GRAPHIC DESIGN AND ILLUSTRATION > KYOTO JOURNEY MAP

Illustrated Map for American Cosmetic Company

Client: Confidential (Well-Known U.S. Cosmetics Company)
Project: Illustrated Travel Map – Kyoto, Japan

This illustrated map was created for a prominent U.S.-based cosmetics company to commemorate their business trip to Kyoto. Designed to enhance and personalise the experience, the map highlights key locations visited and accommodations during the trip. The artwork served both as a functional guide and a memorable keepsake, adding unique value to the company’s travel event.

Project brief:
To design an elegant, illustrated map showcasing key shrines, temples, and hotels in Kyoto. While the locations are geographically accurate, the map is intended primarily as a visual storytelling piece to add experiential value, rather than serve as a functional navigation tool.

    • Elegant

    • Clean-line

    • Boutique / hand-drawn

    • Temples

    • Shrines

    • Restaurants

    • Hotels

    • Key roads

    • Nature

    • A4 and A5 printable PDF

    • Web friendly files

    • Separate transparent PNGs for individual illustrations

Design approach:
For this project, I developed a variation of my usual clean-line illustration style to better capture the character and warmth of Kyoto’s historic architecture. I opted for a hand-drawn-style brush to introduce subtle irregularities and texture, ensuring each building felt alive and authentic, avoiding the rigidity that often comes with perfectly straight lines.

The color palette was carefully curated to enhance the overall elegance of the piece. A combination of modern greys and soft tones were selected to harmonise with the rich browns used to depict traditional Japanese structures, resulting in a refined and balanced aesthetic.

Let’s work together

Natalie Ex brings 23 years of experience in illustration, graphic design, and marketing. While she specialises in clean-line Japanese inspired styles, her adaptable approach ensures visuals are tailored to your unique needs.