The hottest Maps Substack posts right now

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Maps Distort How We See the World

Uncharted Territories • 6682 implied HN points • 20 Apr 23
🔬 Science Maps
  1. Maps can distort our perception of the world due to the 2D representation of a 3D sphere
  2. Many countries and regions on maps appear different in size and proximity than in reality
  3. Different map projections can show completely different relationships between regions

The 1746 Rocque Map Of London... Now In Colour

Londonist: Time Machine • 718 implied HN points • 22 May 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. The 1746 Rocque Map of London is the first detailed map of the city, showcasing individual alleys, courts, and more in color.
  2. John Rocque used meticulous techniques for accuracy in his map, and aimed to record street names for detailed insight into 18th-century London.
  3. Adding color to the map helps reveal the complexity of land use, highlights water channels, and brings out details that were difficult to interpret in black and white.

Seeing Like Google

Archedelia • 2201 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🕹 Technology Maps
  1. The post discusses how technology is adding unnecessary layers of control, making simple tasks more complicated.
  2. It touches on the idea of these additional layers acting as a tax enforced by private commercial entities.
  3. The post invites readers to subscribe for a 7-day free trial to continue reading and access the full post archives.

Should this be a map or 500 maps?

escape the algorithm • 279 implied HN points • 11 Jun 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. A story about 500 priests tasked with map-making highlights the contrast between shared protocols and individual expressiveness.
  2. The experiment's failure underlines the idea that modularity can limit expressiveness in creative work and systems.
  3. Expressiveness in design often involves a trade-off between specificity and adaptability, seen in various aspects of our designed world.

Mongol Storms and Asian Ruins

The Oswald Spengler Project • 379 implied HN points • 13 May 24
💾 History Maps
  1. Spengler's work on Ancient Asia was a significant focus of his, but much of it remains untranslated into English, limiting its accessibility.
  2. Spengler had a deep interest in cartography and envisioned a new approach to universal history through the interaction of civilizations, highlighted in his sketch 'Altasien'.
  3. Spengler's plans for a series of articles on prehistory, including 'Ancient Asia', were cut short by his premature death, leaving many of his works and ideas unfinished.
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How To Collect The Lost Churches Of London

Londonist: Time Machine • 359 implied HN points • 15 May 24
💾 History Maps
  1. The Lost London Churches project offers 110 collectable cards depicting City of London churches, encouraging exploration of historic buildings and supporting maintenance through donations.
  2. Collectors can visit surviving churches to pick up packs of five random church cards for free, promoting a sense of discovery and community engagement.
  3. In addition to the cards, a Collector's Booklet provides detailed information about the churches and includes a beautifully reworked version of the 1677 Ogilby and Morgan map, offering a rich experience for London history enthusiasts.

City of the Parisii

Cosmographia • 1178 implied HN points • 29 Oct 23
💾 History Maps
  1. Nicolas Delamare's work on Parisian history through maps provides a detailed snapshot of the city's evolution from ancient times to 18th-century Paris.
  2. The Parisii, a Celtic tribe, built a prosperous settlement on the banks of the Seine River, minting their own gold coins before Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
  3. Julius Caesar's strategic battle against the Parisii, involving alliances and tactical maneuvers, exemplifies Roman military prowess in conquering ancient settlements.

A Deep Dive Into The Colourised Copperplate

Londonist: Time Machine • 379 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
💾 History Maps
  1. The article provides a detailed exploration of 90 locations mentioned on the Tudor map's eastern plate, discussing the history and significance of each label.
  2. John Stow, a key London historian from the 16th century, played a crucial role in deciphering the information on the Copperplate map, offering valuable insight into the city's history in that period.
  3. The map reveals interesting historical information about various streets, churches, and landmarks in Tudor London, showcasing how the city has evolved over the centuries.

Happy Valentine's Day

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 219 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Maps
  1. Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love and joy with good friends and family. It's a chance to show appreciation for those we care about.
  2. A historical map of Seattle from 1907 shows how the city was envisioned to grow. It highlights how places change over time and the importance of urban development.
  3. The story of Denny Hill's removal and the city's growth reminds us that progress can be slow. Cities evolve in their own time, often influenced by economic factors.

Analysis and Anarchy

Chartography • 157 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Charts can be a great source of inspiration for information graphic designers
  2. A structured approach like the XRAY method can help analyze why certain charts work well
  3. Combining aesthetics and analytics is key to creating effective data graphics

Mapping Landscape Change

Street Smart Naturalist: Explorations of the Urban Kind • 279 implied HN points • 06 Jul 23
💾 History Maps
  1. Maps of Lake Union show how it has changed over time, reflecting both natural and human impacts. This gives us a glimpse into the area's history and development.
  2. The lake was named during an important picnic in 1854, where ideas about transportation and community connections were discussed. This moment highlights how people shape places.
  3. By the mid-20th century, Lake Union had become industrialized, illustrating the balance between nature and urban growth. It makes us wonder how it will look in the future.

A Double-Shot of Inspiration

Chartography • 117 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Dogpatch, San Francisco is hosting data-graphic office hours at Wooly Pig, showcasing inspiring data visuals
  2. RJ Andrews will be discussing 'glorious data graphics' in an upcoming event with Rob Saunders at the Letterform Archive, both in-person and virtual
  3. RJ Andrews is offering a workshop on Principles of Data Graphics at Cooper Union, focusing on dissecting elements of effective visual design

Super Sundry, Vol. 4

Chartography • 176 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Chartography offers insights and delights from the world of data storytelling.
  2. Discover tools like Emoji kitchen and Weatherspark for unique data visualization.
  3. Check out amazing maps, diagrams, and designs from talented creators.

Diagram-o-poly

Chartography • 117 implied HN points • 12 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Diagrams are an under-theorized art form compared to charts and maps.
  2. Diagrams can manipulate space and time, creating new perspectives and insights.
  3. Diagrams excel at illustrating the impossible and conveying complex information visually.

Circles & Joy

Chartography • 117 implied HN points • 28 Nov 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Today's post features maps, diagrams, and charts in a super-sundry edition.
  2. Circular charts were cleverly used to visualize survey answers and climate change data.
  3. The post also highlights beautiful pieces of art, including a 3,400-year-old paint box and a sculpture made of defunct brass band instruments.

I Wrote Half a Book About Phantom Islands and Then Discovered I Was Scooped Seven Years Ago

Atlas of Wonders and Monsters • 712 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Phantom islands are cartographic errors where non-existent islands were believed to exist due to various reasons.
  2. Phantom islands can result from clerical errors, illusions, incomplete exploration, deliberate fabrications, or myths.
  3. Discovering similarities with existing works can provide unique perspectives and motivate to add more uniqueness to personal projects.

Typewriter Chartography

Chartography • 117 implied HN points • 11 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Cartoonist Nathan Pyle anthropomorphizes U.S. states with a creative twist
  2. A sci-fi short story explores a snapshot of a human brain from the future
  3. Data storyteller RJ Andrews debuts 'California,' a hand-typed map, blending art and data

Super Sundry, Vol. 2

Chartography • 78 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. Super Sundry, Vol. 2 shares exceptional data storytelling and information design.
  2. The edition features insights on color design, charts, maps, and diagrams.
  3. Readers can enjoy a variety of creative and thought-provoking visual content.

When Your Map Doesn't Match Reality

Good Reason • 227 implied HN points • 13 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Maps
  1. Regardless of how well you know a situation, remember your knowledge is just a map and not reality itself.
  2. Be cautious of projecting your biases onto situations to force them to fit your preconceived notions.
  3. Acknowledging and being aware of your own potential biases can help prevent misunderstandings and misinterpretations.

#97 Design: a map

Design Lobster • 259 implied HN points • 06 Dec 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Maps
  1. How map projections like the Mercator can heavily distort our perception of the world and influence political narratives.
  2. The concept of maps can extend beyond traditional paper forms to include tactile representations, like the wooden Ammassalik Map, challenging our preconceptions of navigation.
  3. Designers should be conscious of how they interpret reality in their designs and consider different perspectives and ways of representation.

I love Google Maps' lists, they suck

The Rectangle • 141 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Maps
  1. Creating lists on Google Maps can help you get to know a new place better.
  2. Google Maps lists could be improved with better organization features and social elements.
  3. Despite shortcomings, Google Maps lists can be both useful and frustrating at the same time.