
Discover how good map lettering incorporates font style, size, and weight to make effective labels
Ornament And Embellishment
Add distinct character and lively design to your maps by using these ideas for ornament and embellishment
Map Symbols
Learn techniques and find examples of map symbols representing natural and man-made features
Map Materials
What are materials you need to start making maps? Compare digital to hand-drawn
How To Make A Map
Learn how to make a map using hand drawing, digital drawing, and GIS techniques"
Map Artists
Read about map artists and see examples of their works
Map Design Analysis
Map analysis break down of how color, texture, lettering, ornamentation, and shape combine to make great, effective maps