The map

I had a tough few weeks before the presentation. I found myself unmotivated and my project didn’t seem to be going anywhere. I was having second thoughts about it and the course so I was quite unproductive and also started suffering migraines. I’m not sure why this was but I had no other choice but to try and battle through. Anyhoo I thought I’d better pull myself out of the rut I was in and force myself to do something productive. I decided to just focus on one thing at a time. At this point I was worried my project had lost it’s viral edge, and I’m still thinking of a way to tie it back in with the months of research I completed before christmas.

So I decided to focus on one thing at a time. One of the key points of my project is the map pack that the walker will receive. The projects essence is based on myth and legend and some of the work I had been producing such as the logos, classified ads, and initial teaser poster ideas weren’t working.

As you can see these clearly weren’t working with the theme. I needed to decide on the narrative so it all fit together in one style. The directions I wrote for one of the walks helped establish this.

6.Wander through the the chasm until you get to the very steep steps going out. It can be very muddy at the bottom of these steps. At the top of the steps keep right until you emerge onto the path and turn to the left.

Continue through this prehistoric world dripping with life. Do not get sucked down, pick your path carefully traveler, for hidden dangers lurk.

This damp place so legends say, the sun only fully shines on Solstace day.

Ascend the crevice curving round. When the top is reached keep left.

The normal is the original and the bold is the new text.  But be warned this is a work in progress. The language isn’t quite right for either of the walks yet. So I started to think about the actual target audience. Those walkers who are interested in myth and legend. I started to look at various things that might inspire me. particularly old maps. I also thought about how popular culture is associated with myth and legend. I began experimenting using the Lord of the Rings, and World of Warcraft (an online role-playing games) maps as inspiration.

I started off just doing simple experiments with ink, and looking at shapes and symbols within the maps. With these style maps I’m not to worried about them being absolutely accurate as it’s the theme I’m worried about at the moment. Although the walk is the correct shape and the landmarks are in the correct places along the route.

Within the pack I intend to put a scale map of the area as well, or recommend which map people should take with them for health and safety reasons. This one is to be part of the special pack.

After hand drawing a few maps I started to play around with materials. For instance a lot of the themed maps i have found and the older style ones have aged paper. As I am still trying to figure out what the best material to use would be I decided to go old school and tea stain some paper to get the desired effect, as a tester.

These experiments have turned out quite well and you can see a theme beginning to develop. My next stage of experimentation was to try this on the computer to get a printer friendly look and play around with colour and texture. I am not dismissing the idea of using a handmade map, as I think it would add authenticity to the piece and materials such as indian inks and a variety of paper stocks could come up with some interesting creations.

Through experimenting on the computer. this is one stage of the possible design. I have added colours that are around the area, using the natural tones of the environment. My intent is to keep it quite muted in order to keep that aged effect. Through research I have found little to no colour is used and when it is, it doesn’t appear very bright. the shapes is the area in which the roaches lies within the peak district and I have created several sections based on villages and areas surrounding it. the boundary lines are estimated but the general area in which they sit is almost correct. I have only chosen a few of these to show on the map to give it a sense of being its only little world.

On the left is a map generated on the mac, using the shape of the area taken from the larger map. The text and route were added digitally, and I then printed it off worked on it with black ink adding texture and shapes, which was then scanned in again and the background added.  these maps are a work in progress and I am continuing to develop these ideas further.

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