Cycling Designer Creates Minimalist Maps of Places He Visited During 11,000-Mile Bike Trip
“This is an American map for fans of symmetry: all fifty states in one square.” This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Like lots of globe-trotting creatives, designer Peter Gorman finds artistic inspiration in his travels. While others may reach their destinations by plane, train, or automobile, however, Gorman prefers a different mode of transportation: his bike. In fact, seeing the world by bicycle is what sparked his popular series, Barely Maps.
“I started making map prints after an 11,000-mile bicycle trip around the US and Canada,” Gorman tells My Modern Met. “The first designs were inspired by the places I saw along the trip.” Gorman decided to document this cross-continental journey in a minimalist style, reimagining well-known cities and sites from Manhattan to the Pacific Coast Highway as reduced shapes, unique symbols, and even text reminiscent of concrete poetry.
With this sleek and simplistic aesthetic, Gorman discovered that his minimalist maps make perfect posters. So, he started selling prints of his designs, and his passion project quickly turned into a successful endeavor. “I started it as a side hobby, but this year, decided to make it a full-time thing,” he says.
Now, he has plans to compile his collection of Barely Maps into a book, adding a bit of context to the simplified forms. “I’m currently working on a book of 100 designs and the stories behind them,” he says, “which I hope will be ready by the end of 2019.”
In the meantime, you can pick up prints of his Barely Maps series on Etsy.
In Barely Maps, a series of minimalist map prints, Peter Gorman turns sites and cities around the country into simplified forms.
Portland, Oregon
“Fremont Bridge, Broadway Bridge, Steel Bridge, Burnside Bridge, Morrison Bridge, Hawthorne Bridge, Marquam Bridge, Tilikum Bridge, the Bridge of the People, Ross Island Bridge”
Syracuse, New York
“The crystalline neighborhoods in upstate NY’s snowiest city.”
Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts
“In the 1800s, part of Boston’s Charles River Bay was filled in to make room for a new neighborhood. Named the “Back Bay”, this neighborhood has a grid, unique to the otherwise haphazard Boston. The brownstone-filled blocks are intersected by the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, a narrow green park that connects the Boston Public Garden with the rest of Boston’s park system. Today, Back Bay is one of Boston’s most central neighborhoods, and is home to Copley Square, the Newbury Street shopping district, the Boston Public Library, Trinity Church, Old South Church, and the Prudential Tower.”
Manhattan, New York
“The first memory that comes to mind for me when I think of NYC is trying to figure out the Subway map. Here’s a minimalist version of the Manhattan stops, updated in March 2018 to include the new stops on the Second Avenue Subway.”
The Pacific Coast Highway
“A major highlight of my trip was biking north along California’s Pacific Coast Highway. One of my hosts described it as “an engineering marvel that shouldn’t exist”, and it’s true. It’s a crazy road with amazing scenery along the way. This map depicts the highway’s meandering route along the Big Sur coastline, as it cuts directly between the green California wilderness and the blue Pacific Ocean.”
The Great Lakes
“The Great Lakes Region was one of my favorite places to bike in the country — especially right alongside the beautiful shores. The region is home to Chicago, Buffalo, Cleveland, Toronto, and some of the best beaches in North America. I created the pattern just for this map.”
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.