The Atlas of Design is dedicated to showing off some of the world’s most beautiful and intriguing cartographic design. Every two years, a new volume is published filled with full-color maps, selected from a worldwide competition and judged by an expert panel. It is more than a museum of images, however; each map is accompanied by a brief commentary, provided by the author and meant to guide readers toward a deeper understanding of the work: how it was inspired, its intended message, or the ways it means to influence us. Everyday objects, even beautiful ones, become much more significant when we see what is behind their creation.
The Atlas aims to inspire readers both within the field of cartography and without toward new understandings of design, and of the power that a well-crafted map can have. In an age when more and more mapping tasks are being turned over to computers, the Atlas provides one more answer to the question: What do cartographers do?
The Atlas is published by the North American Cartographic Information Society, a professional organization for mapmakers. It’s managed by a small, but enthusiastic, group of volunteers.
Volume 7
Volume 7 is now available for pre-order for pick up at the 2024 NACIS Annual Meeting in Tacoma, WA or for delivery.
Volume 6
Volume 6 is now available for order.
Volume 5
Volume 5 is available for order.
Volume 4
Volume 4 has been reprinted and is now available for order.
Preview the maps featured in Volume 4 here:
Volume 3
Volume 3 has been reprinted and is now available to order.
Learn more about the book and contributors here.
Physical details: 98 pages, black matte hardcover, smythe sewn binding, 12” x 9” pages. 1.8 lbs.
Volume 2
Volume 2 has been reprinted and is now available to order.
Physical details: 96 pages, hardcover, smythe sewn binding, 12” x 9” pages. 1.8 lbs.
Volume 1
Volume 1has been reprinted and is now available for order.
The reprinted version of Volume 1 was redesigned to match the size of subsequent volumes, with 12” x 9” pages.
Original printing of Volume 1: 88 pages, hardcover, smythe sewn binding, 8.5” x 11” pages.
Browse the maps from Volume 1 here: