Personal Geography - Cognitive Map

The goal of this project was to successfully use symbols to communicate something. In this case we were to create a map from home to school (or school to work or any one path during our day) and explain this path using a cognitive map.


The first version of the map:

What made this map unique was the fact that it was user interactive; a user would slide the tabs to reveal what they would do in the morning. From that choice, they were sometimes limited on the next choice they could choose (e.g. if I sleep in, I don't have the option to eat breakfast).

The final map:

The final map has the tabs laminated to allow easier slide-ability as well as preventing unnecessary bending of the paper from use. Because there was such a large empty space on the tabs, I added a little phrase:

Advance through my thoughts, a map of my mind. To follow the path move down then side to side. If the path chosen has a spotlight of color, follow it down and connect it to the other. No path? No problem! Choose one and keep going. If "the end" is reached, admire your choices and go back! And begin again.

I created each section in Adobe Illustrator before printing them and assembling them. The tabs were laminated at Kinkos.