Lucky Is As Lucky Does

Leading US magazine publisher Conde Nast's title Lucky Magazine commissioned shopping maps of Dallas, Las Vegas, Seattle,Chicago and most recently Las Vegas . I can only manage virtual visits for my research, but even these are interesting. Discovering new places I can imagine visiting and I sometimes wonder if one day I’ll find myself in downtown Seattle/Kuala Lumpur/Milan and spookily be able to find my way around without using a map….
Thanks to Jennifer Grant for taking time to send me the photos.

Map wraps Museum of Modern Art

If you find yourself in New York, drop into MOMA and see some of my work, displayed alongside Jasper Johns and Chris Ofili. OK, my Map Wraps are in the museum store, not on the walls, but look at this way – you could own a Maps Illustrated design for a few dollars. More cities are available now including Sydney and Berlin(see above)

ITS A WRAP

I’m delighted to say I’m in the final for Gift Wrap of the Year Award (part of the Gift Show of the Year at the NEC). I’ve been shortlisted for my “Map Wraps” (featuring three of my favourite cities, London, Paris and New York) which I designed last year for Lagom Design www.lagomdesign.co.uk. The winner will be announced on the 6^th of February.

In the later months of 2010 I had been producing a series of informational illustrations for Diplomat Magazine based in London. The articles have been very interesting but still very dry and needed to be some informational graphics to help explain or highlight some of the fact-based copy. Piracy off the coast of Somalia, The funding of British Overseas territories, the financial crisis in the Developing Nations and the Danube Basin Economic Region. Maybe not your first choice of reading matter but the pictures look good

Waddler and Maps Illustrated link over South America

New Children's clothes company 'Waddler' have approached Michael A Hill to produce wrapping paper for there online business. Having seen the map wraps produced by Lagom Designs they asked for something similar. The map wrap shows South America with a retro children's feel. Hopeful this will be the beginning of an exciting partnership between the two companies.

"Waddler is an exciting new childrens clothing boutique and its first collection is now available online. The clothes combine European styling in subtle tones with South American textiles and traditional skills The collection includes a full body wolf suit, bombacho trousers and delicate cardigans all knitted in 100% baby alpaca wool. The designs were inspired by the three years the owners spent living in South America with their little boy"

http://www.waddler.co.uk

Maps Illustrated nominated for Book Award

The short-list for the Travel Press Awards has been announced and the Maps Illustrated book " Walk London" has been nominated in the Guide Book section. This prestigious national awards programme created to recognise excellence and achievement within the fields of travel journalism, photography and broadcasting.

Having been nominated for an award in the British Book Design Awards for '52 weekends by the sea' but not actually winning it would be great to end this great (in my eyes) year with an award.

The other nominations in that category are

- Australia - published by Lonely Planet
- Back Roads Great Britain - published by DK Eyewitness Travel
- Camping in Britain - published by The Rough Guides
- Marrakech Day by Day - published by Frommer's
- Walk London - published by Pitkin Guides further details of Walk London can be found on the website www.walklondon.co.uk

Glen Canyon- Utah a special illustrated map

Wow, I think as I look at the pictures of Antelope Canyon, Utah! This is a special place, a place changed so much not by man but by time and the world it's self. Luckily I had been commissioned by Backpacker magazine to produce a map of the area, but exploring the area on Google Earth and looking at photos made this commission so much more exciting and I feel that this excitement was transferred to the map. Using the colours of the area which evoke the palette of the 1950's and a simple hand-drawn style made this such a memorable maps. The client thought it was 'awesome'. What do you think?