Uncovering the Mastermind Behind Cartography: Isaac Dushku, the Map Magnate
In the world of social media, there's a unique presence that stands out – the "Lord of Maps". This Instagram star, with 205K followers, is none other than Utah native, Isaac Dushku.
Isaac, who took a year off to pursue his passion for mapmaking, has built "Lord of Maps" into a geeky gold mine. It's a place where atlas-addicted, cosplaying, nature-loving fantasy fans can gather and collect his beautifully detailed maps, inspired by medieval maps and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
Dushku's maps are drawn in a charming style that resembles medieval maps and those found in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings book series. His first map was created during the pandemic while he was in college, inspired by the idea of someone making fantasy-style maps of real places.
Isaac's process for creating maps is meticulous. He makes a grid, looks on Google Maps for the location, draws the outline, labels it, and occasionally corrects mistakes with digital tools.
The "Lord of Maps" collection includes hand-drawn maps, books, and blankets featuring American states and countries. Colorado and Oregon are the best-selling maps. Recently, Dushku has branched out to make posters featuring side-by-side depictions of the tallest U.S. buildings, the tallest mountains in each state, and more.
Alexander Dushku, Isaac's older brother, provides strategic assistance for the business. A strategic marketing plan, including targeted ads, has contributed significantly to Isaac's audience and sales growth.
Isaac's vision for expanding his business includes creating large-format sculptures, particularly an epic statue in the Utah desert. However, the censorship of his first coffee table book in China due to political sensitivities led him to find a new printer.
Despite not being fluent in Elvish and having only read the Silmarillion once, Isaac considers the Lord of the Rings series something he thinks about every day and brings him enormous joy. He draws inspiration for his mapmaking style from the humble-looking first map of Middle Earth by Tolkien's son Christopher and from historical maps from the 1600s.
In addition to his maps, Isaac also creates stickers with a hippie-nerd energy, featuring cute animals, Volkswagen Beetles, and positive slogans.
For more information about Isaac Dushku and his journey as the "Lord of Maps", you might consider checking the Instagram account biography or posts for any "About" information or interviews given by the creator himself.
- Isaac Dushku's Instagram account, "Lord of Maps," is a haven for atlas-addicted, cosplaying, nature-loving fantasy fans.
- Dushku's hand-drawn maps,books, and blankets are inspired by medieval maps and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, and the best-selling maps are Colorado and Oregon.
- Alexander Dushku, Isaac's older brother, assists the business with strategic planning, including targeted advertising.
- Dushku's maps are drawn with a meticulous process involving a grid, Google Maps, outlining, labeling, and digital correcting.
- Isaac's mapmaking style is inspired by Tolkien's son Christopher's first map of Middle Earth and historical maps from the 1600s.
- Despite not being fluent in Elvish and having only read the Silmarillion once, Isaac finds joy in the Lord of the Rings series and derives inspiration from it.
- Isaac also creates stickers with a hippie-nerd energy, featuring cute animals, Volkswagen Beetles, and positive slogans, expanding his line into the world of fashion-and-beauty and shopping.
