ADVANCED MAP DESIGN

Introduction to GIS| Winter 2015

Elements of Good Map Design

If a map is…

Graphically balanced

Easy to read

Limits redundant or unnecessary information

Then it will…

Communicate a strong visual message to audience

Convey the intended information (i.e. function properly)

Satisfy purpose of designer (or the client!)

Map Layout

Map Elements –

Components of map

layout

Main Map – Visual

representation of data

Map Layout

Visual Hierarchy –

how different elements

are positioned on the

map, e.g.

Scanning

Color

Size

Alignment

Contrast

Scanning

Scanning

Color

Size

Alignment

Contrast

With these elements in mind…..

Improvements?

How would you improve

the layout for this map?

Refining Map Layout

Poor Attention to Detail Good Attention to Detail

It’s all about the details

Choosing Appropriate Map Projections

Emphasis on decorative design elements

Emphasis on map content

Maps for the Color Blind

Color Blindness

Approximately 8% of the general population

sees color differently than the rest of the

population.

Red-green color confusion

Deuteranopia (5% of all males)

Protanopia (2.5% of all males)

Blue-yellow color confusion

Tritanopia (<0.3% women and men

Color Blindness

Who are the 8 percent here?

Do you try to account for this in your maps?

Vegetation Biomes in Arizona – Original Map

Vegetation Biomes in Arizona – Deuteronopia

Vegetation Biomes in Arizona – Protanopia

Vegetation Biomes in Arizona – Tritanopia

Point symbols

Combine shapes with varied hue and saturation

Line Symbols

Vary the width, pattern, hue and/or saturation

Area Symbols

Vary color hue and saturation; include pattern

Limit color classes to 5 or less

Area Symbols

Label/Annotate features

Map Design Resources

Type Brewer. http://typebrewer.org

Cynthia Brewer’s Color Brewer. http://colorbrewer.org

ESRI Mapping Center

Vischeck Color Decifiency Simulations

Resources for Map Design

General Resources

Designing Better Maps, Cynthia Brewer

How to Lie With Maps, Mark Monmonier

Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS,

John Krygier

How Maps Work: Representation, Visualization, and

Design, Alan M. MacEachren

The Power of Maps, Denis Wood

Resources for Map Design

Especially for Color Blindness

vcgiblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/02/designing-

maps-for-the-color-blind/

www.vischeck.com/vischeck/

colororacle.org/

mappingcenter.esri.com/index.cfm?fa=arcgisResources.

gateway#arcgisResourcesCD

freegeographytools.com/2008/evaluating-map-

graphics-for-color-blind-viewers