Could you create an atlas of your life experiences?

I was introduced to The Atlas of Experience by Louise van Swaaij and Jean Klare book as part of a graphic design project. Our task was to illustrate a major moment in life, and this book was one of several we were shown as a way others had solved this design dilemma. As someone who has always loved maps, the idea of creating a map of experiences was intriguing.

My solution to the task wasn’t a map, but I keep coming back to this book as an intriguing way of explaining, connecting and understanding your life so far. I like the idea that there are conventions in map making and reading that mean that others can interpret signs and symbols I chose to put on my map. There is also a good chance that the map others would draw may be quite familiar, as there are many life events people have in common.

This book also appeals because of its honesty. Life is not reported as an entirely happy and positive place, which is refreshing. I love the idea of maps of life areas including “Mountains of work”, “The Isles of forgetfulness”, “Change” and “Bad Habits”. I can certainly identify with having visited all these locations!

Each map is preceded by a commentary on the emotions and back story that support the map. Conventional wisdom, combined with the actual outcomes are interwoven in unconnected paragraphs of thoughts, just as our minds tend to recall things. The maps have contours, roads, coastlines, areas we were drawn to despite ourselves and areas we managed to avoid. They have pools of water where we may have stopped and spent some time, and delightful towns where we had memorable times. Almost all have ports and airports, because as with life there is usually a way out of even the stickiest places we land. 

Some lands are very green and verdant, while others are cold and chilly. We have most of us been to both these locations some time in life. There are geologically formed elements; volcanos, steep cliffs, rivers that abruptly twist and change course. Who hasn’t visited the volcano called “sparks fly” at sometime in their life?

I love the idea that we can map our lives as one action to clarify where we’ve been. If you like maps and have a sense you’ve travelled a lot to get where you are today, this may be a book you will also pick up repeatedly.

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