The author shares a fascinating story of an unsuccessful attempt to create a map of Spain in the 18th century, showcasing the individual perspectives of amateur cartographers. Despite the failure of the project, the unique and expressive nature of the maps shines through, highlighting the balance between modularity and expressiveness in design. The author questions the tradeoffs between flexibility and specificity in various creative endeavors, emphasizing the importance of considering the impact of generic solutions in a world increasingly driven by software logic. The article challenges readers to think about the diversity and richness that can be lost in the quest for standardization.
https://escapethealgorithm.substack.com/p/should-this-be-a-map-or-500-maps