Icons That Work: Making Maps Meaningful for Land Managers
The meaning behind our iconic icons
Land managers are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including maintaining trails, monitoring wildlife, managing facilities, and planning restoration projects. With such diverse work, why settle for maps or reports that communicate in only one way?
At Outway, we understand that how information is presented is just as important as the information itself. That’s why our platform features over 500 icons specifically designed for land managers, with more added every month. Diverse and complex work deserves clear, accurate representation, and there’s something for everyone.
Icons make complex information instantly understandable. Land managers can utilize them in any way that best suits their needs. Parks, for example, can visually identify clusters of dog off-leash occurrences, pinpoint areas with a high concentration of invasive species sites, or highlight maintenance needs, making it easier to plan and prioritize actions.
Compare that to other maps you’ve worked with: hundreds of colored dots scattered across a blank canvas. One red dot here, one blue dot there. What does it really mean? A cluster of green dots might signal something important, but it could also just blend in with everything else. Generic icons don’t tell the story; they just mark a place on a map.
Our icons do the opposite. Each one is designed to represent the real work of land managers. Trailheads, wildlife sightings, hazards, or restoration zones. Each icon communicates meaning at a glance. And we are believers that land managers deserve fun icons too, so your map can actually reflect the personality and variety of your work. If an icon doesn’t exist for a particular task or observation, we create it.
Clear visual tools help teams collaborate, plan, and advocate more effectively. In the field or in the office, a well-designed map or report can make all the difference. Icons transform raw data into actionable insight, helping land managers save time, reduce miscommunications, and share their work with confidence.
Which icons should we add next? Let us know! And explore our extensive icon library by visiting app.outway.io
