I. EXPLORATION
After my first visit to Barcelona, I knew that I had to come back and experience the city's hidden gems, beyond just the tourist destinations. The city's unique blend of beach town vibes, amusement park excitement, art museum beauty, and historical significance captivated me from the start.
A few years later, I got a chance to live there and discover the hidden gems of the city. Waking up to local cafes and discovering lesser-known neighborhoods, I turned this exploration into a personal project. As I discovered new museums and landmarks, I recorded it all in a sketchbook. These became the early drawings for my map of Barcelona.
II. ORGANIZATION
Because of my explorations, I had a vision of the maps that I wanted to create. The scale and perspective of the map was determined by the part of the city that were important for me to include. I wanted to show the city between the ocean and the mountains. I start with a rough sketch to lay out the major roads and landmarks. From there, I bump that sketch back 50% and create a refined sketch on top adding details and refining my line-work to exactly how I'd like it. I try to get this line drawing as close to a black a white version of the final as I can.
III. EXECUTION
Vector illustration is my preferred medium for creating maps, and I find it meditative to simplify complex architectural landmarks into geometric shapes. I balanced the simple and complex elements of the city, trying to show the immensity and repetitiveness of the Eixample city blocks while ensuring that other landmarks stood out. I also refined the color palette to create a cohesive and balanced composition.
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