Seeing Space in New Ways: 13 Creative Maps & Navigational Guides

Type Cities by Hong Seon Jang

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Pieces of movable type from a printing press are repurposed into amazingly detailed topographical maps in this series, ‘Type City,’ by artist Hong Seon Jang. “I explore the recognition of surroundings by transforming everyday objects into new forms,” says the artist. “I emphasize specific aspects of common products, found objects, and industrial objects that surround us and I suggest a potential opening for them in the art context.”

Map of the World’s Most Famous Foods

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Maps of various nations are rendered in the food projects for which they’re best known in this series by Brooklyn-based photographer Henry Hargreaves and food stylist Caitlin Levin. Individual regions and states are also broken down individually, with the United States full of corn, rice, cheese and sugar cane.

3D Topographical Maps in Extruded Plastic

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Using 3D animation and rendering software, Madrid-based 3D artist Lee Griggs creates colorful topographical maps made up of tiny extruded bits of plastic showing the shapes of ocean floors, weather patterns, cities and even bacterial growth.

‘Commute’ Toy: Design Your Own NYC Subway Map

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Map out your own commute each day with colored bits of string, pegs and a board in the shape of New York City’s boroughs by Bobby Genalo.