Tell Us About Yourself
Hi, I’m Jan Paul Miene. I’m currently completing my Master’s degree in Geodata Technology at the Technical University of Würzburg/Schweinfurt in Germany. My background is in geovisualisation, and I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of data, geography, and design.
What I enjoy most about cartography is that maps have the unique ability to tell stories and spark curiosity in ways that words often cannot. I love diving into datasets, finding patterns, and then translating them into something visual that makes people pause, reflect, and ask questions.
Outside of my studies, I’m constantly experimenting with new styles and techniques — whether it’s for competitions, creative challenges, or personal projects. I’m particularly interested in exploring how maps can be both highly analytical and visually striking, striking a balance between art and science.
Tell us the story behind your map
This map was born out of a challenge — literally. After participating in the #30DayMapChallenge in 2023, a few friends and I were inspired to create something more relaxed and collaborative: the #12WeekGeoChallenge. The idea was to slow down the pace, focus on quality, and dive deeper into creative experimentation while still working with real-world data. Each week had a theme, and for this map, the theme was “Raster Creativity.”
That prompt opened the door to all sorts of ideas. I wanted to push raster visualisation further than just using it as a background layer. Instead, I decided to make the raster itself the star of the show. I settled on a CMYK-inspired design — a bold, print-like aesthetic — to emphasise contrasts in demographic changes. My goal was to create a map that was both eye-catching and informative, letting viewers see large-scale demographic shifts at a glance while encouraging them to look closer for finer patterns.
The dataset I used focuses on population change in Europe between 2000 and 2020. This is a fascinating timeframe because it captures urbanisation trends, population growth in major cities, and demographic decline in rural and post-industrial areas. Representing all of that as a grid of cells created a mosaic effect: cities like London, Paris, and Berlin pop in bright colours, while swathes of Eastern Europe and rural regions stand out for their decline.
What I found exciting about this project was how stripping the map down to a minimalist, raster-based design allowed the patterns to speak for themselves. It’s a simple visualisation in theory, but the story it tells is incredibly rich — a patchwork of human movement, economic development, and changing communities over two decades.
Tell us about the Tools, data, etc., that you used to make the map
The map was created entirely in ArcGIS Pro 3.2.2, where I aggregated WorldPop population data for 2000 and 2020 to a custom grid. The grid served as the main visual element, symbolising density changes through semi-transparent, coloured rectangles. I used Natural Earth country boundaries to define land areas, and incorporated GEBCO bathymetric data to give context to Europe’s terrain, adding a subtle sense of place.
This project was also a reminder of why I love the mapping community. The #12WeekGeoChallenge wasn’t just about making maps — it was about inspiring each other to try new techniques, experiment with styles, and share what we learned along the way. Seeing this map featured in the 2025 GeoHipster Calendar is incredibly exciting, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that celebrates creativity and experimentation in cartography.