A Map of the World

Posted on April 13, 2013 by marleen

Gestalten recently added a new beauty to their range of impressive map books. ‘A Map of the World’ showcases contemporary maps by designers, illustrators and mapmakers from all over the world. As the publisher states: ‘Maps help us understand and navigate the world. For centuries, maps have become better, more refined, and more precise—there are no blind spots anymore. While Google Maps and GPS systems have become our tools of choice for navigation, contemporary maps have evolved into platforms for cutting-edge illustration, experimental data visualization, and personal visual storytelling.’ Couldn’t agree more! ‘A Map of the World’ consists of a great collection of maps, varying from very personal narrative maps to accurate street plans. Full of cartographic experiments, bright colours and enough pretty maps to look at once in a while: this book will make a great addition to your book collection. Oh, and do you remember the Cosmographies by Carlos Romo Melgar I blogged about last year? He is one of the featured artists in this book!

London Subway by Susan Stockwell

Posted on April 7, 2013 by marleen

Lazy sundays are perfect to flip through my collection of map books. The Map as Art is one of my favourites (and was the first gift my boyfriend ever gave me. Good thinking of the guy!). This piece by Susan Stockwell is also in it: a London Subway map of red cotton that is stitched on calligraphy rice paper. Make sure to check out her website because she creates awesome art work. Happy sunday!

London Subway by Susan Stockwell, 2007

Fairburn Map Art

Posted on November 30, 2012 by marleen

Ed Fairburn creates art by drawing on old road maps: the magic of the map gets magnified by his amazing ink drawn portraits. Look at these… (and check more about Ed on his Facebookpage).

Money in the Bag

Posted on September 25, 2012 by marleen

Cool, My Modern Metropolis posted about two world maps that were both created with currency: one with coins and one with paper. The blog made them fade in to each other, great idea!
The one with coins is done by design studio Bedow from Sweden, using the region’s native currencies for each continent. The paper currency map is created by The310Investigator, who used photo manipulation to cut the different banknotes into the shape of countries. Great idea, both of them!

LED me take you home

Posted on September 18, 2012 by marleen

Useful, very useful idea I must say. Check out these shoes, designed by British designer Dominic Wilcox. They will get you home, no matter what. It works through an embedded GPS device in the heel and some flashy and very smart LED lights in the front part of the brogues design. Those lights will guide you home, check the video for an interview with Dominic on how it works. LOVE THEM!

No Place Like Home from Dominic Wilcox on Vimeo.

Details on the project:
No Place Like Home shoes by Dominic Wilcox
Technology developed by Becky Stewart
Leather shoes made by Stamp Shoes, Northampton
Film by Liam Saint-Pierre

Biggy Berlin

Posted on August 15, 2012 by marleen

Our friends at Carticulate always share cool stuff like this project (they found through The Atlantic Cities, and what I in my turn am happy to share with you guys). In Berlin the 775th birthday of the city is celebrated with a huge map (2.500 meter, scale 1:775). The birthday present is created by eight artists and opens for the public on August 25th. Here is more information on the programme 775 years of Berlin (and where you can find this map on the map).

photo: Thomas Peter for Reuters

photo: Sean Gallup for Getty Images

Shapeshift Your Horizon

Posted on July 27, 2012 by marleen

Are you ready to see the city from another angle? The project ‘Here & There‘ by BERG London is just what you need. By combining a viewpoint from the air plus one standing on the street, this gives you Manhattan in a totally new dimension. An impressive one, if you ask me. There were limited prints available for sale, when Here & There was presented in 2009. Since February 2012 Here & There is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Meshu Map Love

Posted on July 24, 2012 by marleen

Amazing. amazing. amazing. amazing. I can’t emphasize enough how much I love this project. The geometrical shapes, the materials, and obviously the map that is the story behind the jewellery. We’re talking Meshu here.
Meshu is a project by Sha Hwang and Rachel Binx, who both are very creative and work in the field of data visualisation. Meshu’s are all custom-made, 3D-printed or laser-cut and you can order earrings, necklaces or cufflinks. The geometrical shapes are based on locations on a map. You can either order a Meshu from the shop or create your own, based on your recent travels, or maybe consisting of your favourite spots in your hometown. With an ordered Meshu, you receive a postcard with the cartography of the design. This excites me so much, I might even stay in with this beautiful weather and create Meshu’s all day. Wow!

Mind the Map

Posted on July 4, 2012 by marleen

Looking for a nice map exhibition and are you lucky and going to London soon? This expo is definetely worth checking out. Mind the Map is on show in the London Transport Museum. In the exhibition attention is drawn to the inspiration, history and creativity behind London transport maps. Existing of historic material in combination with new artworks by for example Simon Patterson, Stephen Walter, Susan Stockwell, Jeremy Wood, Claire Brewster, and Agnes Poitevin-Navarre. Mind the Map will be on show until October 2012.

I think the name itself is already brilliant, but am excited to see the exhibition. Do share your thoughts if you have seen it!

Handpicked London

Posted on June 25, 2012 by marleen

London presented in a very nice and attractive way: these hand drawn maps by Jenni Sparks definetely do the trick. The hand drawn map is based on the Tube Map, and shows in addition streets, landmarks, museums etc. Besides that, Sparks included some local elements to make sure the map captures the real London. Love it!

Maps and the City

Maps & Design

Tag Archives: Art