When planning a map for visitors, making information easy to process quickly can be taken for granted. Many cities naturally want to include every street, landmark and possible location a visitor or potential new resident would want to see in a traditional street map. However, the new trend of illustrated proximity maps is proving to be an invaluable resource when combined with more conventional maps. With an illustrated map, visitors’ eyes will be drawn in with a variety of bright colors and artistic imagery skillfully interwoven with popular tourist destinations and venues. This process creates a more engaged traveler by using art to help them retain information about your destination!
Illustrated maps are simplified versions of classic street maps with anywhere from 10-20 landmarks or popular destinations as opposed to listing every possible place a visitor could go. The goal is to quickly show the visitor the proximity of top attractions to entice them to visit each destination and help develop a quick itinerary.
The value doesn’t end there — illustrated maps are seen as an engaging complement to conventional maps. One option brings a bright, colorful and fun way to learn about a new area while the other provides in-depth information for reference. Adding an illustrated map to your repertoire is a surefire way to help visitors fully enjoy your city, county or attraction. Check out some of our previous masterpieces we’ve done for tourism destinations like Quincy, IL, Jacksonville, IL and Pulaski County, MO:
So, how do you get started? Any good map begins with identifying the destinations you want to highlight first and foremost. Research your destination and pinpoint locations that not only provide memorable shopping, dining and entertainment experiences, but also serve as unique visual identifiers; these can include statues, monuments or other Instagrammable points of interest. As you build your list of destinations, work with community leaders and partners to verify and ensure you don’t leave any top spots out.
Proximity should also serve as a deciding factor. How close are these destinations to one another? Do you have room to include them all in the given space? Do you value proximity over functionality? Many illustrated maps aren’t drawn to scale, but rather are designed to show where landmarks and locations are relative to one another, so visitors gain a broad understanding of where to find these places.
Illustrated maps bring a sense of whimsy and fun to tourists visiting your destination for the first time. They encourage open exploration, highlighting different spaces along the route and helping visitors discover places that otherwise may have gone overlooked. One family may be drawn to a certain illustration on the map that leads them to a local park for an afternoon of fun. A couple could be interested in a section’s color scheme that leads to discovering the city’s nightlife area. Developing an engaging illustrated map comes down to creating engaging visuals that resonate with audiences and ensuring the illustrator and designer capture the essence of what your town is about!
Ready to bring a sense of artistic excitement to your destination? We’re here to help — contact Jenna Ferrell at jferrell@mcdmarketing.com or call 309-346-4230 today!