Check out some stunning handcrafted wooden maps of video game universes

In a world where things are very easily automated and mass-produced — this sounds like the start of a dystopian movie trailer, but let’s go with it — it can be difficult to still find artisans who take the risk to compete in a market where it’s easy to be replaced by a machine.

Any handmade craft takes a sizable amount of dedication, time, and energy, but it’s all fueled by heart and the human spirit, which is why handmade is so uniquely special and artisans need protection. One big hurdle is simply the effort it takes for artisans to reach a mass audience; so many phenomenal artists and craftspeople simply dissolve into the shadows because no one knows about them. I don’t like that, so that’s why I’m writing this.

Origin Artwork may be “just a couple people making wood maps,” but if you want to see some seriously high craftsmanship with birch wood, this shop is the place to go to. Not only that, but if you’re a fan of the former and have a love of fantasy and video game worlds like Middle Earth, Skyrim, Hyrule, Mushroom Kingdom, and more, the 3D wooden map renditions of these fictional spaces are outstanding.

If those worlds don’t speak to you, there are also plenty of maps of real-world landmarks as well like Hawaii, New York City, San Francisco Bay, and Yosemite. The husband and wife duo behind Origin Artwork even offer customization for their maps if none quite intrigue you enough. In addition, there is a huge variety of sizes for each piece to choose from. So whether it’s a gift or for yourself, you can not only have a beautiful piece of art in your hand but feel good about directly supporting the lives of two people in a positive way. Sounds like a win to me.