Looking for guides that are mostly based on design.

[Wandering Dude | trade.tf]

I don't want every map I make to be a giant box

 

[nesman]

https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/TF2_Design_Theory
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/TF2/Basic_Map_Construction
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Team_Fortress_2_Level_Creation
https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Payload_Design_Theory

Haven't looked at this one but looks pretty
http://bobbyross.com/library/tf2design

playlist of egan's thoughts on various map things, nice to listen to to understand different aspects.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSV0BSbqoMfjVB_BW11mLOPjSSaQYPUm0

 

[I dinne ken]

grazr has a load of great - if old - tutorials if you search for them via Google. I'm on mobile right now but I'll edit this in a second