MobyMaps began before travel maps became a mass-market trend. I wanted to create something more tactile, meaningful, and display-worthy than anything I could find at the time, so I set out to design and build a sustainable cork world map brand from scratch.
What started as an idea grew into a hands-on product business that brought together concept development, branding, prototyping, photography, packaging, ecommerce, and purpose-led design. Drawing on years of travel and a love of exploration, the aim was to make functional wall art that could help people tell stories, mark adventures, and support environmental causes at the same time.
The business eventually had to close during the Covid lockdown period, which is when I shifted my focus more fully into building apps instead. Even so, MobyMaps still captures a lot of how I like to work: spotting an opportunity early, making the thing for real, and shaping the experience from first idea through to the final product.
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 those adventures on. The challenge became clear: how could I design a world map that not only celebrates exploration but also supports environmental causes?
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.
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.”
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