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How Our Wall Maps Are Made: From Design to Delivery

Wall maps are more than just decorative pieces—they’re tools for planning, reminiscing, and dreaming. Whether you’re tracking your travels, decorating a nursery, or giving the perfect personalized gift, a high-quality wall map can inspire and delight for years. But have you ever wondered how wall maps are made?

At our studio, the journey of a wall map—from a concept to a beautifully packaged product on your wall—is a blend of art, craftsmanship, and logistics. In this behind-the-scenes look, we’ll take you step by step through how our wall maps are created, designed, printed, and delivered to your door.

Step 1: The Concept – Where Creativity Begins

Every great product starts with an idea. For us, wall maps begin with inspiration drawn from:

  • Customer feedback and trends (e.g., minimalist vs. vintage)

  • Historical cartography and archival maps

  • Geographic changes (e.g., new countries, boundary shifts)

  • Lifestyle themes (adventure, education, weddings)

Once we’ve zeroed in on a concept—for example, a modern push-pin world map or a personalized national park checklist map—our cartography and design teams begin researching and sketching ideas.

We often explore questions like:

  • Should the map emphasize physical geography (mountains, rivers) or political boundaries?

  • What color palette will suit home decor trends?

  • Will it include custom labels like names, dates, or icons?

Our goal is to design maps that are not only geographically accurate but also visually captivating.

Step 2: Cartography – Precision Meets Beauty

The heart of every wall map is accurate, detailed cartography.

Our cartographers use GIS (Geographic Information Systems), open-source data (like NASA and Natural Earth), and government-provided geographic datasets to ensure precision. This step involves:

  • Plotting latitude and longitude coordinates

  • Defining national and state borders

  • Mapping cities, towns, and roads

  • Including terrain elevation, water bodies, parks, or landmarks

Next, we use software like Adobe Illustrator, QGIS, and Mapbox Studio to render the geographic data into a map that can be customized and styled.

Even at this stage, we start thinking about usability. For instance:

  • Will there be room to place push pins?

  • Is the font legible from a distance?

  • Are the land masses correctly proportioned on different projections (e.g., Mercator vs. Winkel Tripel)?

This technical phase ensures our maps aren’t just pretty—they’re informative and reliable.

Step 3: Design – Turning Maps into Art

Once the raw data is mapped out, our graphic designers step in. This is where the transformation from a technical map to a decorative masterpiece happens.

Designers choose:

  • Color schemes (e.g., earth tones, pastels, monochrome)

  • Fonts and typography

  • Map icons (airplanes for airports, trees for forests, tents for campsites)

  • Textures and backgrounds (e.g., vintage paper, watercolor wash)

For personalized maps, we also create customizable elements like:

  • Names and locations

  • Date labels (e.g., wedding date or travel start date)

  • Special markers for "first trip," "engagement," or "bucket list" points

This is where your map becomes truly personal and meaningful. Whether you prefer a sleek modern look or a hand-drawn antique vibe, our design team ensures the final product fits your style and story.

Step 4: Proofing and Quality Control

Before anything goes to print, every map undergoes rigorous proofing:

  • We check for spelling and typographical errors

  • We verify all geographical names and borders against up-to-date databases

  • Designers test how it looks on different screen sizes and physical formats

  • Custom personalization options are reviewed with mockups

Our team also ensures that pins will not obscure essential map data and that decorative elements do not interfere with geographic clarity.

In the case of custom maps, we send you a digital proof before we print. That way, you have full control to make any edits, corrections, or additions before it’s finalized.

Step 5: Printing – Where the Magic Becomes Physical

Once the design is approved, it's time to bring the map to life. We print all our maps in-house or with trusted local printing partners using archival-quality materials.

Our standard printing process includes:

  • Giclée printing using pigmented inks for vibrant, fade-resistant color

  • Premium matte or satin paper for a soft, non-reflective finish

  • Optional canvas or framed print formats

  • UV protection for long-lasting color integrity

For push-pin maps, we print onto foam-backed boards or cork-mounted substrates, which are then hand-mounted to ensure durability and alignment.

No matter the format, we want the print to:

  • Feel substantial and premium

  • Resist yellowing, curling, or warping

  • Be suitable for framing or pinning

We run test prints regularly to ensure color accuracy and quality consistency.

Step 6: Framing and Mounting Options

Once the map is printed, we offer optional framing or mounting based on your preferences. Popular choices include:

  • Gallery-wrapped canvas: A museum-style wrap on a wood frame, ready to hang

  • Wooden rail hangers: A minimalist, magnetic display solution

  • Traditional framing: Black, white, or natural wood frames with optional mats

  • Foam board mounting: Ideal for pin maps

Each frame or mounting method is assembled by hand, with attention to:

  • Clean edges and corners

  • Secure hanging hardware

  • Protective backings

We also provide add-ons like:

  • Colored push pins

  • Legend cards

  • Personalized plaques

Our aim is to deliver a ready-to-display map that becomes the centerpiece of your wall.

Step 7: Packaging – Protection and Presentation

Once your map is finished, it’s time to package it for delivery.

We carefully wrap each item using:

  • Acid-free tissue paper to prevent smudging

  • Protective cardboard tubes for rolled prints

  • Bubble wrap and corner protectors for framed maps

  • Eco-friendly outer boxes with branding

Each package includes:

  • A thank-you card

  • Instructions for hanging or care

  • Any personalized notes or accessories you selected

We never want your map to arrive damaged, so we double-check every shipment and use reputable carriers with tracking and insurance.

Step 8: Delivery – Straight to Your Doorstep

After careful packaging, your map is shipped directly to you. Standard orders ship within 3–5 business days, while custom orders may take slightly longer depending on design approval.

You’ll receive:

  • A shipping confirmation email

  • Tracking number

  • Estimated delivery window

We ship both domestically and internationally, and work with multiple carriers to get your order to you safely and efficiently.

Our support team is always available if you need to:

  • Update your address

  • Request rush delivery

  • Report shipping issues

Step 9: Customer Experience – More Than Just a Product

Our relationship doesn’t end when the map leaves our shop. We’re committed to creating an experience that goes beyond the transaction.

That’s why we offer:

  • Free replacements for lost or damaged items

  • Satisfaction guarantees on custom designs

  • A growing collection of how-to guides, such as:

    • “How to Hang Your Map”

    • “How to Use Push Pins to Track Travels”

    • “Decorating with Maps in Every Room”

We also encourage you to share photos of your map on social media using our hashtag—we love seeing how customers incorporate their maps into their homes, offices, classrooms, and events.

Why Quality Matters in Map-Making

Many people don’t realize how much detail, accuracy, and craftsmanship goes into making a beautiful map. It’s not just a printout of Google Maps—it’s a curated, hand-assembled art piece designed for long-term enjoyment.

Here’s what makes our maps stand out:

  • Real cartographers—not just graphic designers—work on each map

  • Custom designs for weddings, travel logs, and gifts

  • Premium materials that resist fading and wear

  • Made-to-order craftsmanship—never mass-produced or generic

  • A human touch in every step from proofing to packaging

Whether you’re gifting a honeymoon memory map, building a travel wall, or teaching geography at home, you can feel confident knowing your map was made with care, accuracy, and passion.

Final Thoughts: A Map Worth More Than Miles

Behind every map we create is a team of passionate people—cartographers, designers, printers, packagers—who care deeply about helping you tell your story through the art of geography.

When you order a wall map from us, you’re not just getting a product. You’re getting:

  • A tool to inspire adventures

  • A record of milestones

  • A one-of-a-kind piece of decor

  • A thoughtful, meaningful gift

From design to delivery, we pour time, skill, and heart into every step of the process. And we’re honored to be part of your journey.

Ready to see the process in action? Browse our collection or order a custom map today—and bring a world of beauty to your walls.