I had the pleasure of creating maps for three different cities in Minnesota. All three maps have been a useful tool for both internal city use as well as for its residents. These cities all have GIS positions working for them, but a designer was necessary to help make the map easy to read while adding all the details necessary. I begin by tracing each and every road in Illustrator software, label the streets with legible fonts and pin drop specific locations. It all sounds simple, but each map has well over 70 layers and takes great attention to detail to be sure of accuracy. Layering in different colors and textures helps the viewer’s eye find what they are looking for without getting overwhelmed. Beyond the actual map, the rest of the brochure is laid out so that the folded panels flow together.
Wayzata, Minnesota is a gorgeous city.
There is such a great balance of updated development all the while it still remains authentic to its history. Lake Street has a beautiful view of sailboats on Wayzata Bay with charming shops, quaint cafes, and restaurants to enjoy. Though small in size, this city has so much character to portray into one design.
My Vision
After working for a landscape architect firm in the heart of Minneapolis years ago, I am still tightly holding onto the appreciation of a master plan. Because I knew nothing about landscape architecture, part of my job there was to design the layout around the master plans--but to me, the master plan in itself was a design. A master plan typically has beautiful watercolor drawings/sketches to portray a vision of what could someday be built.
Because Wayzata is a smaller city than the Plymouth Parks & Trails Map I had designed, I felt the opportunity was given to add so much more detail. Much like a master plan.
To begin the project, I took the PDF (left) as a starting point and retraced all the roads, lakes, parks, and trails in Illustrator (right).
