MIKE BELL MAPS - CREATOR OF MUSIC MAPS & MORE
I’m Mike Bell, a designer based in Lewes, East Sussex. Originally a 3D show and set designer, I shifted my focus during lockdown when live events paused, launching my new venture, Mike Bell Maps.
It felt like coming full circle: back to my early career in live sound, hauling flight cases, climbing PA stacks, and getting carnets stamped for touring bands. Now I load up tube-style maps of bands instead, each packed with facts, histories, and stories.
My first music map, charting The Fall’s album line-ups, underwent sixteen iterations before it felt right, thanks in part to feedback from band member and producer Simon Rodgers. That spirit of detail remains central to my work.
My research combines interviews, fan forums, liner notes, and overlooked sources to uncover previously hidden connections. These are distilled into transit-style maps that turn complex histories into engaging, easy-to-follow journeys, whether it’s a band’s discography, a film’s storyline, or political history.
What began as a brain exercise during lockdown (to help manage a minor neurological condition) has grown into a global art print business, shipping worldwide. I now combine storytelling with design, creating maps that bring clarity to cultural chaos..
Each map under Mike Bell Maps helps you trace a story as if following a tube line—albums as stations, musicians as lines, characters as connections. Whether you’re a music lover, film enthusiast, or cultural explorer, my maps offer a fresh perspective on the world.
