Word & Image: Hand-Lettered Maps

Words and images are often used in conjunction with one another to convey a certain message or meaning. However, words can also be used in a way that does not create a meaning, but rather an image itself. When surfing the internet, I stumbled across some hand-lettered maps that were maps of various urban areas that showed names of districts in their respective areas.



I was really attracted to these hand-lettered maps because they were a form of map visually differently than any other I had ever seen. It functions the same as a “normal” map, in that it lists the various districts of the area. Yet, these hand-lettered maps really allow you to look at each area in order to read the various districts. Also, this map becomes more of a piece of art rather than a map for use.



What I love about the design of hand-lettered maps is their use of space. Each word is cleverly and strategically placed in a way that correctly represents its district, while not leaving any open space. Though it may or may not be proportionally accurate, this gives the map depth and complexity when looking at it. A simple color scheme allows us to focus on the words initially, and it is after we see the words together, in their entirety, do we realize it is a map. These aspects, though simple, are what makes these unique maps a piece of art and catches the eye.

New York hand-lettered map by Ursula Hitz

San Francisco hand-lettered map from unknown