About – Orderaround

About me

Hi. I’m Steven Lovell. Way back in the 1990s I studied graphic design for several years but never did it professionally. I’ve been doing a completely unrelated job for over 20 years. Although I don’t have a creative career I’ve always liked making props, costumes and some daft graphics and art projects.

One of my less silly projects is the pub maps.

I made this suit of over 300 toys in 2021. It weighs over 12kg and is a lot of fun to go out drinking in.

I made enough parts for 6 sets of Stormtrooper armour for a trip to a festival in 2009. I've worn it loads of times since and it's enormous fun. Even if I do it alone nowadays. — I made enough parts for 6 sets of Stormtrooper armour for a trip to a festival in 2009. I’ve worn it loads of times since and it’s enormous fun. Even if I do it alone nowadays.

Most of the Roman Centurion armour here is made from plastic guttering. I now have a helmet that is 3D printed but his one did well enough for quite a while.

I didn't really make anything here, but I did amend some badges on a modern uniform to make it a bit more period accurate for World War 2 weekends. — I didn’t really make anything here, but I did amend some badges on a modern uniform to make it a bit more period accurate for World War 2 weekends.

This Tusken Raider costume from Star Wars was made in 2017 and much of the helmet is 3D printed. It think it looks amazing.

Although the Yeoman Warder (AKA Beefeater) tunic is genuine, I had to make the hat, belt and Partisan weapon.

I already had the robes from a Grim Reaper Costume I made in 1992, but I made the mask, hat and capelet for this Plague Doctor costume in 2018.

I've been quite a few types of Zombie, but this summer zombie was quite fun to go out in Hull as. — I’ve been quite a few types of Zombie, but this summer zombie was quite fun to go out in Hull as.

I don't like the show as I think it's poorly written childish garbage that's always seems to be set in some ropey space station or modern day or Victorian era London I think the TARDIS is cool though, so I made this one in 2005. I destroyed it in 2010. — I don’t like the show as I think it’s poorly written childish garbage that’s always seems to be set in some ropey space station or modern day or Victorian era London I think the TARDIS is cool though, so I made this one in 2005. I destroyed it in 2010.

Early work and development

I’d always liked the style and design of the London Underground map and in the mid-90s I saw a hand drawn diagram of Wakefield pubs in Harry Beck’s tube map style. It stuck with me and in 2007 I began work on my own for Leeds. It was a much bigger project than expected and I just abandoned it for a few years. I did all kinds of unnecessary development work to start with. Much of which isn’t even represented here.

I made a bunch of icons for different types of premises. I can't remember if these were solely for my benefit or if at some early point I'd considered using them in the design. — I made a bunch of icons for different types of premises. I can’t remember if these were solely for my benefit or if at some early point I’d considered using them in the design.

Plotting maps with some help from Google maps.

One of many iterations of pub plotting on maps.

I had a list of places for all parts of Leeds but this was also quite unnecessary.

This was an early paper version of the Wakefield map.

Another print of the Wakefield map that I used to try colours out. I should have just done it on the computer.

I contacted Transport for London (TfL) to see if they'd have a problem with any logo ideas I was considering. They weren't happy about the first two options though. — I contacted Transport for London (TfL) to see if they’d have a problem with any logo ideas I was considering. They weren’t happy about the first two options though.

A better way of working

For later maps I streamlined my approach and do everything on the computer but it’s still lengthy and taxing work.