Author: Le Cartographiste

What is an illustrated map? Understanding the differences between illustrated and practical maps

Header for the article What is an illustrated map showing a split image made of 4 different illustrated map examples

Over the years as a freelance map illustrator and designer, I have had the pleasure of working on many illustrated and practical maps. I’ve worked for clients from various industries, and I often encounter people who are confused about the difference between illustrated and practical maps. That’s why I wanted to discuss what these different types of maps are, how they differ, and share why both can be incredibly useful in their own ways!

How to make an illustrated map step-by-step

Points of interest in the Shoalhaven area

 

A few years ago I decided to take part in the “Mapping Special Places” contest curated by They Draw and Travel and Stroly. I thought it would be interesting to share a step-by-step guide of how I created this illustrated map with you. In this post I’ll take you through my creative process and how it all came together. I hope that you can learn from this concrete example and design your own map.