Crafting The Band Maps

Introduction

Welcome to an inside look at how I create my unique band discography maps. Each one tells a story, visualized in the iconic tube/underground map format. Behind every map lies a process steeped in detailed research, creativity, and a touch of obsession.

I want to take you through the specific steps that go into creating my band line-up maps. The research challenges and creative approaches make this a truly immersive journey, showing the evolution of legendary bands in an engaging and visual way.

1. Research Phase

Every map starts with research, and for band discography maps, the process involves gathering as much detail as possible about the band's recording history.

  • Album Discography: I start by compiling a complete discography of the band, which includes every studio album, key live recordings, and significant collaborations.

  • Cross-Referencing: I cross-reference information from a variety of sources, including Discogs, Wikipedia, and dedicated fan sites. Each of these sources provides unique insights—whether it’s detailed musician credits, album release dates, or fan-curated anecdotes that help fill in the gaps.

  • Data Entry: All of this information is entered into a vast spreadsheet where I can track each musician’s involvement across different albums. This step is crucial for identifying patterns, changes in line-ups, and significant contributions.

  • Correlation Analysis: Once all the data is compiled, I begin to look for correlations—such as how certain members appear or disappear between albums, or how side projects overlap with main recordings. This helps to establish the basis for mapping the connections between albums and musicians.

2. Planning the Map

Once I have my research in place, I begin sketching the skeleton of the map.

  • Drafting the Map: Each album becomes a station on the map, and each musician is visualized as a line that weaves through the stations, based on their involvement. The visual journey highlights the changes in line-up, showing where musicians joined, left, or collaborated.

  • Band Evolution: The connections between albums illustrate how line-ups changed and where iconic collaborations occurred. The map doesn't explicitly tell the story of the band's musical evolution; instead, it provides a visual representation of band members, session musicians, and guests, allowing the map reader to draw their own conclusions by exploring the albums and their connections.

3. Design Phase

Next comes the digital design phase, where everything starts to take shape.

  • CAD Software: Unlike many designers, I don't use something obvious like Adobe Illustrator for my maps. Instead, I use specialized CAD software to plot the interactions. This allows me to achieve precise measurements and positioning, ensuring that each line and station is accurately placed for readability and visual impact.

  • Colour Coding: Each band member is assigned a specific colour. This helps clearly illustrate who contributed to each album, making it easy to follow the journey of individual musicians across the band’s discography.

  • Attention to Detail: The design phase involves refining every detail—line thickness, spacing, label placements, and ensuring that the map is both informative and visually appealing.

4. Review and Refinement

  • Quality Check: I print a draft version to check for spacing, colours, and clarity. This is an important step to ensure the visual story makes sense and that no significant details have been overlooked. Errors do happen, and revisions to published maps are sometimes necessary—especially with new album releases. I like to think of these 'mistake maps' as becoming highly collectible in the future, much like misprinted stamps!

  • Audience Perspective: I also try to see the map from a fresh perspective—would someone unfamiliar with the band understand the story? Feedback from trusted friends, collaborators, and music fans is always welcome. Music fans often know more about these specialized subjects, and their insights are invaluable in ensuring that I accurately represent and interact with the subject matter.

5. Production and Final Touches

  • Print Quality: Once the design is finalized, I work with a professional printer to produce high-quality art prints on premium paper. The prints are board-backed for display and sealed in compostable bags to ensure both durability and sustainability.

  • Finishing Touches: The final step is adding any finishing touches—perhaps an explanatory key or a brief description on the print that guides viewers into understanding the story behind the band’s line-up and history. Final touches also include the way it is presented online as a product page, with relevant information to help guide searches and attract interested fans.

Conclusion

Creating band discography maps is a process that involves deep research, creative planning, and a lot of passion. Each map is not just a visual representation but also a narrative that takes the viewer on a journey through the band’s history. Whether it’s a legendary rock band or a genre-defining group, each map offers something unique, allowing fans to visually explore the story behind the music they love.