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How to Design a Map That Visitors Actually Want to Use

Great maps do more than show directions — they shape experiences. Learn what makes a custom map effective and how to design one that visitors love. Ready to create yours? Start with PocketMaps.

The Hidden Power of Campus Maps for Colleges and Universities

Campus maps do more than guide visitors — they shape the first impression of your school. Learn how custom maps can boost recruitment, improve campus experiences, and reinforce your university’s brand.

Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
University Map

How to Design a Map That Visitors Actually Want to Use

Great maps do more than show directions — they shape experiences. Learn what makes a custom map effective and how to design one that visitors love. Ready to create yours? Start with PocketMaps.

How Visitor Centers Can Boost Tourism with Custom Pocket Maps

Visitor centers do more than welcome travelers — they shape their entire experience. Learn how custom pocket maps help boost tourism, support local businesses, and keep visitors exploring longer.

Folding Maps
Wayfinding on Trails
Map design

Why Hotels and Resorts Need Custom Guest Maps (And How They Pay for Themselves)

Custom maps don't just help guests find their way — they boost satisfaction, drive revenue, and create lasting impressions. Discover why custom hotel maps are one of the smartest marketing tools you can invest in.

Folding Maps
Hotel Maps
#front of house
#hotel marketing ideas

What I Learned About Visitor Maps During My Travels Across Europe

Traveling across Europe, I visited visitor centers, picked up local maps, and watched how travelers interact with them. Here’s what I learned — and why thoughtful map design still matters more than ever.

Folding Maps
Map design

Put Your Destination on the Map with Custom Map Design

Custom maps do more than guide—they tell your destination’s story. From clearer navigation to stronger branding, discover how custom-designed maps help visitor centers and tourism pros elevate engagement, boost exploration, and leave a lasting impression.

Map design

Reduce Patient Stress: How Irish Hospitals Use Bespoke Maps to Transform Patient Experience

Irish hospitals using bespoke pocket maps report 45% fewer direction inquiries and improved patient satisfaction. HSE facilities across Ireland benefit from our online ordering and rapid delivery system.

Enhance Student Success: Why Leading Irish Universities Choose Bespoke Campus Maps

Irish universities report 34% fewer direction inquiries when using bespoke campus maps. From Trinity College Dublin to UCC, our online system delivers professional results across Ireland in 10 days.

Why Every Luxury Hotel Needs a Custom PocketMap for Guests

Boost guest experience with custom hotel PocketMaps—a trusted, tactile guide that increases direct bookings, on-site spending, and efficiency. Hotels use PocketMaps to showcase top recommendations, enhance engagement, and create a memorable stay.

Folding Maps
Hotel Maps
Concierge maps
#Hotel pocket map

Transform Irish Tourism: How Bespoke Pocket Maps Drive 43% More Visitor Spending Across Ireland

Irish tourism boards using bespoke pocket maps see 43% higher visitor spending and improved visitor satisfaction. Online platform delivers professional results across Ireland in 10 days - from Dublin to Donegal.

Why Custom-Designed Maps Are the Key to Real-World Exploration in a Digital-First World

Tired of digital overload? Custom-designed print maps help guests explore without screens. Perfect for cities, hotels & visitor centers—guide travelers with beauty, clarity, and zero distractions. Discover how PocketMaps elevates the guest experience.

Folding Maps
Map design

Find the Perfect Map Design for Your Project — Big or Small

Need a custom map? From trail and tourism maps to bike trails, resorts, and city guides, PocketMaps designs maps that bring your destination to life. Big or small, we can help — and handle the printing too. Explore our design services today.

Folding Maps
Campus Maps
Hotel Maps
Map design
#graphic design map ideas
#map design
#map designer
#gis

Boost Visitor Spending by 31%: How UK Tourism Boards Use Bespoke Pocket Maps to Drive Revenue

Tourism boards using bespoke pocket maps see 31% higher visitor spending and 67% more recommendations. Our online platform makes ordering effortless - instant quotes, online proofing, and 10-day delivery across Britain.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Pocket-size print marketing ideas
Map design
map printing
Tourism Boards

Looking for a Custom Map Designer? Here's Where to Start

Need a custom map designed? From trail maps to resort guides, find out how to plan your project and connect with expert map designers. Learn more and get started today with PocketMaps.

Transform Your Corporate Campus Experience: Why Leading UK Companies Choose Bespoke Pocket Maps

Corporate receptions handle 400+ visitor inquiries daily about directions. Bespoke pocket maps reduce staff interruptions by 67% whilst creating professional first impressions. Online ordering, instant quotes, and 10-day delivery make implementation effortless.

Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
Map design
graphic design for maps
map printing

Why Every UK University Needs Custom Pocket Maps: Boosting Student Success from Day One

Students don't need navigation stress on top of academics. Custom pocket maps solve what digital solutions can't - dead batteries, poor signals. They cost less than a single inquiry call whilst boosting student confidence and campus engagement.

Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
University Map

Analyzing the ROI: The Business Case for Investing in Custom Hotel PocketMaps

Hospitality must create outstanding tourist experiences in a digital era where smartphones and GPS rule wayfinding. Pocket-sized custom hotel maps are gorgeous and useful. These customized maps are worth it. Hotel maps tailored to guests and concierge services improve guest experience and ROI.

Folding Maps
Pocket-Size Marketing
Pocket-size print marketing ideas
Hotel Maps
Concierge maps

Reducing Patient Stress: How Custom Pocket Maps Transform Healthcare Navigation

Complex hospital layouts create anxiety and staff interruptions. Custom pocket maps provide therapeutic reassurance whilst reducing staff burden. They cost less than staff time spent giving directions.

graphic design for maps

Transform Your Resort Experience: The Essential Benefits of Tailored PocketMaps

Discover how tailored pocket maps can elevate your resort's brand. These customized maps enhance guest experience, serve as marketing tools, and set you apart from competitors.

Folding Maps
Hotel Maps
Concierge maps

Bring Your Destination to Life with Custom Map Design

Need a custom map? We design trail maps, city guides, tourism maps, resort maps, and more. Big or small, we’ll help you create a map that’s beautiful, practical, and ready for print. Start your project today with PocketMaps!

Folding Maps
Campus Wayfinding
Hotel Maps
Map design
#map designer
#map design
#graphic design map ideas

The Ultimate Guide to Map and Guide Printing for Marketing Professionals

Online maps and guides are useful for navigating, but printed resources are more tactile. Marketing communication managers and directors can engage audiences with printed maps and guides. This blog post discusses how to maximize map and guide printing in your marketing mix.

Folding Maps
Pocket-size print marketing ideas

Custom PocketMaps: An Essential Utility for Modern-Day Emergency Response Teams

Explore the functionality of pocket maps for emergency teams, highlighting customization options for different scenarios like fires, floods, or urban rescues.

City Wayfinding
Emergency Response

Why Every UK Event Venue Needs Custom Pocket Maps: The Secret to Seamless Attendee Experience

The UK events industry hosts 1,145 exhibitions for 7.2 million visitors annually. When digital solutions fail, custom pocket maps deliver. They increase engagement by 34% at venues like NEC Birmingham and ExCeL London.

Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas

Unfolding Your Narrative: How PocketMaps Can Transform Your Storytelling

In an age where the digital landscape is saturated with content, standing out with a compelling narrative is more important than ever.

File-prep
#templates
#Adobe
#InDe
#PDF
#illustrator

Hidden Gems: How Custom Pocket Maps Help Villages Attract Visitors and Support Local Economy

Villages with clear visitor orientation see 43% more tourism spending. Custom pocket maps showcase hidden footpaths, local artisans, and seasonal highlights visitors would otherwise miss. Unlock your village's potential.

Tourism Recovery: How UK Cities Are Using Custom Pocket Maps to Attract More Visitors

Confident navigators spend 31% more and recommend locations 67% more often. Custom pocket maps offer reliability tourists can count on, driving significant visitor spending increases across UK destinations.

School Trip Success: How Custom Pocket Maps Keep Students Safe and Engaged

89% of trip incidents involve separated students. Custom pocket maps transform school trips, reducing safety concerns whilst boosting engagement. They're the most cost-effective safety investment schools can make.

Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
University Map

Enhancing Visitor Experience with Customized Self-Guided Walking Tours

In today's digital environment, internet maps and GPS navigation are convenient. However, walking around a new city and finding hidden jewels and surprises is amazing. As a tourism marketer, you want to give guests an outstanding experience that inspires them to explore your city.

City Wayfinding

The Convenience of Pocket Guides for Trade Shows, Conferences, and Expos

Exhibitions, conferences, and business shows can be demanding. You may carry a large tote bag full of catalogs, pamphlets, and books from innumerable seminars, booths, and networking events. A pocket guide solves this difficulty. They'll go in your customers' pockets instead of your tote bag.

Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Pocket-Size Marketing
Pocket-size print marketing ideas

How Concierge PocketMaps Can Enhance Your Guests' Experience

Some of the most popular items to include on a concierge paper map are: restaurants, cafes, bars, local attractions and activities, transportation options, and helpful tips for enjoying the local area.

Folding Maps
Pocket-size print marketing ideas
Hotel Maps
Concierge maps

How Parks Can Use Printed Pocket-Size Maps to Enhance Visitor Experiences

Imagine you are out for a walk in your local park. You take a wrong turn, and before you know it, you are entirely lost. You pull out your phone to try and find your way back to the main path, but there's no service. Now what? Hence, this is where a printed pocket-size map comes in handy.

Wayfinding on Trails
#Parks & Recreation
#Parks
#Visitor Experiences

Spoil your visitor with a great experience in your museum by using PocketMaps

PocketMaps is a user-friendly tool that helps museum visitors find their way around, discover commercial opportunities, and provide feedback.

How to Prepare Your Community for a Hurricane

As an emergency management planner, you should create a guide on how to prepare for hurricanes.

Why Custom PocketMaps Are a Great Marketing Tool for Brands

Are you looking for a fun and interactive way to show the layout of your campus? Do you want to guide your guests to where they need to go while showing off your brand's unique style? If so, then you need to invest in custom pocket maps for your business.

Folding Maps
Pocket-Size Marketing
Pocket-size print marketing ideas

Why Z-Fold Prints and Folding Maps Are a Staple Across Many Industries

Get an edge in your company's printing by learning why Z-fold prints and folding maps are a staple across many industries.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Pocket-size print marketing ideas

5 Reasons Why Z Fold Maps Are More Beneficial

Whether you are creating a map for yourself or your business you must choose a folding style. These are 5 reasons why you should choose the z fold style.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas

Benefits of Having Z Fold Printed Materials for Your Business

You want your business to stand out while being efficient when it comes to printing materials. Read why you should choose the Z fold for your printing needs.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Pocket-Size Marketing

COVID-19 OPERATING STATUS

With news and government restrictions changing on almost a continuous basis with the COVID-19 pandemic, we created this status page as a resource to provide an update and not send emails.

PocketMaps Application & Ideas

See how Parks & Recreation Trails, Botanical Gardens, City Transit, Museums, Hotel Concierge, and Real Estate companies use our clever folding pocket-sized maps.

City Wayfinding
Museum Wayfinding, Signage, & Maps
Campus Maps
#real estate map
#Museum map
#Botanical Garden map
#Transit map

A Guide to Our Compact Printing Sizes and terms

We'll show you some common size terms you might see or hear around our office, to make your 100% custom maps, guides, and brochures. ordering an easier process.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing

Why Use an Accordion Map Fold For Bike Trails?

Map layouts are important to consider, especially when you're anticipating the map in the hands of someone like a biker. Which type of map will be easy for a biker to use, especially if they're out on a trail?

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails

Cover Placement Mock-up

When submitting your final, print-ready PocketMaps files, we ask that you also provide a mock-up of your cover positions.

Submitting files
File-prep

Take Jane's Walk in Your Community

Jane's Walks are free guided and volunteer-led walking tours of urban centers throughout the United States, Canada, and cities worldwide.

What to Include On A Snow Emergency Pocket-Size-Guide

Here's what we recommend to include in an emergency pocket-size-guide for areas anticipating snow.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing

Lessons From the London Map: What Your Pocket Map Should Do

In an article published by The Atlantic's City Lab*, transportation maps in two subway cities--London and New York--showed the importance audience response to map design.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Museum Wayfinding, Signage, & Maps

The top 5 tips to include on your Campus PocketMaps

What can make your map the most successful way finding tool for new students and their parents? Here's our guide of the top 5 tips and considerations to include on your campus pocket map.

Folding Maps
Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
University Map

Help the Homeless with Credit Card Sized Maps

Here's where credit card sized maps can come in handy, and even save a person's life.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding

Why Print A Map Fold Brochure?

Print collateral can be a really important marketing tool, especially at trade shows, exhibitions, office rooms, and client meetings. Considering the standard designs that people think about when they see brochures, why not print instead map fold brochure?

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing

Custom Folding Pocket-Size Cards are Useful when Preparing for Winter Storms

It’s never too early to begin planning for winter storms. One of the best ways of doing that is to make survival information readily available. Here are some ways that emergency planning agencies could benefit from having custom folding cards printed to help people survive winter storms.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing

Realtors: Help New home buyers and renters with A Business Card Map

Your business card map of your area can help new home buyers or renters get to know their new town while putting your business and expertise literally on the map and in their pocket.

Folding Maps
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing
#real estate
#realtor
#real estate office
#graphic design map ideas
#real estate marketing
#Coommeercial real estate
#Residential real estate

Libraries: Orient Visitors With Pocket Size Folding Maps

A pocket sized map can be a great way to make libraries visually appealing and comfortable for all patrons.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails
Campus Wayfinding
Museum Wayfinding, Signage, & Maps
Pocket-Size Marketing

How City Planners Can Use Print Map Design For Accessibility Praxis

When it comes to transit maps for subways or buses, most of us take their accessibility for granted. But for those who need wheelchair assistance, these maps can tell a different story.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Campus Wayfinding

3 Resources To Add To Your Hurricane Emergency Pocket-Size-Guide

The most effective emergency pocket-size-guide includes not only evacuation routes, but also valuable information for travelers on the road. Here are three resources you should add to your guide that can help save lives and promote a streamlined, effective evacuation.

Folding Maps
Pocket-Size Marketing

Make Your Location Stand Out With a Business Card Map

Leverage your business cards into a real tool for your marketing efforts.

Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas

5 Awesome Road Trips for Weekend Getaways from Savannah, Georgia

We here at PocketMaps love Savannah, of course, but sometimes you have to get on the open road and see another corner of the world. This Southern tour includes a little bit of everything: wineries, happening nightlife, beaches, and great eats.

Local Libraries Can Promote Summer Reading with PocketMaps

Some ideas for summer reading PocketMaps to help librarians and library staff create summer fun activities that revolve around literacy.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing

How Museums can Benefit from Fold-Up Wallet Cards with Maps

Provide useful information to your museum guests with a fold-up wallet card with maps.

Folding Maps
Museum Wayfinding, Signage, & Maps

Discover How These Maps Redraw Cities Based On How Long It Takes To Get Around Without A Car

Thanks to a concept developed by graduate student Andrew Hardin at the University of Colorado, a brand new type of map is now available to help people determine travel times around a city when walking.

City Wayfinding
Campus Wayfinding

Use Trade Show Maps to Increase Visibility

No one wants to get lost, and special events are even better when you know where to go. That's why trade show maps are essential. PocketMap specializes in making different kinds of maps that are tailored made for special events, such as trade shows.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
Wayfinding on Trails

3 Reasons Why You Need Bike Pocket Maps

Show off how bicycle-friendly your city is with a bike pocket map.

For Special Events Create A Customized Event Map

When creating an event map, don't print it out of Google maps. Make it a work of art like the cartographers of old by creating a customized event map.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas

Maps or Smartphone Apps?

That was the question posed by over 700 people who completed both the online and in-person Walk Edmonton wayfinding survey.

City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails

Take a Jane's Walk in Your Community

Jane's Walks are free guided; volunteer-led walking tours of urban centers throughout the United States, Canada, and cities throughout the world.

City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding

Old Town Bluffton Gets New Street Signs Package

A historical area in the South recently announced a new street signs package designed to help people navigate this historic district.

City Wayfinding

The Benefits of using a foldout map

A foldout map is a useful and versatile item that many people cannot do without. Compact, lightweight, and attractive, they can enhance your life in surprising ways. Some of the benefits of using a foldout map are below:

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails
Campus Wayfinding

Put New Students at Ease With a Pocket Size Campus Map

Students at a new school often feel a lot of anxiety about getting to class on time and not getting lost. A campus map can make the process of finding classrooms and school services simpler.

Folding Maps
Campus Wayfinding
Campus Maps
University Map

Promotional Trade Show Maps: The Mix of Promotional Material with Wayfinding

Have you thought about a creating a promotional trade show map at your next trade show event to help visitors navigate the surroundings a little more comfortable?

Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding

Lexington NC approves $100,000 in initial funding for wayfinding program

The Tourism Authority of Lexington, NC recently approved $100,000 in initial funding for a wayfinding program.

City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding

PocketMaps Can Help bring Tourists To Your Food Truck

How do food truck entrepreneurs make sure that seasonal tourists know about them too? We’d like to recommend that they invest in PocketMaps.

Folding Maps
Guerrilla Wayfinding

Knoxville Joins Cities Creating Downtown Wayfinding Signage Projects

As more and more cities focus on tourism to boost their economic coffers, they understand the importance of making it easy for citizens and tourists to navigate their way around.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding
Campus Wayfinding

Icelandair Gets First-Class Treatment with Iceland PocketMaps

The convenient Grab ‘N Go PocketMaps inspired a new way for our popular three-row layout to be utilized: a country map.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding

WAYFINDING in the NEWS - Campus Wayfinding Topic of Public Input Session

At Pocket Maps, we follow many topics relative to personal navigation, so we were interested in a recent article entitled. Campus wayfinding is the topic of public input session.

Campus Wayfinding

Worcester, MA Tourism Wayfinding Initiative

Discover how smart wayfinding strategies like Worcester’s $3M project help cities, campuses, and events boost tourism, improve navigation, and enhance visitor experiences—with custom printed maps from PocketMaps.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding

Pocket Guide Printing

When you need a sizeable and informative resource reduced to the size of a booklet that can fit in your pocket, pocket guide printing is the answer.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas

Print Custom Maps

Customized maps offer the opportunity to overlay layers of data onto custom maps for a truly unique product.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails

St. Augustine Helps Tourists Find Their Way with WayFinding Signs

'You are here' 'Wayfinding' signs and mobile website for historic structures in works for St. Augustine.

City Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails

Trail Signs Start New Way-finding System

Pocket Maps is all about Wayfinding, and when we find something in the news about it, we like to pass it along.

City Wayfinding
Wayfinding on Trails

Stay Warm in the Winter, Cool in the Summer and Dry in the Rain with a Pocket-Sized Map

A pocket-sized map from Pocket Maps is just what your attendees need to stay warm in the winter, cool in the summer and dry in the rain.

Folding Maps
map printing
#wayfinding

Wayfinding Solution That Fits In Your Pocket

Long before there was GPS, travelers relied on maps and compasses to find their way through uncharted land or sea.

Folding Maps
City Wayfinding

Lake Havasu City's wayfinding program funding OK’d

After a $570k approval, Lake Havasu City's community wayfinding program becomes Arizona's first.

City Wayfinding
#city maps,
#way-finding
#signs

Eureka! I Found the People Who Make Those Foldable Conference Maps!

Eureka! You found us, and we are ready to make your trade-show and conference pocket maps!

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Guerrilla Wayfinding
#maps
#wayfinding
#marketing

Credit Card Size Folding Maps: The Pocket-Sized Marketing Powerhouse

Give your customers something they’ll actually use—and remember. Discover how credit card size folding maps help you stay top of mind and drive real-world engagement.

Folding Maps
Trade-show / Expo marketing ideas
City Wayfinding
Pocket-Size Marketing
#marketing
#trade-show
#maps

Do you love Thai food and live in Savannah?

Get your Thai fix at this authentic restaurant, conveniently located in downtown Savannah.

City Wayfinding

Savannah’s local cafe in historic Savannah, GA

Walking around Savannah's Historic District will reveal several exquisite squares with history and character. Wright Square, which honors General Oglethorpe's ally Tomochichi, draws visitors worldwide. However, Wright Square, Bistro, a hidden treasure, is mere steps from Tomochichi's grave.

City Wayfinding

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