ILLUSTRATED VECTOR MAP

Our very first digital skills project “illustrated vector map”. This project combines digital skills (Visual Skills module) with creative design development (Design Studio Module).In this project, we have to create an illustrated vector map in which we will be applying the tools (AI) that we have learnt so far. Additionally, with every session, new tools will be introduced to us which will help us with the ongoing project work also for future use and understanding.

Pre -Work

We were given a pre-work before our digital skills session which we had to submit on canvas and that was to create a Hand-Drawn Map of a chosen area/locality that we are familiar with, on an A3 size sheet of paper.

I chose to depict “Ashok Vihar” on my map. Well honestly when we were given the brief about making a map, I was so sure about choosing this place and why not? A place you have grown up, what can be better than that, right?  

 The main struggle for me was to draw a map, I never tried making a map as I was always very rigid about the sort of drawings I made and I really didn’t know how to showcase that entire picture of that locality on my sheet. 

After trying and throwing my almost 15 trials, I came up with this map;

I myself wasn’t sure about this map then how could my teacher be so after this one wasn’t approved I just googled and tried to find out how maps are like I wanted to check in-depth and actually understand that was I really doing justice to the locality map and I realised I wasn’t. 

• I REALISED THAT ALL THE MAPS HAD A SPECIFIC COLOUR SCHEME LIKE ALL THE MAPS LOOKED TOO SIMILAR IN THEIR APPEARANCE.

And after seeing almost all the maps I could, I thought and made a clear picture in my mind that what I had to show in my map and then I came up with this final map;

And I can say I covered all the places I had in my mind, this place is so close to me like a place I have spent 15 years, I tried to give full justice to this locality and tried to put everything on my sheet what I had in my mind.

STAGE 1

Today we were told to create a line drawing of our map on the basis of our hand-drawn map on AI.

Honestly, when we started I was a bit nervous that how I’m gonna do it but at the same time I was just loving the process and I finally came up with this line drawing of my map, I showed it to sir and he approved it.

I decided to give my map a pastel,calming,peaceful look which would be very appealing to eyes and very much "self-explanatory". Prachi mam gave us a suggestion to look out some pictures of the theme we wanted to give to our map so that we can visualise and sort of understanding the theme in depth which we were planning to give to our map. 

I searched on Pinterest and i found these and just look at these pictures, they gave me a sense of calmness and retro at the same time just like I wanted my map to be.

REALISATIONS

• I REALISED THAT ALL THE MAPS HAD A SPECIFIC COLOUR SCHEME LIKE ALL THE MAPS LOOKED TOO SIMILAR IN THEIR APPEARANCE.

• TO GIVE OUR MAP A PROFESSIONAL LOOK WE CAN USE 'BOLD' TEXT WHEREAS SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GIVE THEIR MAP MORE OF A FUN OR MODERN LOOK CAN TRY CALLIGRAPHIC FONT.

We had to create B&W line drawings of the icons we had to place in a map. To know which I can would suit a map the best,we explored and created minimum 2-3 icons for each landmark keeping in mind our major keywords and ticked the most suitable one.

Below are the icons i created: