Archie Archambault

A designer relies on exploration and the knowledge of locals to create a unique series of maps.



The maps he’s made won’t give you turn-by-turn directions from from point A to point B, but they will give you the gist of various cities through the eyes of locals. Call them, he says, the CliffsNotes to a city. Each map is simple, using circles to illustrate neighborhoods, parks, and other areas that communities deem meaningful or significant.


A crude map of Washington, D.C. (Archie Achambault)
A finished map of Washington, D.C. (Archie Achambault)

The project began by accident a few years back with a rather crude map of Portland, Oregon, that a friend drew for him when he first moved there. Archambault took the map, jazzed it up, and decided that he would do the same for other cities.

Since 2013, he’s been touring cities from San Francisco to D.C. to Berlin, staying with locals he’s found on the travel website He’s reached out to neighborhood leaders, historical societies, local cartographers, other designers—anyone who would talk to him—to understand the highlights of cities. “The whole idea behind the maps is simple communication,” he says.

Most importantly, Archambault turns off his phone during his trips, letting himself get lost in the confusing streets of Brooklyn or the intricate subway system of Tokyo. “Every time I turn off my GPS, I get panicky and my palms start sweating again, and I can’t figure out what I’m doing,” he says. “But most people don’t even try, because why would you?”

(Archie Achambault)
(Archie Achambault)

Many who’ve gotten too comfortable with GPS can relate to Archambault. Sometimes, it feels as though our brains turn to mush when we can’t access Google Maps. (Interestingly, Google announced Tuesday that the Google Maps app can now give you directions offline, making it even harder to kick the GPS habit.)



Archambault thinks that’s a waste, recalling a drive around Maine. “It’s the most confusing highway system imaginable, but even before cellphones, we still figured it out,” he says. “This part of our brain is so incredibly strong, and we really aren’t using it all.”

Indeed, our brains can do sophisticated mapping work, relying on everything from the smell of the city to the feel of a cracked sidewalk. We have what are called “place neurons,” which constantly shuffle patterns to generate cognitive maps of the world. Finding our way, as CityLab previously reported, is one of the most fundamental things humans do.

“It’s a funny challenge to turn [the GPS] off when you go to a new place,” Archambault continues. “And it’s kind of alarming how resourceful you get.”

Still, he admits that he does turn to GPS for directions, every now and then.

(Archie Achambault)
(Archie Achambault)
(Archie Achambault)
A close up of New Orleans. (Archie Achambault)
(Archie Achambault)
(Archie Achambault)

About the Author

Linda Poon
Linda Poon

Linda Poon is an assistant editor at CityLab.

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