- Introduction
- Information We Collect
- How We Use Your Information
- How We Share Your Information
- Publicly Shared Maps
- Data Storage and Security
- Your Rights and Choices
- Children's Privacy
- Third-Party Links and Services
- International Data Transfers
- Data Retention
- Changes to This Privacy Policy
- Contact Us
1. Introduction
MapStudio ("MapStudio", "we", "us" or "our") is operated by Astral Design ltd. MapStudio is a tool for festival organisers: it lets you draw your festival's boundary on a map, place labelled pins for facilities such as stages, food, toilets, first aid and camping, and then publish or share that map so event-goers can find their way around.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use MapStudio, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. It applies to the MapStudio mobile app and to the public map pages we host on thefestivalapps.com.
MapStudio is the organiser-facing companion to Festie Bestie. If you use Festie Bestie as an event-goer, that app's own privacy policy applies to it.
By using MapStudio, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information We Collect
Information you provide directly
- Account information — your name and email address when you create an organiser account or sign in. If you sign in with Google or with Apple, we receive your name and email address from that provider. If you use Sign in with Apple and choose to hide your email, we only receive Apple's private relay address.
- Festival and map content — the festivals you create and their details (name, description, dates, address and location), the boundary you draw, and every pin you place, including each pin's category, name and description.
- Images — cover images and site-map images you choose from your device's photo library, and the map snapshot image generated when you publish a map.
- Support correspondence — the contents of any message you send us.
Information collected automatically
- Approximate location — with your permission, your device's location is used to centre the map editor on where you are while you draw a boundary. Location is used on your device to position the map; we do not store a history of your movements.
- Device identifiers — a Firebase Cloud Messaging token so we can send you notifications, and a device identifier used solely to prevent the same device redeeming multiple referral invitations. That device identifier is hashed before it is stored; we never store the raw value.
- Technical and diagnostic data — basic information such as your device type and operating system version, and error information if something goes wrong.
- Referral data — if you take part in the invite programme, we store your referral code, how many successful referrals you have made, and who referred you (if anyone).
3. How We Use Your Information
- To create and maintain your organiser account and sign you in securely.
- To store, display and synchronise the festivals and maps you create.
- To publish your map to the Festie Bestie community feed when you choose to, and to generate the public link you can share.
- To centre the map editor on your position when you grant location permission.
- To send notifications you have opted into, such as a confirmation that your map is live or that someone accepted your invitation.
- To operate the referral and badge programme, including preventing abuse.
- To diagnose faults, maintain security, and improve the app's reliability.
- To comply with legal obligations.
We rely on your consent for optional device permissions (location, photos and notifications), on the performance of our agreement with you to provide the service, and on our legitimate interests in keeping the service secure and working correctly.
4. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We share information only in the following circumstances:
- Content you choose to publish — see Publicly Shared Maps below.
- Service providers who host and operate the service on our behalf:
| Provider | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Google Firebase (Authentication, Firestore, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions, Cloud Messaging) | Account sign-in, storing published map records and referral data, hosting map images, sending notifications |
| Google Maps Platform | Displaying maps in the app and on shared map pages |
| OpenStreetMap | Displaying map tiles on shared map pages when Google Maps is unavailable |
| Our application server (Hostinger) | Storing your festivals, boundaries and pins, and serving public map pages |
- Legal reasons — if required by law, regulation, legal process, or to protect the rights, property or safety of Astral Design ltd, our users, or the public.
- Business transfers — if we are involved in a merger, acquisition or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
5. Publicly Shared Maps
MapStudio gives you two ways to make a map available to other people:
- Share a map link. Every map has a public web address of the form
https://thefestivalapps.com/map/<id>. Anyone who has that link can open the page in a browser without an account and without installing any app. The page shows your festival's name, its boundary, and every pin you placed, including each pin's name and description. - Publish to the Festie Bestie feed. This creates a post in the Festie Bestie community feed containing your festival's name, your organiser display name and profile image, your map snapshot image, and a link to the public map page.
Do not place pins, names or descriptions on a map that you would not want to be public. Removing a map from the community feed hides the post, but a map link that has already been shared may continue to work; if you need a map taken down entirely, please contact us.
6. Data Storage and Security
Your information is stored on Google Firebase infrastructure and on our application server. Data is transmitted over encrypted HTTPS/TLS connections. Sign-in tokens are held in your device's secure storage (the iOS Keychain or the Android Keystore). Access to production systems is restricted to authorised personnel.
No method of transmission or storage is completely secure. While we take reasonable measures to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Your Rights and Choices
- Access and correction — you can view and edit your festivals, maps and profile details in the app at any time.
- Deletion — you can delete individual festivals and maps in the app. To delete your account and the personal information associated with it, contact us at the address below and we will action your request.
- Permissions — you can grant or revoke location, photo library and notification permissions at any time in your device settings. The app remains usable without them, with the related features disabled.
- Notifications — you can turn notifications off in the app's settings or in your device settings.
- Data portability and objection — depending on where you live, you may have the right to obtain a copy of your data, to object to or restrict certain processing, or to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In the UK this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in section 13.
8. Children's Privacy
MapStudio is a tool for festival organisers and is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.
9. Third-Party Links and Services
MapStudio and the public map pages contain links to third-party services, including the Apple App Store, Google Play, and Google Maps directions. Selecting "Get Directions" on a pin opens Google Maps. These services are operated by other companies and have their own privacy policies; we are not responsible for their content or practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any third-party service you use.
10. International Data Transfers
We are based in the United Kingdom. Your information may be processed and stored on servers located outside your country of residence, including in the United States, where our service providers operate. Where information is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses. By using MapStudio, you consent to this transfer.
11. Data Retention
We retain your account information and the content you create for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete the personal information associated with it, except where we are required to retain it to comply with a legal obligation, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. Published map records and feed posts are removed when you delete the corresponding map or account. Backup copies may persist for a limited period before being overwritten.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice, such as an in-app message. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us:
- Email: jameswaudby@thefestivalapps.com
- Website: thefestivalapps.com
- Operated by: Astral Design ltd, United Kingdom