# paper map guidelines
As a designer for a new USE-IT map, you have quite a lot of freedom. However, we do have some guidelines and helpful tips to get you started. In this document, you find everything you need to know about designing your own awesome city map.
Important as a start: even though we know many people use the Internet to get around, USE-IT maps should always be useful as stand-alone paper maps. So it is important to make it clear (as well as beautiful, of course).
## About the size
{% columns %}
{% column %}
**COVER SIZE**
A square of 13,5 × 13,5cm
**UNFOLDED SIZE**
The general rule is: this square cover size should be the start of everything!\
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Regular maps are 67,5 × 40,5cm (5 × 3 squares). Some maps may take this format vertically (3 × 5 squares). If you are a gigantic city, you may add a 6th row of squares horizontally. But this was very rare, usually 5 are enough: you need to make choices in your content! For smaller cities, only 4 squares wide may be enough, and that is also okay.
## About the cover
There are some fixed rules about the cover and the logo. Don’t forget to tell your designer!
### Fixed works
* Name of the city in English
* "Free map"
* "For young travellers"
* "Made by locals"
And no other text!
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### Logo
24mm wide (white box included)\
6mm from the edges
No other logos and info.
For the logo, you have two options:
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{% column width="50%" %}
**OPTION 1: THE ONE-COLOUR LOGO**
You will use the black-and-white version of the logo. You can change the black for ONE colour of your choice. (And only ONE!)
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**OPTION 2: THE ORIGINAL LOGO**
You will take the original-colour logo and use it as it is. (You can't change anything on it.)
### Fixed text
> [www.use-it.travel](http://www.use-it.travel)
> USE-IT is tourist info for young people: made by locals, no nonsense and up-to-date. Want to be the first to know about our new maps? Follow us on Instagram @useitmaps. USE-IT has been showing you the local ways of European cities for more than twenty years now! You know us for our paper maps, but now, we have a brand new online content for you to enjoy. Make your trip even more no-nonsense, more local and way cooler. Check out [www.use-it.travel](http://www.use-it.travel)!
Add the number of edition and the date of publication for archives.
### Publisher & Sponsor info
It depends on your local funding authorities how you have to mention them. They may ask you to put their logo bigger, at least try to make everything balanced. Do not forget credits for your team, NGO, graphic designer and base map source.
You can add donation information, either from your local initiative or USE-IT Europe.
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## Mandatory sections
* Act like a local
* 5 minutes of history
* Practical info
* Where Next?
* A ruler that shows how far you can walk on your map in 5 minutes (only in the paper version)
Read the Editorial style guide to know how to fill them.
{% content-ref url="/pages/nlWjibFiHdob9I29jidk" %}
[EDITORIAL STYLE GUIDE](/use-it-wiki/editorial-style-guide/about-the-soul-of-the-city.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}
## Folding
It is advisable to not put any text on the folding of your map. If you do decide to do it, make sure it folds like a book, and not the other way around. You are totally welcome to be creative with this, but always keep in mind how people will eventually use your map. Also consider this when choosing the fonts and colours of your text.
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