The Hitchhiker's Map

This was an interesting map I recently came across. I don't know where its from as it had no source, nor do I trust its validity (for example, I am aware that hitchhiking in Japan is immensely popular and one of the safest places in the world to do it in), however, it is a neat concept

The Upside Down Map

The famous upside down world map. People have suggested that the power balance between countries would be much different today if the world had been drawn "upside down". What is right side up and upside down anyway when the universe is infinite and directionless? The world could have easily be drawn this way when first cartographic maps were being produced. Note how the the US and Western Europe seem so small and almost virtually lost in this map.

Boston Typography Map

Continuing on Typography, this Axis Map of Boston really is a nice, new fresh idea. I had never seen a map like this until I stumbled upon this site recently. Really creative! (Dear Axis Map, when are you going to make one of Montreal?!)

Typography is something I only got into depth about when I was in "mapping school". As a section in one of our visualisation classes, we would all grumble at how "useless" learning about typography was. Yes, we needed to learn that names of rivers and lakes where to be in Italics and other similar design standards for maps, but learning about when Helvetica and thus the sans serifs fonts were created was always something we laughed about until we realized afterwards how important typography actually is. After seeing categories about typography of Jeopardy! more than once and coming across multiple articles online, I now have a new found respect for typography an typography-obsessed people. In fact, I find it so interesting now that I actually get excited when I come across typography articles. Gosh, have I turned into one of those people? I think I started noticing my own mini-obsession after being e-mailed this page from a former classmate, dedicated the Toronto Subway Typographies.

(Side note: In one of the blogs I follow, the girl is obsessed with the ampersand. I love seeing her updates on ampersand related news. If you don't know what an ampersand is, as I learned that a lot of people don't know it by its proper name, you should Google it. And then use it in a sentence with a friend to feel a lot smarter than you actually are. Like I do. Oops, did I just say that out loud?!).

Vacation Memoirs in Map Form

Photo and design by & Kathleen of Jeremy & Kathleen

An interesting idea for a vacation photo. I remember making a similar one (above) way back before I knew very much about how to design maps. However, mine was using a random map of France from Google Image Search, had a line drawn with MS Paint to show the path my friend and I took by train, and then a picture of us superimposed in the top corner. After seeing this image, I am now tempted to re-do my map with the skills and knowledge I have today, or you know, actually get started on maps from other vacations I took.

Photo and design by &Kathleen of Jeremy & Kathleen

The image above is from Jeremy & Kathleen's Nepal trip to the Mount Everest Base Camp. & Kathleen has included on the first picture, at the start of everyday, the trek they would be taking.

Error in Printing - Typography of South Amercia

Published by the Geographical Press in 1935

John Krygier posted and interesting article on Typography maps. Although he states that this map was printed by error, sans political boundaries, it is still an interesting map on its own, and a great idea. This article also includes the previously mentioned Manhattan Wordmap.

Manhattan Wordmap

This wordmap, by Howard Horowitz, depicts what New York is to New Yorkers.