Who I Am
Hello there! My name is Kim da Matta, founder of Elder Realms Studio, and I’m passionate about worldbuilding and art.
I’ve always loved fantasy stories and I’m a big fan of games and cinema. Some of the works that really shaped how I see worlds and storytelling are The Hobbit, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Frieren.
My First RPG Experience
My first experience with RPG was in an elective philosophy class at school.
Our teacher wanted to run an experiment about “what would happen if modern society collapsed”, so we played that campaign every week for several weeks. That was when I realized how powerful RPGs can be for exploring ideas, society, and choices.
How I Started Making Maps
I started creating maps in 2020, when I became the Dungeon Master for a The Legend of Zelda campaign. I needed a map of Hyrule and couldn’t find anything online that matched what I had in mind, so I decided to draw my own. To buy some extra stuff for the campaign, I started selling small maps.
Wanting to improve my work and create better visuals, I began studying Concept Art, and I graduated in February 2024.
The Birth of Elder Realms
Elder Realms Studio was born during a trip to Portugal in March 2025.
Walking through narrow streets, visiting castles, museums and old libraries, I kept finding myself in front of ancient maps and charts, pieces of paper that once guided explorers and told stories about distant lands. Seeing how much history, imagination and interpretation could fit inside a single map made something click for me.
I realized that this was exactly what I wanted to do with my own work: create maps and worlds that help people tell their stories. After that trip, I made a decision to take this seriously and to focus on creating worlds, maps and art for other people too.
History, Geography & References
Funny enough, in school I was terrible at history and geography.
Now I study a bit of both every day, small curiosities, how the world works, cultures, science. When I design a map, I think from the ground up: tectonic plates, climate, trade routes, and where a large city would realistically grow. I like to ask: how did the history of your world shape the way it looks today? Wars, migrations, religions and discoveries leave marks on borders, capitals and even tiny villages.
All of that research ends up influencing the projects I work on, so your world doesn’t just look good on the page, it also feels believable and alive.
Meet the Team
Kim da Matta
“Hey hey! I’m the founder of Elder Realms, a fantasy cartographer and concept artist obsessed with worldbuilding, history, and geography.
I also manage the studio, create all the maps and core ideas, and oversee every project, so when you work with Elder Realms, you’re working directly with me :)”
Kombi Kimura
“Hi! I'm an illustrator and concept artist who loves creating worlds inspired by gaming, animation, and storytelling. I’m especially drawn to dystopian worlds, sci-fi themes, and political intrigue.
At Elder Realms Studio, I specialize in character illustration and design, with a strong emphasis on painting and rendering, while also supporting the team across various tasks”
Working Together
At Elder Realms, the process is designed to be clear, inspiring, and collaborative.
Each project combines research in history and geography with creative worldbuilding, so you can feel confident that your setting is treated with the same care you put into creating it.