Map Design and Cartographic Principles

What information is being mapped? Who will be reading the map? What size will the map be? In what media will the map be used? What are the time and budget constraints?

Map Elements – Information used to interpret the map Visual Hierarchy Decorative elements Refining your map – other design considerations

Major Elements Title - Descriptive and informative Legends - explains the symbology used in the map body Scale indicators - text (1:1,000,000) or graphic (scale bar) Orientation (direction) indicators -north arrow Graticule/Grids Data Source note Author and Organization/Company – who created the map Date created/edited Coordinate System, Projection , Datum

Optional Elements Subtitles Explanatory text notes Neatline Photos Graphs Smaller-scale inset maps showing location Larger-scale inset maps showing detail or locations outside the area of the main map

Scale Bars General Suited for reference Detailed Suited for measurements

ABCDG Visual Hierarchy ABCDG Increasing ABCDG Decreasing Hierarchy is established by the location and size of map elements Increasing ABCDG ABCDG ABCDG ABCDG Decreasing

Visual Hierarchy Transparency can also be used for creating hierarchy of information (tones down color)

Visual Hierarchy

Vegetation of Parks Emphasized Vegetation of Country Emphasized

Decorative Elements Drop shadows Line styles for frames Background patterns Full compass rose Zoom lines Colorful logos Decorative type fonts

Decorative Elements

Decorative Elements

Decorative Elements: Zoom Lines

Refining a layout Balance empty/white spaces Boxes? Be careful Alignment Framing your data

Empty Spaces

Empty Spaces

Boxes and Frames

Alignments

Framing and Edges

Review Identify the audience (general public, scientific audience, high school students?) Media of final map (digital or had copy, color or black and white, poster or letter size) Use white spaces to visual group elements of your map and create a balance Look at lot of good maps!