“But a Google map has a scientific feel. I wanted to communicate the idea of a city on paper.”

So he drew a circle with a cross hair in it, dividing it into quadrants. Then he started exploring streets and neighborhoods by all means of transportation possible, getting an on-the-ground feel for the urban landscape. That first sketch led him to create his first map of Portland (above) and became the genesis of a quirky map-making process that he still uses today.

Very cool.