For years, visitor information has often been treated as something purely functional — a sign, a map, a leaflet or a board designed simply to deliver information as quickly as possible. But increasingly, places are realising that good visitor experience design can do far more than that.
Illustrated maps, trails and interpretation boards have the ability to create emotional connections. They can help visitors feel curious, welcomed and engaged with a place before they’ve even started exploring.
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One of the reasons I love creating illustrated visitor materials is that they allow personality and storytelling to become part of the experience itself. A hand-drawn map can highlight local landmarks, wildlife, hidden details and the character of a location in a way that standard digital mapping simply can’t replicate.

The Clevedon map was designed to help visitors orient themselves and explore the town more easily. The aim was to create something that was both clear and visually engaging, combining accurate information with illustrated landmarks and features.

The map highlights key locations such as the seafront, parks, shops and visitor attractions, making it easy for people to understand the layout of the town at a glance.
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It was initially created for large outdoor “You Are Here” boards, positioned in key locations so visitors could quickly find their bearings and discover places nearby.

One of the biggest advantages of an illustrated map is that it can easily be adapted for many different uses. Once the core design exists, it can be scaled, cropped or simplified to suit different formats.

For the Clevedon project, the map was used in several ways.

The most visible application was on the large visitor boards installed around the town. These help people orient themselves and identify nearby attractions, walking routes and facilities. Because the map uses clear icons and illustrated landmarks, visitors can quickly understand where they are and what there is to explore nearby.

The same map was also adapted into printed visitor leaflets. These allow visitors to take a copy with them as they walk around the town.

​Using the same visual style ensures that the leaflet feels instantly recognisable and consistent with the visitor boards.

Maps are also extremely useful for guided walking routes and heritage trails.
Sections of the Clevedon map were adapted to highlight particular routes and areas of interest, helping visitors follow a path while learning more about the town along the way.

Another important part of the Clevedon project was the creation of a series of history and interpretation boards installed across the town.

These boards were designed to tell the story of Clevedon — highlighting key locations, historical moments and points of interest in a way that is both accessible and visually engaging for visitors.

A small section of the illustrated map was incorporated into each board to help provide context, showing visitors exactly where they were in relation to the wider town. This helped connect each individual story back to the bigger picture, making it easier for people to explore further.
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Each board combined clear, informative text with illustration and layout design, creating something that works for a wide audience — from casual visitors to those wanting to learn more about the town’s heritage.

Another great use for illustrated maps is family activity sheets and educational resources.
Simplified versions of a map can help children explore a place through activities such as treasure hunts, wildlife spotting or heritage trails.

​This approach makes maps both informative and engaging for younger audiences.

Designing a map that can be used across multiple formats offers several advantages.

• It provides consistent visual identity across visitor materials
• It makes navigation easier for visitors
• It allows councils and organisations to use the same design in many ways
• It can support both tourism and education initiatives

For organisations working with limited budgets, this flexibility is especially valuable because one well-designed map can support many different projects over time.

Illustrated maps can be used in a wide range of places, including:

• town centres
• heritage sites
• parks and nature reserves
• museums and visitor attractions
• festivals and events

They help visitors feel confident exploring a place and encourage them to discover more of what it has to offer.

If you’re planning a visitor project and think an illustrated map could help people explore your destination, I’d love to hear about it.

​Looking for an illustrated map for your town or visitor destination? Get in touch here.

The heart of the project was a clear, colourful illustrated town map designed to help visitors quickly understand where everything is.Key goals for the map included:

• Making the town centre easy to navigate
• Highlighting key visitor attractions and landmarks
• Showing routes to nearby destinations such as Bath, Salisbury, Longleat and Frome
• Encouraging visitors to explore the Lake Pleasure Grounds and Smallbrook Meadows Nature Reserve

Rather than relying purely on street names, I created illustrated landmarks and icons to make the map intuitive and engaging for all ages.

This style is particularly helpful for:

• families
• tourists unfamiliar with the town
• international visitors
• people exploring on foot

The map also includes clear colour coding for amenities such as parking, train stations, toilets and shopping areas.

Alongside the outdoor boards, I also designed a folded visitor leaflet using the same illustrated map.
The leaflet allows visitors to:

• take the map with them
• explore the town at their own pace
• discover attractions they might otherwise miss

Keeping the design consistent between the boards and leaflet ensures visitors instantly recognise the map wherever they see it.

Every destination is different, so my maps are designed to be adaptable across multiple formats, including:

• visitor boards
• trail maps
• printed leaflets
• interpretation panels
• tourism websites
• merchandise and souvenirs

This ensures the map can continue to be useful across a wide range of visitor materials.

I specialise in creating bespoke illustrated maps and visitor interpretation for:

• towns and councils
• heritage sites
• parks and nature reserves
• tourism destinations
• museums and visitor centres

If you’d like to discuss a map for your site, feel free to get in touch.

I’ve recently been working on an exciting illustration project exploring the connections between Bristol and Hannover.

The aim of the project is to create a visually engaging learning pack for schools, helping young people discover the culture, geography, wildlife and history of Hannover through illustrated maps, diagrams and storytelling.
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Although the project is still in progress, the majority of the pages are now complete. 

At the heart of the pack is an illustrated map designed to help students explore Hannover in a clear and engaging way.

​Rather than presenting information as dense text, the map uses colour, icons and landmarks to guide readers through the city. Important locations are highlighted visually, helping learners quickly understand where things are and why they matter.
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Maps like this are particularly effective in educational materials because they allow readers to discover information visually, making complex topics far more accessible.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project has been transforming written research into clear visual explanations.
Several pages focus on specific themes, including:

• wildlife
• climate and environment
• local culture
  
• geography of the region

Each topic is supported by illustrations that help explain ideas quickly and intuitively.
For example, wildlife pages highlight animals found in the area, while environmental sections explore how cities like Hannover are responding to climate change.

When creating educational illustrations, clarity is just as important as creativity.
The illustrations need to be:

• easy to understand
• visually engaging
• consistent in style
• informative without overwhelming the reader

The goal is to support learning while keeping the pages lively and inviting.
Bright colours, simple shapes and clear layouts all help guide the reader through the information step by step.

A key theme of the project is the long-standing relationship between Bristol and Hannover, which have been twin cities for many years.
The learning pack highlights shared challenges and opportunities between the two cities, particularly around:

• sustainability
• urban green spaces
• climate resilience

By exploring these themes visually, the pack encourages students to think about how cities across Europe are responding to similar environmental issues.

Another page in the learning pack explores the history of Hannover through a visual timeline.
Rather than presenting dates as a long list of facts, the timeline uses illustrations and key moments to help students quickly understand how the city has developed over time. Important events are highlighted with small visual elements, making the page feel more like a story unfolding than a traditional history lesson.
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This approach helps younger readers grasp historical change more easily, as they can see how different periods connect and how the city has evolved. By combining clear design with simple illustrations, the timeline turns what could be a complex subject into something engaging and easy to follow.

If you’re working on a project that would benefit from illustrated maps, visual storytelling or educational graphics, I’d love to hear from you.Illustration can transform complex ideas into something engaging, memorable and easy to explore.
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Get in touch: [email protected]

I’m really pleased to be able to share a glimpse of an illustrated education project I am working on.

This learning pack explores the shared history and relationship between Bristol and Hannover, created especially for primary-age children. It’s designed to support classroom learning and museum/heritage engagement — using illustration, maps and visual storytelling to make complex historical ideas more accessible, human and memorable.

The project brings together:
• Illustrated maps and geography
• Simplified timelines of key historical moments
• People-focused stories (music, daily life, post-war connections)
• Child-friendly visuals that encourage curiosity and discussion

As an illustrator and designer, I seamlessly make projects come together. You only have to chat to me when it comes to tweaking the illustrations and layout.

Huge thanks to the team involved for trusting me with such an important story, and for allowing me to share a few pages here. Feedback so far - "I am thrilled!! love what you have done with the maps and the timeline and the combination of photos and illustrations."

If you work in education, museums, heritage sites or visitor learning and are interested in illustrated resources like this, I’d love to chat.
hashtag#Illustration hashtag#EducationalDesign hashtag#HeritageLearning hashtag#MuseumEducation hashtag#IllustratedMaps hashtag#VisualStorytelling hashtag#LearningResources hashtag#ChildrenAndHistory

I recently had the pleasure of creating a pair of fun, highly detailed Where’s Wally–inspired illustrations for Edwards Vacuum Clevedon — and they were an absolute joy to work on.

The brief?
Hide their boss somewhere in the scene…

First on a busy summer beach, and then later in a festive Christmas fancy-dress party.
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These illustrations were packed with character, colour and tiny storytelling moments — the kind of images people love getting lost in. Both scenes were designed so viewers could spend time discovering all the quirky details, hidden objects, and, of course, the cleverly disguised boss.

From Bespoke Artwork to Christmas Card
The Christmas party illustration had a second life too — it was later adapted into a custom Christmas card sent to Edwards Vacuum’s customers. This is exactly the kind of versatility I build into my designs:

• Illustrated scenes that work across multiple formats
• Easy to repurpose for print or digital
• Perfect for marketing campaigns, staff engagement, internal communications, or customer-facing materials

Because everything is hand-drawn in layered digital artwork, it’s simple for me to adapt, recolour, reformat, or repurpose the illustrations for different needs throughout the year.

A Great Example of Playful Corporate Creativity
Projects like this are a brilliant reminder that business communications don’t have to be dry.

Edwards Vacuum’s willingness to try something playful resulted in two standout pieces that their team genuinely enjoyed engaging with — and that made a memorable impression on their customers.
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If your company would love something similarly bespoke for an event, campaign or seasonal promotion, I’d be delighted to help bring it to life.

I’m thrilled to share that Somerset Life Magazine invited me back for the second year running to illustrate their Christmas front cover — a huge honour and one of my favourite festive projects of the year.
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After last year’s West Pennard and Glastonbury Tor scene, this year’s commission focuses on one of Somerset’s most iconic landmarks: Dunster Castle. Its rich history, winding village streets, and dramatic hilltop setting offered the perfect inspiration for a warm and nostalgic winter illustration.
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As with all my work, the artwork began as a hand-drawn sketch, designed to capture the composition, story, and character of the place. I then developed the illustration in Adobe Illustrator, building colour, texture and detail digitally to create a vibrant, polished finish. My signature colour palette and clean vector style work beautifully for glossy magazine covers, ensuring the artwork looks striking, modern, and full of charm.

With a background in graphic design, I also design every cover with the layout in mind — carefully positioning buildings, characters, snow, trees, and lighting so the masthead and headlines fit perfectly without losing the spirit of the scene. This combination of illustration and design skill ensures each cover is both visually rich and completely print-ready.

Dunster Castle is such a beloved Somerset location, and bringing it to life in a festive setting was a joy. I’m proud to have created another Christmas cover for Somerset Life, celebrating the landscapes and communities that make the county so special.

If you're looking for a Somerset illustrator, magazine cover artist, or custom landmark artwork, I’d love to hear from you.

A lovely review from Michael Linham of the Merriman Park Community Group about the Sensory Garden Information Board I designed and illustrated. It’s now installed and ready to be enjoyed in situ.
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One of my favourite things to hear in feedback is that I’m friendly. I believe it’s so important to be courteous, polite, and engaging throughout every project. I want the whole process to feel enjoyable and collaborative — by really listening to my clients and guiding them kindly toward strong, creative design outcomes.

Read more here:
https://www.emilycharlottemoran.com/specialist-information-board-gardens.html​

I had the pleasure of creating a Where’s Wally?-style illustration for Edwards Vacuum — a lively festive scene filled with fancy dress, company spirit, and plenty of little details to spot. The second in a series of these illustrations which will be sent in a fun and informative newsletter.

The brief was to capture the fun and energy of the Edwards team at Christmas, so I filled the room with characters in all sorts of costumes — from elves and reindeer to snowmen and Santas — all enjoying a well-earned festive get-together.

Hidden among the partygoers are two special guests: the boss, Matt, cleverly disguised in different outfits! It was great fun weaving him into the crowd and making sure the challenge was just tricky enough to keep everyone guessing.

To tie everything together, I used Edwards Vacuum’s brand colours throughout the scene — from decorations to details in the costumes — to make the illustration feel unique to them while keeping it bright, playful, and perfectly seasonal.

Creating this piece was a wonderful reminder of how illustration can bring people together, tell a story, and add a little extra sparkle to the season.

Can you spot the boss?

Fancy a customised Christmas illustration for your company- get in touch for a quote. [email protected]

I have several Christmas projects on at the moment; including this map, a children's illustrated Christmas book, a where's wally Christmas themed illustration and the front cover of a magazine. This is the first I can share. that’s been a real festive treat to work on — a hand-illustrated Christmas Trail Map, designed especially for a local event.

This bespoke map captures all the magic of one special evening — from twinkling lights and festive characters dotted along the route. Each detail was illustrated to tell a story and help visitors easily find their way while soaking up the atmosphere.

What makes this project extra special is how versatile the illustrations have been. The characters and elements from the map have been extracted and reused across other marketing materials, including posters, social media graphics, and signage — giving the event a cohesive, beautifully branded look that feels both festive and fun.

Creating a piece like this is all about bringing personality and warmth to community events. Maps are practical, of course — but when they’re illustrated, they also become part of the experience. People stop, smile, and connect with them — and often keep them as a little souvenir!

If you’re planning a Christmas event or community trail and would love a custom illustrated map to bring it to life, I’d love to chat. Each design can be tailored to your location, theme, and audience — and reused across all your festive marketing materials.

To enquire about illustrated maps or bespoke festive artwork, just get in touch - 
[email protected]

Hand-Drawn Details, Digital Precision
Each element of the leaflet—landmarks, decorative flourishes, even the small icons—was hand-illustrated, then refined digitally for crisp print quality.
Working this way allowed me to control every detail, from the curve of a railing to the palette that reflects Clevedon’s coastal light.
Consistency From Start To Finish
Designing and illustrating under one roof keeps every piece of visitor material on brand and beautifully consistent. There’s no back-and-forth between separate artists and designers, which saves time, avoids compromises, and gives clients a single point of contact from concept through to print-ready artwork.
Why It Matters
​A leaflet is more than a piece of paper—it’s often a visitor’s first impression.
By blending illustration and design, I create materials that are clear, welcoming, and visually striking, helping attractions like Clevedon Pier stand out in a crowded tourism market.

If you’re planning a new leaflet, map, or set of visitor boards, I’d love to help bring your location’s story to life.

Bringing the Senses to Life at Merriman Park 🌿✨I’m so excited to share one of my latest projects — the brand new Sensory Garden information board at Merriman Park in Street, Somerset.

This was such a rewarding piece to work on, blending my illustration and design skills to create something that is not only practical but also engaging and enjoyable for visitors of all ages. The sensory garden is a beautiful community space designed to encourage people to experience nature through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. My aim with the board was to capture that richness visually and make it fun to explore.

Illustrating the Experience
Each section of the board highlights a different sense. From vibrant illustrations of tactile plants and textured posts in the Touch zone, to playful prompts about spotting colours and shapes in the Sight zone, the design encourages curiosity and interaction. I created the illustrations as vectors, which means they’re sharp, colourful, and can be repurposed for animations, leaflets, or other materials in the future.

A Community Project
Merriman Park is at the heart of the community in Street, and it was a privilege to contribute something that will help people connect more deeply with nature. The board is designed to be accessible, colourful, and inviting — a guide that reflects the joyful experience of exploring the sensory garden itself.

Why I Love This Work
Projects like this are exactly why I love combining illustration with design. It’s about more than just information — it’s about storytelling, engagement, and creating something that feels special to the people who use it. I hope this board sparks moments of discovery for everyone who visits the garden, from children exploring for the first time to adults rediscovering the simple joy of slowing down and using their senses.
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✨ If you’d like to talk about creating an illustrated board or map for your own space — whether a garden, park, trail, or heritage site — I’d love to hear from you.

If you’re planning a project — whether it’s a sensory garden, trail, park, or heritage site — and want an information board that’s not only informative but also beautifully illustrated and engaging, I’d love to help.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to design and illustrate a souvenir poster for a truly inspiring journey. A cyclist embarked on an incredible charity ride from Bristol to Barcelona, covering 17 days of adventure, challenges, and unforgettable memories. The poster I created captures this remarkable experience, featuring a detailed map of the entire route and marking the 17 stops made along the way.
For each stop, I illustrated a unique memory that encapsulated the essence of the journey—each one a special moment from the cycle, from triumphs to personal reflections. The final piece is more than just a map; it’s a visual narrative of dedication, hard work, and the incredible achievements made along the way.
To ensure the poster was as high quality as the journey itself, I arranged for a classy giclee print that perfectly captured the vibrant colours and details of the illustration. I was then delighted to hand deliver the print to their offices in Portishead, making sure it was presented in the most personal and thoughtful way.
It was an honour to bring this journey to life, celebrating the cyclist’s passion for charity and adventure. This project was not only about creating art but about telling a story that will live on as a lasting reminder of an extraordinary challenge.