For my final piece for a simpler and easier to understand travel guide, I have refined the travelling to less distance involving key sites, surfing dining and camping, as I think camping is the way to do the Great Ocean Road. It felt more free and accessible.Â
The concept is a map focus to inform the reader where is best to go using visuals. It involves a colourful and easy to understand key with a grid system, left side, A-D and top, 1-9. This grid system is used so that the reader is able to pinpoint their desired location to then flip over to 'INFO' so they can reference it and find out a bit about it. There are also photos to go with the sites to make it further visual. The sites are also numbered as they are the main focus of the guide. On the bottom left of the map, there is a key that says 'FOR YOU ROAD TRIP, YOU WILL NEED!' with a key with icons for camera, tent, appetite and surfboard. That is to say that who follows this guide they will need these things to have the best experience. The most difficult thing to find being a surfboard, but are also available at the beaches in the guide. The restaurants, campsites and surf spots have been rated based on personal opinion, with some information about each place. The layout on the 'INFO' side also fits to the same grid structure as the maps side.Â
With more planning and now I have a structure to the map, I would like to go further and explore different parts of Australia/ the world to produce more editions to follow this map. I would perhaps also expand it, involving more places, either within a similar distance or more spread out.Â
I think that this map is easy to read and visually exciting. The colours make it pleasant to read and obvious of certain things. If this is not the case then there a clear keys to explain this. The information gives the reader advice on where to go and what to do to have a good time and stays uncomplicated at the same time, keeping it relevant to more readers. The size stresses to close to A3 when completely folded out which makes it extremely to read, whilst being able to fit into the reader's pocket when carrying it around.
Reproduced with permission from Lonely Planet.
