Here are a few maps showing the boundaries of tectonic plates, specifically those around the Pacific Ring of Fire, helpfully traced out by 100+ years of earthquakes. I think about emergence sort of a lot, and this is convenient, because map making with big-ish data often results in blowing the dust off a larger-order system. You can explore this in more detail via this story map.
Learn how to make this illuminated mapping technique here.
Learn how to create offset label shadows like these, here.
Happy mapping! John
Adventures In Mapping 