Vector Google Maps icon

I was in dire need of a good (clean) vector Google Maps icon about a year ago, and I couldn’t find a totally accurate version on the web. Therefore, I spent a bit of time to recreate it on my own. Just like I mentioned in my post about the NFL logo illustration, since my ultimate intent was to create a 3d model of this thing, it was necessary to have a very clean vector source file to start from (with as few points as possible). Carelessly made vectors never export to 3d very well, so it’s very important to make sure there are no overlapping or stray points.

If you are looking for a very clean vector Google Maps icon, this is it!

The bummer is that it wasn’t long after I completed this project (3d model and all) that Google unveiled their Material Design language, which included all new icons for their flagship products. I hate when that happens! Therefore, I think I should rephrase the statement I made above:

If you are looking for a very clean version of the old Google Maps icon, this is it!

As a visual designer with over 18 years of experience behind me, I know that’s just the way things go. An obscenely large portion of my design career has been spent remaking graphics that I had already spent a lot of time on, and I’m willing to bet that it’s going to continue like that right up until the point that I hang up my hat for good.

The plus side of all this is that all those older/unused files end up here on my blog for all to leech. Download the vector and enjoy!