Designing Illustrated Maps: My Process as an Illustrator
One of my favourite creative projects is designing illustrated maps. They’re playful, packed with detail, and full of storytelling potential. Every map I create feels like a little adventure — not just for the viewer, but for me too. I thought I’d share some of my techniques and the steps I take to bring them to life.
Step 1: Research, Research, Research
For me, the process always begins with a deep dive into the place I’m illustrating. That might mean scrolling through Google Maps, reading local history websites, or looking at tourism guides. Sometimes I even watch travel vlogs to get a sense of the atmosphere.
I’m not just hunting for accurate information — I’m searching for the unique details that make the place special. Is it a quirky landmark? A local food? A story that everyone in town knows? Those little touches are what bring a map to life.
Step 2: Sketching and Tracing Key Buildings
Buildings and landmarks often anchor an illustrated map, but drawing every single one from scratch can be overwhelming. To make the process manageable, I sometimes trace outlines of important buildings from reference photos, and then simplify them into a playful, illustrated style. This helps me stay accurate while still giving the drawings a hand-drawn personality.
It’s not about making a perfect architectural drawing — it’s about capturing the spirit of the place. A wobbly window or a slightly exaggerated roofline can actually add more charm and warmth.
Step 3: Creating the Layout
Once I’ve collected my research and sketched a few buildings, I start thinking about how everything fits together. Illustrated maps don’t have to be geographically precise — they’re about storytelling.
I usually begin with a rough layout:
Major landmarks at the centre or corners
Roads and rivers weaving through the design
Smaller icons (trees, animals, boats, people) filling the spaces in between
This is the stage where the map transforms from research into a whimsical illustration.
Step 4: Pulling It All Together in Procreate
Procreate is my go-to tool for maps. Once I’ve got my layout, I bring everything into Procreate and start layering. I’ll often:
Use separate layers for each landmark or icon (so I can move them around easily)
Experiment with textures and brushes for different surfaces (grass, water, stone)
Add hand-lettered text for street names or titles
The flexibility of Procreate lets me refine and re-arrange as I go. Sometimes I’ll swap colours, resize buildings, or even shuffle the whole composition until it feels just right.
Step 5: Adding Character and Storytelling
The last stage is my favourite: adding the little details that make the map feel alive. Maybe it’s a dog sitting outside a café, a ferry crossing the river, or a flock of birds overhead. These tiny touches make people want to linger and explore the illustration — the way they’d wander through the place itself.
I also offer map-making as a graphic design service here.
Are you ready?
Designing illustrated maps is a mix of research, creativity, and play. I love that each map teaches me something new about a place while also giving me the freedom to interpret it in my own style. Whether I’m tracing a landmark, layering textures in Procreate, or sneaking in a few whimsical extras, the process always feels like storytelling with a pencil (or, in this case, an Apple Pencil).
If you’ve ever wanted to try making your own illustrated map, start small. Pick a favourite street, park, or even your neighbourhood, do a little research, and then let your imagination take it from there.
Hey, there! I’m Jasmine Berry, a freelance illustrator based in sunny Perth, Western Australia. Most days you’ll find me sketching away on my iPad or surrounded by pencils and cats, chasing new ideas. I like to think of myself as eternally optimistic—always seeing the fun, the colour, and the possibility in every project I take on. Send me a message if you would like to collaborate on a project.