Woman wearing sunglasses reading a map inside a sunlit modern building near an escalator.

Designpilgrimage

Map

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Interviews

Mapping My Journey: From Limburg to the Design Academy

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I created a map from my home in Limburg to the Design Academy, a route I travel every day. In the first four weeks, I began by noting down highlights along the way, which I then turned into a drawing that became the prototype of my map (see photos). Later, when I had extra time, I gathered more information. I started by writing down everything I saw on the left and right sides of my route, resulting in two long lists. After acquiring this information, I researched the designs and suitable sizes of other maps to inform my own.

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As I delved deeper into this project, I realized the need for different perspectives. I interviewed people to make the map more comprehensive, incorporating their views into short stories that I included in the map. The first few versions with this additional information were too cluttered, as I drew too closely, making it unpleasant to view. This led to feedback suggesting the use of more white space. After several prototypes, I finally arrived at this final result, which I’m really proud of. Below, you can see photos of my sketches and research.

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Additionally, I also managed to get the map printed by a friend. This project not only represents my daily journey but also showcases the process of transforming observations and stories into a cohesive and visually appealing map.

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A man points to the ceiling while standing next to a very tall architectural blueprint held by a person standing on a stool in a warmly lit room.

Detailed black ink drawing of historical buildings and a paper factory with stacked boxes and trees in the background, labeled 'Weert 08:32'.

Long blank white paper strip rolled out on a wooden dining table with a person flipping through printed maps or diagrams.

Hand-drawn architectural cross-section sketch on paper next to a purple coffee mug and a white keyboard.

Handwriting list of numbered Dutch words including 'bomen', 'bedrijf', 'akker', 'ziekenhuis', and 'snelweg' in a notebook page.