Map²: A Clever ‘Zoomable’ Paper Street Map That "Zooms In" As You Unfold It

If you got headache, to look at one part of the city, you have to spread whole paper out, by managing folds of a bit of a paper containing map. Now, for the same, your worries are over through map apps, Map². Map² is inspired by the “great zooming features of online map systems” that uses clever folding to allow you to zoom in, showing an enlarged view of an area.

Designed by Anne Stauche, a usability expert with experience designing digital products, the Map² is a pocket-sized paper map with an app, the user can zoom in on one area of a map – no having to spread a whole paper map out just to look at one part of the city.

Overview of Working Of Map²

To view any one of four quadrants in more detail, you just pull that section open – the other three quadrants remain closed. On the default fold, you get a 40 x 40 cm map of the city of London. Unfold one of the four 10 x 10 cm quadrants, though, and it opens to a zoomed-in view of that area (another 40 x 40 cm map), allowing you to see more of the same spot without having to wrestle with a really large sheet of paper.

To view any one of four quadrants in more detail, you just pull that section open – the other three quadrants remain closed.

Stauche started by creating a map of London and after receiving a lot of public interest and requests she added a map of Berlin. She’s raising funds on Kickstarter to produce maps of additional cities, starting with New York City. A pledge of £8 (US$12) will get you a map of London, Berlin or New York, currently available in tear-resistant paper.

Future Trends

Map²: A Clever ‘Zoomable’ Paper Street Map That "Zooms In" As You Unfold It