03: Making a Treasure Hunt Part 1 of 2

Illustration Making a Treasure Hunt Part 1 @smartigraphicdesign

Cut-out clues, paper ciphers, tiny puzzles - a treasure hunt awaits! As a kid, I enjoyed the magic lore of a treasure hunt. Now as a traveling expat, I find joy in building them for other people. It started as a way to gamify the tourist experience for my young niece and nephew - they visit me at almost every location I've been stationed. But the past couple of years I've also made other similar challenges for friends and I'd like to share some of my tips and tricks.

Note: This is different than a scavenger hunt. In a scavenger hunt you are searching for items in order to make a collection of things you've seen/done/eaten to report later. In a treasure hunt, you are searching for a consecutive series of clues that lead to a final prize. In my treasure hunts, I also loop in local experiences and treats along the way.

Granted, I'm still perfecting my techniques, and each situation changes, but here's what I've sort of analyzed is my process:

1) make a map of the location

2) choose the hot spots of interest

3) list out a theme that works

4) brainstorm possible challenges

5) make, test, break and fix challenges

6) choose branding style, colors and illustrations

7) level up all of the challenges with branding (*this part takes the longest)

8) print

9) assemble

10) deliver and let them enjoy

+) if you are feeling encouraged, tweak and reset for others to play

Since this is a big process, I'll break the process into 2 posts. Read on for Part 1:

1. MAKE A MAP

Making a map is important to make sure that you know the layout of the space/neighborhood/city. This is for three reasons - 1) ensure it's a walkable route, 2) simplify orientation, and 3) line up the hot spots.

First things first, a map will help you judge distance better. And that distance needs to be walkable. (Side note: Its easy to make unwalkable mistakes. One time, a willing adventurer traipsed the entire west end of London in one afternoon. Eep!) I used to time myself on a walk, going slowly and adding in minutes for re-orientation. But when you know the way, your estimates are going to be skewed for efficiency. Nowadays, Google Maps makes this a hundred times easier because you can map out the route and get a time estimate. Always add in fluff time to the estimate. For my purposes, I never aim for anything more than 1 hour long because it could easily triple for newcomers.

Which leads nicely into the second reason: city walking is a disorienting task for any tourist. Even with a smartphone it's hard to know which way to turn or where to go sometimes. I want to believe everyone has had that moment where the Google arrow is pointing one way, and then suddenly reappears somewhere else. So, cut the confusion, and make a map first so you can visually simplify the route.

Finally, a map will help you consider the placement, proximity and pathway for all the hot spots so you can line them up in a straightforward journey. It helps give implicit encouragement that the participants are moving in one solid and correct direction. I try to avoid backtracking in any of my treasure hunts for the same reason.

Normally I like to build my own map in adobe illustrator with Google Map screenshots references. Then I print it out because I love tangible things. But it's a lot of work - so you could easily shortcut by just use the Google Maps screenshot OR a printed map from local city hall.

2. CHOOSE HOT SPOTS

Choosing hot spots is relative - it will depend upon whoever you are designing the treasure hunt for and why. This is when you need to know the recipient well. Basic tourist locations, gorgeous architecture, quirky design shops, beautiful cafes, excellent vintage shops - you can really go in any direction that works. For my niece and nephew, I often chose two or three traditional tourist locations as challenges and then mix in age appropriate playgrounds, cafes and toy shops as rewards along the way. And I always plan for a final treasure - often as an experience gift to a special place.

Here are the questions I ask about my participants before I prepare a treasure hunt:

1) What is their age and health? This determines if they can walk long distances or need more down time and recovery. Some 5 year olds can outlast 65 year olds, and sometimes it's the other way around.

2) When they plan vacations - what are their top 3 interests? Some people really need to see the main touristy things, some people want to sample vegan cuisine, some people light up for quirky design (I know I do!)

3) When they plan downtime - what do they aim for? Some people pine for adrenaline-inducing activities of big vistas, some people love browsing/hunting at bookstores or thrift stores, some people want soft indulgent pampering. Be considerate of including these along the way.

4) What are things I'd be sad if they didn't see? Sometimes you know what is lame or overrated, and you can find bizarre special things that will make their experience sparkle.

3. LIST OUT A THEME

Themes are important to create a sense of unity and a splash of whimsy. I like to think it's the underlying story that helps tie everything together. In London, I mixed the theme as graphic design and visual novelties. In Buenos Aires, the theme was a quirky neighborhood walk of graffiti and unique spaces. In Paris, the theme was funny iconic French things and classic museum finds. In Copenhagen, the theme was based on the stories of Hans Christian Andersen.

Sometimes the themes helps me weave together a narrative of what to look for, and what experiences should be part of the journey. Sometimes it just helps me understand how to dream up a cohesive branding, colors and design style. Mostly it helps me to think of appropriate challenges. For example, in the Paris treasure hunt, my niece and nephew were quite young, so I made a memory game that would help them associate the right names with the right tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and Sacré Couer.

4. BRAINSTORM CHALLENGES

Ah, the challenges! Challenges is where the design gets tricky. Every time I make a treasure hunt, I have to make a completely new list of challenges. I could probably just recycle old ideas, but I like the brainstorming part! It is easily frustrating, but silly me, I love a challenge! To start, I typically collect good Idas on Pinterest, or browse through specialty hunt websites: https://www.treasure-hunt-ideas.co.uk/all-ideas.

I make a master list with all the hot spots, the theme and start thinking about what would be joyous, tricky and enticing to discover. It can be helpful to go through the senses - smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, seeing. Smell - finding a bottled scent of rose water as a clue to go to the rose section in the botanic gardens. Taste - making a donut treat spell out the letters of the next location. Touching - feeling the letters out in braille to decipher the next clue. Hearing - listening to a playlist to identify the song with a code in the lyrics. Seeing - transparent sheets with writing that when overlayed on a map, point out the next destination.

I like to make most of my challenges as paper toys and ephemeral experiences. But I have added other twists, like lockboxes, shadow art, and actual hidden treasure boxes. Sometimes I am lucky and a museum or a store will let me leave items behind for the recipient to find, but it depends on the situation and who you ask. London museums wouldn't let me leave anything behind because of security risks. But Copenhagen museum directors were lenient and creative and willing to help me make something special. It never hurts to ask!

5. MAKE, TEST, BREAK and FIX

Make, test, break and fix challenges. The tangible stage. Set up a mock version of the clue/challenge. This is where the ephemeral part starts to take shape. Does the alphabet code really spell out the right clue? Can you leave a bookmark clue in the library book for a week? Are the visual clues easy enough to see on transparent paper? Will the hot dog vendor be able to spell out the whole clue in ketchup? Does the candle melt down to reveal a legible message? Does the wax paper fold origami-like to reveal the clue?

By this point, you've tested out the walk, visited the spaces, made the clues so your brain and eyes have already mastered the process. Bring in fresh eyes! Loop in other accomplices like parents, friends and neighbors. A whole range of people have been privy to this stage of my design process with random requests to test out a small puzzle or a clue. Sometimes they get just as much of a kick out of the testing as I do and are helpful to brainstorm foolproof solutions when things go wrong - which is inevitable. That's half the joy! Being diligent to fix it when its broken is what makes the clues robust and fantastic.

Here are 3 examples of challenges I tested on my latest treasure hunt:

Photos @smartigraphicdesign

[From Left to Right:]

1) map coordinates lead to hidden box-in-box-in-box. The last box has a visual code puzzle that leads to the next location,

2) long matches line up to reveal a rhyme for a donut treat coupon,

3) Spotify music codes playlist line up. One of the songs lyrics repeat a numerical clue title that unlocks a lockbox.

That's half of the process for now. I hope it helps you squeeze some juicy inspiration into your projects. Next month, look for Part 2 of this post when I share the second half of my process. This is when I put my designer glasses on and graphic design the snot out of everything to bring it to life, then print, set and let my participants play!

Happy clue-making,

smarti

02: Notebooks to Sketchbooks

The scritch and slide of a pencil on paper is alluring. I've really tried to stop. Several times. Somehow it always comes back into my life. What started out as a habit of cataloguing as a young teen has returned in my life the past couple of years as a sketchbook space.

Photo: What's left of my collection of notebooks @smartigraphicdesign

From middle school all the way through grad school, I kept a collection of notebooks. Not exactly journals, but not exactly scrapbooks either. Something in-between where I would chronicle events, write exchanges with friends, and ruminate on my thoughts and plans for life. Who didn't do a bit of journaling then?

Then during my first year in diplomatic career, I made the conscious choice to let go of this habit. Life was happening so fast and I wanted to be present in my adventures instead of always writing in the corner. And to be honest, my life was becoming less of a creative space and I felt the need to finally "grow up" as such. (I've let go of most of the notebooks, and only have a small select collection of my older ones. Very infrequently, I regret it. But just like baby pictures, it can be limiting to see yourself as who you were instead of allowing you freedom and space for who you are becoming.) But what I didn't realize, is that pencil to paper is such a cathartic dissociative task. Sometimes a pencil is all you need to stop the whirl of the busy world.

And so, it slowly crept back in - and then exploded out of my hands once I started my graphic design degree! I was so full of ideas and hungry to make layouts and write things. I managed the chaos by only using loose-leaf paper and being diligent about letting go and recycling. As a minimalist, I feel uncomfortable keeping so much of it all!

In the last few years, I've started using a simple brown moleskin notebook as a sketching journal. I don't make it precious anymore. I write/sketch/list/diagram anything I need. Recipes, book passages, color palettes, lettering ideas, project lists, things I'm looking forward to, things that are bothering me, coursework notes, thumbnail sketches, warmup exercises, plans, and always, always layout ideas. I expect I'll find ways to let go of these notebooks as I grow into better skills. Like sloughing off an old layer to allow fresh skin to breathe.

Photos of sketchbook spreads @smartigraphicdesign

There are a lot of different ways to catalogue process. This is just mine for now as it has definitely helped me see progress in my art skills over time. Sometimes it's a confidence booster. Sometimes it's a reference support. Sometimes it's an idea generator. Because I don't treat it so rigidly, it keeps me loose and limber in my creative work. Isn't that always the magic of pencil - it's relaxed ability to hold up concepts and keep the magic wonder alive in dots, dashes, and scribbles?

Happy doodling!

smarti

01: Train Travel from Copenhagen to Lisbon

Rock beats scissors. Trains beats planes? Over the past couple of years, I’ve been inspired by colleagues who choose train travel as their ecological resolution for the new year. And I’ve met tourists who travel only via train. While it all came to a screeching halt during covid, it’s all coming back with new routes being planned and night routes being resurrected. So, on a whim, I figured it would be the right time to try the whole route from the top of Europe to the most Western end.

From the end of September through October, I traveled in a series of trains from Copenhagen all the way to down to Lisbon and then all the way back again. I bought an adult global InterRail pass* for the journey and used the InterRail app to book my trains. *(Interested? Look on the website to see the passes and prices.) Along the way, I maxed out the eco experience by walking through cities, popping into second-hand/vintage stores, and sampling elegant vegan restaurants. It was a stellar solo trip. I captured some of it in my instagram postings. Here’s a smattering of the journey:

Illustration and Photos @smartigraphicdesign

THINGS I LEARNED

Heaven knows there are dozens of stories out there for college kids choosing Eurail for gap experiences, but I’ll indulge a little and give advice to any others choosing to make it a solo artist retreat idea. Of course, these are the things that worked for me, so likely very specific to my kind of traveling preferences.

Illustration Packing charger, detergent and snacks @smartigraphicdesign

The trip wasn’t as romantic or soul-searching as I thought it would be. :: shrug:: Because of my pace, it actually ended up being more of a logistic puzzle. I needed to pack up, prep up, or pay attention to train stops and destination instead of daydreaming. Maybe that was good since I tend to overthink things. Anyway, packing became a zen feature that kept me sane and made sure everything was tidy and ready to go.

• Have room in your bag for everything you are going to bring - including travel day outfit and jacket so everything fits inside your bags at all times and you can stuff it all away at a moments notice if you need to feel less encumbered.

• Pack things in the same place so you can identify things fast, and won’t lose things along the way (i.e. charger always goes in the bottom pocket of the backpack.)

• Bring detergent and do laundry every chance you get so you can feel fresh and confident at every stop on the journey.

• Prep your food two days before departure in case you run out of time on the last day.

Illustration Drawing setup on the train @smartigraphicdesign

The trip forced me to be flexible with my drawing space. No way of being precious when the train is rocking. So I just let go of expectations and squeezed in art time in every space possible, no matter the results.

• Prep a separate art kit that’s easy and small enough to pull out when you have time and space to do it. This way you can get down to drawing/painting without being overwhelmed with supplies in case your hotel space is small or the train ride is shaky,

• Have options to go analog in case wifi isn't strong enough for digital

• Embrace the mistakes. Rocky train rides make for interesting texture sometimes.

Illustration Planning Travel @smartigraphicdesign

I had the pleasure and burden to make every damn decision myself. Sometimes this was great - not everyone loves a thrift hunt like I do. But sometimes it was overwhelming and I would be too over-jazzed to decide on things.

• Make a plan before you hit each destination

• Wing it once you arrive.

• Be conscious of the things that fill you up - sometimes I visited friends/family, and sometimes I didn’t. It all depended upon my headspace on the day. I tend to do great with 80% alone time so most of my travel agenda featured this.

ALL ABOARD

For those inspired, take heart because train travel is making a comeback. This is partly due to the Greta Thunberg effect (called Flygskam meaning ‘flight shame’ in Sweden) where people are eschewing flights for other modes of slow travel. After all, train travel emits a tiny fraction of what an airline flight does in CO2.

And while there's lots to improve with the railways, there are articles from Time Out and NYTimes are showing that more people are choosing train travel. In particular, the website of Man in Seat 61 has a wealth of information to help people to figure out train options.

Train travel is enjoyable in its own way. Watching the countryside change gives the joy of the road trip, without the inconvenience of a cramped car, and better views than a flight, without the hassle of customs and baggage claim. I think I like it a lot. For those who are curious, here are some other journeys I’m putting on my list for the future:

• Japan - dozens of different routes are available in this well-connected country.

• USA - particularly the Amtrak California Zephyr experience: New York to San Francisco

• Southeast Asia - maybe doing a series of trains on Eastern and Oriental Express through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

Bon voyage and travel happy!

SMarti