Map Drawing London Agency Sectorlight
Sector Light, a design agency, approached me with an interesting project led by designer Emily Knight. The task was to create a hand-drawn map of London, focusing on a select few iconic landmarks: London Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard, the London Eye, and the OXO Tower. These landmarks were chosen to add distinction and character to the London map drawing.
The purpose of this map was to be printed on canvas and framed for a showroom operated by a development company located in Bermondsey. To ensure accuracy and relevancy, I conducted research on contemporary street maps of London. I then began the process of sketching the roads of London, employing a deliberately sketchy and imperfect line style. In fact, the imperfections were intentional, as they added to the overall aesthetic appeal.
Following the initial drawing, I used Photoshop sparingly to refine the lines. However, I made sure not to over-edit, as I wanted to preserve the sketchy and authentic look and feel of the map. The next step involved carefully placing the landmarks within the London map, ensuring they complemented the overall composition.
This project presented a departure from my usual map illustration style, leaning towards simplicity and a more organic, hand-drawn appearance. The result was a highly effective map that effectively captured the essence of London’s streets and key landmarks. This experience has inspired me to consider incorporating elements of this newfound simplicity into my future map illustrations, as it proved to be a compelling approach to map design.
