Maps have long served as more than just tools for navigation; they carry symbolic and ritualistic significance, shaping how individuals engage with the territories, the sacred, meaning making, history, and experience. This fireside session explores how maps communicate ideas through visual literacy, comparing historical and contemporary practices. We consider maps as both practical tools and metaphors for transformation, shaped by cultural perspectives and visual symbols—some universal, others deeply rooted in place and identity. Researchers will share insights from undergraduate projects that investigate mapping as practice, navigation, and symbolic exploration. A 20-minute hands-on workshop will follow, inviting participants to map a personal experience. This activity will support reflection on how we use visual communication to express meaning, and how maps can act as cultural artefacts as well as tools for connection and understanding.
