When commissioning a cartographic design project, there are several different ways to engage the services of a specialist map provider, as this short article explains. Totally new to Cartography? Many people will never have commissioned mapping before and may be unsure of the terminologies, processes, accessibility considerations and possible output formats – in fact, this tends to be the case for the majority of enquiries received. Such clients will be especially reliant on the cartographer’s experience in recommending appropriate content and map styles to suit the particular needs of the aud ..read more

What is the Government Welcome Back Fund? In response to the ongoing challenges faced by towns and cities in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Local Authorities across England are sharing £56m of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money, intended to support the safe return of visitors to the high street. Known as the Welcome Back Fund, the funding provides councils with a new stream of money for a variety of possible initiatives aimed at supporting local trade and tourism. Some initiatives that are permitted under the Welcome Back Fund Investing in green space, parks and planting to ..read more

When we look at a modern map designed by a cartographer using cartographic design workflows and software, the reader will probably not be aware that the map in question may also have benefitted from processes using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).  There are in fact a range of GIS techniques which are commonly used to underpin map-making activities.  Here we provide a few examples of how these two different but related disciplines support each other and more importantly benefit the map user. Needs Assessment In reviewing the client Brief, both the Cartographic and GIS Teams need ..read more

As students are find themselves in new surroundings in their next phase of life at University or College, an essential piece of kit in helping them navigate and familiarize themselves is the campus map. Indeed, a campus map may be useful to students, both current and prospective, and also general visitors, staff and even delivery companies. The map should be always welcoming and informative, and aid navigation around the site. The map base will usually be street level, dependent on the size of the campus area and the spread of buildings, but also needs to be sufficient to show access between d ..read more

With nearly 10,000 Parishes in England (according to the Department for Communities and Local Government), many of us come into contact with a Parish or Town Council at some point in our lives.  The role they play in our community varies but they are often responsible for the maintenance of markets, parks, playgrounds, allotments, litter bins, public toilets, village halls as well as being statutory consultees on local planning applications.  Parish and Town Councils have traditionally used a large format printed map, perhaps within a display noticeboard, usually positioned at a key ..read more

The definition of the world ‘illustrated’: – ‘to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate’ When we look at the literal meaning of ‘illustrated’, it’s obvious why so many commissions for tourist attractions and visitor destinations use this form of map. The illustrated approach can bring a subject area to life, providing the user with a unique visual experience through the use of interesting graphics. This cartographic design can also help enormously with the fundamental purposes of a map – orientation and navigation. Let’s take a quick look at how illustrated maps use this ..read more

About Lovell Johns Founded in 1965, Lovell Johns is a market leading mapping company based in Oxfordshire. We have several key business areas: Cartographic services, digital mapping & GIS consultancy services, as well as our map retail brand which trades as Maps International. In 2014, David Stephens and Liz Murray completed a Management Buy Out from a large South African Media company. The business has grown significantly since 2014, particularly through the Maps International brand. After 6 years of owning the business, David and Liz decided to look at what the future held for them and t ..read more

Lovell Johns works with a variety of publishers to provide mapping services, from the largest and most familiar names, through smaller travel writers, to individuals looking to self-publish. All of them have a common goal – to add clear and concise mapping content and cartographic design, to support their written text. All require good value for money, attention to detail and adherence to a print schedule. We use data rulebases to set the map styles, exporting from GIS software to an editable format to be further developed by our cartographic team. We have access to many different datasets, of ..read more

The lockdown due to Covid-19 has affected many parts of the economy. As we start to recover and restrictions are eased, there are various ways that different industries can use maps to promote their businesses. Hospitality As the hospitality industry opens up again and with restrictions still in place for travelling abroad, UK hotels are encouraging people to visit, walk around the local area and explore the locality. All with social distancing front of mind. The rise of the ‘staycation’ means that holidays are being taken more locally and visitors are taking this chance to stay closer to home ..read more

Key Drivers It is well-documented that for several years now local authorities have been adopting sustainable travel policies and promoting modal shift away from cars towards active transport.  Transport strategists have already taken various steps such as infrastructure improvements in the form of Park and Ride facilities, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and improvements to cycle lanes and pedestrian access, in an effort to encourage behaviour change amongst citizens. Following the Government’s previous commitment to £2billion worth of funding for walking and cycling, 2022 sees the establishm ..read more