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In this June 6, 2019, photo, Bruce Hull points to an image of his daughter on a state map as he is interviewed at his offices at the Ohio Department of Transportation in Columbus. If your summer travel plans involve traversing Ohio and you’re still a fan of paper maps, it’s time you meet Bruce Hull. As a layout design artist with the Ohio Department of Transportation since 1989, the 60-year-old Hull has creative control over the map’s look and feel, from the graphics to the paper to the fold that’s used. (AP Photo | John Minchillo)

State Mapmaker Brings Creativity, Whimsy to Ohio Road Maps

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – If your summer travel plans involve traveling through Ohio and you’re a fan of paper maps, you’ve probably encountered the work of Bruce Hull.

Hull’s artistry has appeared on millions of maps helping drivers navigate the state with the nation’s fourth busiest highway system. He selects the images, the design, the paper, even the type of fold that’s used.

The 60-year-old Hull has been injecting visual flair, handy information and a hidden bit of his own family history into Ohio’s road maps for almost two decades.

He’s been a layout design artist with the Ohio Department of Transportation since 1989. He’s had creative control over the road map since 2001.

For fun, Hull’s also slipped a photo of his daughter into every map he’s designed.