Frequently asked questions!
Do you use AI to create these maps?
NEVER. NEVER. Each made is made in the most time-consuming way possible: I sit at my desk and cut out each little piece with an Xacto blade. A small map might take an hour — a large map (such as Austin) will take days. Each design is unique and non-reproducible.
Similarly, the color palettes are unique, and each one is different: The Manhattan maps are inspired by the color palette (as I learned color theory at the School of Visual Arts). The Brooklyn maps are inspired by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden through the year. The Paris maps are inspired by Paris landmarks (such as the famous blue, green and gray street signs seen in Paris 13), and the San Francisco maps are inspired by the architeture of each individual neighborhood.
What is the return policy?
Easy peasy: If you'd like to return your purchase, just send it back to us within 30 days of delivery and we'll provide a full refund — no fuss, no muss.
How much do you charge for shipping?
The shipping cost is included in the price. There is no additional charge.
What is Your shipping timeframe? Will I get a tracking number?
We ship next-day, from Monday to Friday, with a cut-off of 3 p.m. CT. If you order Monday at noon, your piece will ship Tuesday. If you order Saturday at 7 p.m., your piece will ship Monday. Federal holidays are excluded: If you purchase Christmas Day at 3 a.m., your product will ship December 27 (as long as it's not a Saturday or Sunday).
We usually ship from Iowa City, Iowa.
You will absolutely get a tracking number.
What shipping method do you use?
We generally ship via USPS, except in some specific cases where UPS offers better rates or faster delivery.
Where are your products produced?
All of our underlying designs are cut by hand, by me — no AI or digital tracing technologies is used, ever. Our postcards are printed by Minuteman Press in Somerville, New Jersey, and our prints are printed by me (not a third-party vendor) in Iowa City, Iowa.
We are dedicated to manufacturing in the U.S.A.
How much does shipping cost?
Shipping is calculated based on your location and the items in your order. You will always know the shipping price before you purchase.
What about custom designs, sizes, or colors?
We frequently provide our clients with custom sizes, designs, and colors.
SIZES: We can print up to 24" X 30". Please email us about this and we'll make it happen. Shipping time on prints larger than 12" X 16" extends to 4-5 days — we have restricted access to the printer required to print at these sizes. But we can make it work. Just email us for rates and shipping info.
DESIGNS: We can create a map for any location, though areas with dense street grids work best. Because every design is based on a hand-cut map, we can't provide only the print — we need to create the hand-cut map first. Just email us for details on how this works.
COLORS: If you would like a map with a color we don't currently offer, we're happy to provide it. We can print a one-color map with any hexadecimal number for no additional fee. If you would like a unique, five-color color palette, this is available for a $5 fee. Just send us an email and we'll work it out!
