Thread by @rasagy

I enjoyed speaking at @OutlierConf this weekend on how I introduce #cartography to design students: by making schematic maps of hometowns (from all around India & beyond!).

If you missed it, here is a thread of some of the student maps to inspire you!
🗺🧵👇
#Outlier2022 (1/9)

First, some context.
After spending all my childhood calling Delhi my *home*, I have sought *home* in many Indian cities: DEL → GOA → Mysuru → BLR → HYD → BOM → Pune → BLR ✨
I perceived each city differently from others & made memory maps to show this.
2/9

When @venkatrajam invited me to introduce cartography to his students, we blended this idea of mapping personal lived experiences with schematic map (like Harry Beck’s London tube map, or any other metro map you’ve seen)

Voila: Schematic hometown mapping exercise was born!
3/9

Schematic maps don’t need to be accurate, and we can bring in geometrical abstraction to convey an *image of the city*, showing our mental model.

🗺 of Nagpur by Roopam, resembling an orange. 🍊
🗺 of Island grounds in Chennai by Parthob, simplified as a square ⏹
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Metaphors also stand out:
🗺 by Akshay of the two Gandhian cities — Ahmedabad & Gandhinagar — rotated to look like Gandhi’s charkha
🗺 of Panchvati in Nashik by Shravani, as a betel leaf (used as an offering)
🗺 of Pune for a “Social Butterfly” by Tanaya
5/9

Without geometric shapes or metaphors emerging, you can simplify the map by aligning it to a grid.

🗺 of Pune’s heritage sites by Srishti (45°)
🗺 of Thane’s lakes by Namaha (120°)
🗺 of Street shopping in Delhi by Paridhi (Mix)
🗺 of South Bombay by Stuti (Radial)
6/9

In the age of accurate maps that are a tap away, I hope we all don’t forget the joy in expressing our own lived experiences, personal stories & how we see our *home*.

If you end up making a schematic map of your own hometown, please do share it with me! 🙌
7/9

If you are more curious about the design process, and want to learn how you can make one, do check out the full @OutlierConf talk!
(If you didn’t attend, they’ll be on Youtube after some time)

You can also see my slides for more info: speakerdeck.com/rasagy/designi…
#Outlier2022 8/9

I’ve been slowly documenting what I teach on my website, like schematic mapping exercises (process, final output, reflections): rasagy.in/community/on/s…

Would love feedback on how to document this better!

Happy mapping, & see you next year at @OutlierConf! ✨
9/9

PS: A big thanks to the @OutlierConf team (especially @evelinajud & the video team) who helped me make this talk happen against all odds.
So glad I could be a part of this wonderful conf!
🙇‍♂️