The Challenge

After years of travel and hands-on experience around the world — from rainforests in Borneo to the deserts of Australia — I wanted to create something tangible that could share stories, spark conversation, and make a positive difference.

I couldn’t find a world map that felt personal, tactile, and meaningful enough to display my adventures on. The challenge became clear:

How could I design a world map that not only celebrates exploration but also supports environmental causes?

The Approach

I combined my background in design with traditional craft to prototype a range of large-scale cork world maps. Each piece was hand screen-printed using water-based inks on sustainable cork sourced from Portugal, framed in reclaimed wood, and finished by hand in the UK.

The goal was to make maps that looked like art, felt personal, and did good.

• Material design: Developed eco-friendly cork boards with recycled pin-retaining cores.
• Craftsmanship: Designed and built custom “Shipwrecked” frames inspired by driftwood huts in Southeast Asia.
• Production: Worked directly with suppliers in Portugal, learning about cork harvesting and refining durability and finish.
• Impact: Donated a percentage of every map sale to environmental organisations like Sea Shepherd and Surfers Against Sewage.

The Outcome

MobyMaps grew into a small-batch design brand that shipped handcrafted maps around the world. It was a crash course in product development, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and purpose-led branding.

Each map became a conversation piece — something that brought design, sustainability, and storytelling together.

The project taught me how to bridge vision and execution: designing not just for aesthetics, but for meaning.

“MobyMaps was never just about maps — it was about making something that mattered.”