1. Makin’ Maps

2. Props to Dr. Gant (Indiana), Dr. Clark (Arizona)
Map Design
Design is a process, a sequential ordering of events
Maps designed to communicate ideas
Efficient and effective map design will facilitate the transfer of knowledge between map author and percipient
Props to Dr. Gant (Indiana), Dr. Clark (Arizona)

3. Cartographic Design Map design - art of cartography
ability to arrange maps elements so that map is:
interesting to look at
effective in communicating information

4. What Makes a Good Map? How well does map communicate to your audience?
What is the motive, intent, or goal of the map?
Who will read the map?
Where will the map be used?
What data is available for the composition of the map?
What resources are available in terms of both time and equipment?

5. Deciding on a map type…

6. Map Types: Point Data
Dot
Picture Symbol
Graduated Symbol
Topographic

7. Map Types: Line Data
Network
Flow

8. Map Types: Area Data Choropleth Area qualitative Stepped surface
Isoline / Isopleth

9. Map Types: Volume Data [Isopleth, Stepped Surface]
Realistic perspective
Hill-shaded
Image map

10. Choosing Types Check the data Continuous Discrete Accuracy & Precision
Reliability
Dimension (Point, Line, Area, Volume)
Scale of Measurement (Nominal etc.)
Classification (equal interval, quintiles, etc)

11. Basic Elements of Map Composition

12. Basic Elements of Map Composition
Basic map elements: Information commonly needed by the map reader
title, scale, legend, body of the map, north arrow, cartographer, neatline, date of production, projection used, and information about sources

13. Title &
Subtitle
Thematic
Overlay
Neatline
Base
map
Legend
Scale
Map Author
and Date
Projection
North
Arrow
Source

14. Elements (that should be) found on every map
Distance or Scale
Direction
Legend
Sources of information
When processed

15. Does a North arrow make sense on this map?

16. Directional Indicator - North Arrow
include when an unusual orientation used (west up)
include when direction not obvious
typically used on large scale maps where direction applicable everywhere
use graticule on smaller scale maps instead of North arrow

17. Elements that enhance effective communication
Neatlines
Locator maps
Inset maps

18. Use of a Location Map

19. So…. Those are the elements but how should we arrange them?
The ART of Cartography…..

20. The Need for Design
To appear professional and avoid errors, maps should reflect cartographic knowledge about map design.
A map has a visual grammar or structure that must be understood and used if the best map design is desired.
Cartographic convention (e.g. forests should be green).

21. External Controls affecting Map Design
1. Purpose of map – client will dictate, influences what you will show and how
2. Topic of map – influences choice of base map, scale
3. Page layout/size – influences scale, level of detail you can show
Other factors you can think of…?

22. The Design Process Creativity Visualization Experimentation Aesthetics
incorporating visual images into thought
must be able to visualize alternate solutions
Experimentation
explore alternate solutions
good design may require many iterations
Aesthetics
harmony, composition, clarity

23. Base / symbols are “meat” of the map
Cartographic research tells us that the most important elements of a map are:
Base
Symbolization
Title
Legend
Base / symbols are “meat” of the map
Base – locational framework
Symbols – subject matter
Need to design map so that these elements dominate the map layout/design

24. Visual Ordering of Map Elements
Success of map depends on effective visual ordering of map elements
2 forms of visual ordering:
Planar organization – concerns the way we arrange elements on a page
Visual balance
Focus of attention
Hierarchical organization (visual hierarchy) - the manner in which importance of elements is emphasized
Figure-ground organization
Contrast

25. Planar Organization Visual Balance Focus of Attention
Sizing of elements relative to one another
Division of space
Relative positions of elements should appear logical
Focus of Attention
Optical center vs. geometric center
Natural eye movement across a page

26. Optical Center vs. Geometric Center

27. Natural eye movement across a page
Focus
Field
Fringe
Natural eye movement across a page

28. Hierarchical organization (visual hierarchy)
Figure-Ground organization
Contrast
Line character and weight
Texture
Value
Detail
Color

29. Figure-Ground Organization
Object of attention, standing out from the background
Ground
Formless background space
Ways of establishing strong figure-ground relationships
Value contrast
Textural contrast
Pattern orientation
Strong edges
Location
Floating figure above other elements
Superimposition of text

30. Lack of contrast resulting in poor figure-ground perception
Better contrast resulting
in good figure-ground
perception

31. Figure-Ground Value Contrast

32. Figure-Ground Textural Variation

33. Centrally located features more easily seen

34. Figure ‘floating’ on top on Ground
Superimposition draws attention to Figure

35. Contrast Fundamental in developing strong Figure-Ground relationships
Design principles
Vary line widths
Vary line character
Vary value (color or saturation)
Vary texture/pattern

36. Symbol “weight”
Line weight
Pattern
Shading
Hue

37. Example of good line contrast
Example of poor line contrast
Example of good line contrast

38. Dimensions of Color
HUE
INTENSITY
SATURATION

39. Making the symbols and lettering…

40. A word about Scale and Generalization
Smaller scale means fewer features.
Smaller scale means smoother features.
Smaller scale means combining features.
Smaller scale means displacing features.

41. Using symbols…

42. Type Placement and Attributes
Need to consider the most effective way of positioning type on a map
Labeling Point Symbols
Labeling Linear Features
Labeling Areas
Title and Legend text

43. Labeling Point Symbols
Some guidelines
Name of ports and harbor towns placed seaward
Names of towns should be on side of a river where the town is located
Do not overlap the coastlines or rivers with names

44. Labeling Linear Features
Roads, rivers, streams, highways, railroads…
Labels should be set as often as necessary along a feature to facilitate identification
Ideally, above a horizontal stretch but, not always possible
For rivers, italics preferred
Keep text off of feature

45. Labeling Areas Oceans, bays, large lakes, countries, states, counties…
Show extent of the feature by letterspacing label

46. Text: Selection and Placement6 6 e u t o R S U u d M
New York e k 2 a L
BM 232 CA NV
POINT
LINE
AREA
Figure 7.2
Some cartographic label placement conventions. Points: right and above preferred with no overlap.
Lines: Following the direction of the line, curved if a river. Text should read up on the left of the map and
down on the right. Areas: On a gently curved line following the shape of the figure and upright.

47. Text placement Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Santa Barbara
Path right
Santa Barbara P a t h D o w n
Santa Barbara
L a g o o n

49. Title and Legend Text
Title generally the most important text on map – largest type size
Subtitle – smaller type size
Can use title boxes to overlap other map features
Wording of titles also very important

50. Notice:
Water Features
in italics
Position of text
around points
Figure/ground
relationships

51. Typography Functions of lettering Characteristics of lettering
General reference maps
Names places
Labels features
Thematic maps
Used for titles, legends, etc.
Characteristics of lettering
Typeface – letters, numbers, special characters of one specific design (Ex: Times New Roman)
Fonts – full set of characters of one size of a typeface (Ex: Times New Roman 10 point)
Placement
Spacing

52. Main Concerns in Selecting Type
Legibility and Discernibility
Harmony
Traditionally, best to limit number of typefaces used on a map to 1 or 2
Reduced complexity
Cleaner looking map
Choice of typeface should have meaning if using more than 1
Best on simpler maps to use 1 typeface, vary the form (size, style) to provide contrast between features

53. Style/form Plain cultural features Italic water, natural features
Bold emphasis
Size
Caps – label larger features (countries, oceans, large cities)
Upper&lower case – for smaller, less dominant features
Qualitative
differences
Quantitative
differences

54. Size of Type What does 12 point font mean?
Point system used to determine height of type
Archaic system of measurement from early days of printing (using metal block type)
Measured from top of highest ascender in font to bottom of lowest descender
In metal block terms : 1 point = .014”
72 points = 1” tall type
so…6 pt. = .084”
For a page size map, a lower limit of 6 points fairly safe – still discernible

55. So, when you make your map…
1) Consult this powerpoint off webpage
2) Really think about the design
3) Look at examples from last year’s class, but…
Your map should be waaay more kick ass than theirs