This is horribly embarrassing, but If I had to point out Iowa and Missouri on a blank map, there’s about a 50/50 chance I’d mix them up. Also, the other day, I found myself in a conversation in which I was suddenly wondering if the Emirates in the United Arab Emirates were cities? Or states? How did I make it through 17 years of great schools without mastering geography?

All of that to say, I think this new project called 50 and 50, where a graphic designer from each state will illustrate their state’s motto, creating a “designers’ atlas,” may be my ticket to finally at least mastering our own 50 states.

So far, there are only six finished, but they are pretty enough that I spent time checking out each one, and if something is visually interesting, I have a far better chance of learning it…

PS- Did you know that California’s state motto is “I have found it! (Eureka)”? How awesome and (so California) is that? All of the other ones sound very formal and heavily wrought and then there’s California’s. And incidentally, as a California transplant, I talk almost every day about how I feel like I’ve discovered the best place on earth, so I can see why CA’s state motto-authors were unable to write anything other than something simply reflecting their joy at having found this state.

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