California is too big. You cannot see it all on the digital maps we use every day. To understand California—its peaks, biomes, and natural wonders—you need a bigger canvas. You need a map you can hold.
My name is RJ and I am a data storyteller. I have a passion for beautiful maps, charts, and diagrams that inform and delight. My digital information graphics have been seen by millions and translated all over the globe. With this campaign I need your help to achieve something bold: create a map you can only experience in print.
Living in the “Golden State” inspired me to create a new kind of map. This map is meant to be held, in real life. That’s why I need your backing: to make the map real.
The map is titled Cross-sections through California. This is a map you can revisit again and again—each time seeing something new. Here’s the top of the map, how it begins:
The map feels great. Each fold is professionally scored to decrease stiffness and give that satisfying “pop into place” experience. Folds are carefully placed to not interfere with the map’s illustrations.
The map measures 28.625″ by 9.625″ unfolded (about 727 x 244 mm). It is printed on uncoated thick (80# cover) paper.
The map looks great hung on a wall. It can also be folded and tucked inside its sleeve for easy reference: on your shelf or on-the-go during your California adventures.
The map features 17 cross-section profiles, each one carefully selected to highlight California’s tall peaks, famous National Parks, lush valleys, and dense urban centers. Along the profiles are symbols that indicate land coverage.
This is a unique map. The map’s angled orientation mirrors how we think about California: the mountains and central valley run up and down. The coast faces out .
The elevation profiles and land cover symbols help you understand California’s defining geography: tall mountains, a flat central valley, and long Pacific coast. When you hold the map you will notice how the south is much drier than the temperate north. Many details await your inspection: famous lakes, peaks, Parks, and more.
The print proof map shows the merits of the map’s colors, paper quality, and folds:
I created the entire map by hand including its textures and symbols.
Data sources are named at the bottom of the map: 14x vertical exaggeration USGS elevations with symbols showing MLRC National Land Cover Database (2016) in an Isotype style. The bottom contains a legend diagram that shows the vertical exaggeration:
The map revives a cartography style associated with the Isotype Institute. Led by Otto and Marie Neurath, the Isotype Institute collectively designed and published many cross-section maps with land cover symbols in the 1940s. It is a style that deserves revival. Real Isotype maps were by my side throughout the creative process for texture, color, symbol, and line-smoothing reference.
At the very bottom of the map is a quote by John Muir from The Mountains of California: “The eye, rejoicing in is freedom, roves about the vast expanse, yet returns again and again to the fountain-peaks.”
The map includes plenty of margin on the top and bottom for you to hang it in a variety of ways. I personally use a 10″ wood and magnet hanger set to secure it in my design studio. For USA backers there is a reward option to add a special 10″ hanger with your map.
Design of the colored map interior is complete. But something special is in the works for on the map exterior (backside). If funded, I will create additional information graphics in black and white for the map’s exterior.
One of the exterior panels will be used for a title block. You can see the prototype title block in the unfolding animation above. One panel will have a short design essay that introduces the map with historic context about the Isotype Institute.
The three remaining panels will each display a black and white information graphic in a complimentary style that shows California’s people, agriculture, and natural resources.
My name is RJ Andrews. I am a data storyteller based in San Francisco, CA. My passion is creating maps, charts, and diagrams. My most recent print creation was the book Info We Trust. Maybe you’ve seen some of my work?
I am very excited for you to hold your own copy of this map—but please hold on tight if you take it into high winds like below!:
I have been an independent graphic designer for many years and believe I have mitigated all major risks. PRINTING: Proof run print is complete with my chosen printer and I am thrilled with the quality of this production. The map will be printed, scored, and folded by professionals. The proof run showed me the printing production process and detailed the time necessary to complete a print run. PACKAGING: Each map will be enclosed in its own paper sleeve. I have already ordered a variety of sleeves and am currently considered which one is best for the map. Sleeved maps will be packaged inside a flat mailer for shipping. SHIPPING: The map is able to ship flat because it is a folding map. There is no need to mess with the extra fuss and expense of shipping tubes. To mitigate shipping costs, especially internationally, orders of fewer than 10 maps will be mailed in stiff or padded envelopes.