Meeting Map Designer Nate Padavick: A Conversation About Creativity and Custom Maps
- Map design
Meeting Map Designer Nate Padavick: A Conversation About Creativity and Custom Maps
Sometimes the best inspiration comes from stepping outside your daily routine.
While visiting Miami recently, I had the chance to meet up with Nate Padavick — a talented map designer, illustrator, and co-founder of They Draw, a creative community that showcases custom maps, recipes, and travel illustrations from artists around the world.
It was one of those rare, energizing conversations that remind you why you started doing what you do in the first place.
Who is Nate Padavick?
If you’re in the custom map design world, Nate’s name is probably familiar.
He’s known for his vibrant, illustrated maps that blend art, storytelling, and functionality in a way few others can match.
Through They Draw, Nate and his sister Salli have created a platform where artists from all over the world share their creative interpretations of food, travel, and geography.
Nate’s maps aren’t just about directions — they’re about capturing the feeling of a place.
It’s a philosophy that resonated deeply with me — and with the spirit of what we strive for at PocketMaps, too.
Our Conversation: Creativity, Design, and Bringing Places to Life
We talked about:
How he first found his way into map design through illustration
His belief that maps are more than functional — they tell stories, evoke memories, and invite exploration
The evolution of custom maps today — from pure navigation tools to branded experiences, creative souvenirs, and marketing assets
It was clear that Nate approaches map-making with the heart of an artist — something we also try to honor in every project we take on, whether we’re designing a tourism map, a campus guide, or a hotel visitor map.
Why Custom Maps Still Matter
Meeting Nate was a great reminder that maps are about connection:
Connecting people to places
Connecting visitors to experiences
Connecting communities to their local businesses and landmarks
At PocketMaps, our mission has always been similar — to create maps that don’t just show you where to go, but make you want to go.
Custom design and thoughtful printing help make destinations more discoverable, memorable, and meaningful.
👉 Learn more about our custom map design services here.
Final Thoughts
Meeting creatives like Nate is always energizing — not just because of the incredible work they do, but because of the passion they bring to it.
It reminds us that at the end of the day, maps are stories on paper — and great stories deserve to be shared beautifully.
If you’re exploring a custom map project — whether you need a creative illustrated map or a visitor-focused pocket guide —
we’d love to help bring your vision to life with the same passion and care.
Manage Your Project with Full Transparency
When you work with PocketMaps, you don’t just get great design and printing — you also get full visibility into your order every step of the way.
Our easy-to-use online dashboard lets you:
Track your project from design to proofing to production to shipping
See estimated ship dates and delivery times
Upload updated files or split shipments if needed
Chat directly with our customer service team anytime
We built this platform because, before PocketMaps, we were customers too — and we couldn’t find a solution that worked.
After 10 years of building and refining our system, we’re proud to offer you a faster, easier, stress-free experience.