Graduation
Star map gifts for a graduation
Graduation gifts tend to be either practical or ceremonial, and the practical ones get replaced within a year. A star map of the sky above the campus is neither — it is the first piece of art a lot of graduates put up in a first flat, which is a longer life than most graduation presents manage.
Which night to choose
The map is only as good as the date behind it. These are the choices that work best for a graduation.
Graduation day
Use the university's town. The campus horizon is what makes the map about that institution rather than about the person's home.
The first day of term
The start of the degree rather than the end — a less obvious choice that bookends better if you also give one at graduation.
The night the results came in
For postgraduate and professional qualifications, the result date is frequently the one that mattered.
When to order
Ceremonies cluster in May–July and again in November, but there is no queue to beat — the digital print is immediate. Order once you know the ceremony date and venue, and print it locally if you want to hand it over on the day.
How file delivery works →Designs for a graduation
Every design takes any date — these are the ones that suit a graduation best.
What to write on it
Every star map carries a title line and a short message beneath the date and place. These are the lines people use most for a graduation — or write your own.
- “The Sky Over Campus”
- “Class Of 2026”
- “Where You Earned It”
- “The Night It Was Official”
Selling graduation star maps?
Print shops and online sellers use the same editor to make personalised star maps for their own customers. Every file includes a commercial licence to sell the prints.
Cry Me Art for print businesses →Graduation star maps — common questions
- Should I use the campus location or their home town?
- The campus. The location name prints on the map, so one captioned with the university's town reads as a graduation keepsake, while one captioned with their home town does not.
- Can I add the degree or the university name?
- Yes — the title line takes the university or the degree, and the message line underneath fits a name and the class year.
More answers on the full FAQ.
Other occasions
Make a star map for a graduation
Pick the night, the place and the words. See your star map before you pay.
Start creating