Illustrated map for editorial design – Lonely Planet

Overview

As Art Editor at Lonely Planet, I created an illustrated map for one of the magazine’s featured destinations. The map accompanied a long-form editorial piece and aimed to visually support the story by highlighting the country’s key places to visit through custom illustrations.

The challenge

Each main destination in the magazine required an illustrated map that was not only informative but also editorially meaningful. The challenge was to translate the journalist’s travel experience into a clear, engaging visual narrative, while maintaining consistency with Lonely Planet’s editorial style and print constraints.

The map needed to:

• Clearly represent the country and its main locations
• Visually highlight key destinations mentioned in the article
• Balance accuracy, illustration, and readability within a print layout

My role

I worked as Art Editor and Illustrator, responsible for:

• Concept development and visual approach
• Map layout and composition
• Creation of custom illustrations for each destination
• Ensuring consistency with the magazine’s editorial guidelines

Illustration approach

Each location on the map was represented by an illustration of a specific place, landmark, or distinctive feature described by the journalist. This approach helped turn geographic points into recognisable visual stories.

For example, La Paloma was illustrated through its iconic lighthouse, creating an immediate visual reference connected to the destination’s identity and the narrative of the article.

The illustration style was designed to be:

• Clear and recognisable at small print sizes
• Editorial in tone, avoiding unnecessary detail
• Cohesive across all illustrated points

Tools

Adobe Illustrator · Adobe Photoshop

Outcome

The final illustrated map worked as a visual entry point to the article, guiding readers through the destination and reinforcing the travel narrative. The combination of editorial design and illustration helped transform geographic information into an engaging and memorable visual experience.

Key takeaway

Editorial illustration is not just decorative—it plays a crucial role in storytelling, orientation, and reader engagement. This project highlights how illustration can enhance editorial content by connecting place, narrative, and visual identity.