Base Map Design and Symbolization
The Parts of a Map: Map Elements
The Medium Affects the Message Paper Film Mylar Monitor Projection Broadcast TV **The display is part of the symbolization
Planar Organization & Hierarchal Organization Planar Organization: The way elements are arranged on a page a given layer Concern: relations between elements
Visual Layout Title Here Eye expects (1) balance and (2) alignment
Visual center 5% of height Landscape 5% of height Portrait
Planar Organization & Hierarchal Organization Hierarchal Organization Item importance
Design and Layout Three Ways to evaluate the “art” of cartography 1. Harmony: - Relationship between the different map elements - Concern: placement, sizing, style and design of the map's contents
Design and Layout Three Ways to evaluate the “art” of cartography 2. Composition: - Visual hierarchy and balance organizations of the elements -Elements of greater visual importance? -Structurally balanced elements?
Design and Layout Three Ways to evaluate the “art” of cartography 3. Clarity: - How easy it is to recognize the map elements - How legible and recognizable are map elements?
Text: Selection and Placement New York BM 232 POINT L a k e M u d AREA U S R o u t e LINE CA NV
Map “impact” Distribution of Employment by State 1996 USA: Employment Distribution 1996 U.S. Employment: 1996 Distribution America at Work Where the Jobs are Today
Imhof, E “Positioning Names on Maps.” American Cartographer 2(2): A B
Map Making Resources The process of map-making: Geographic Locations and Map Projections, by Waldo Tobler About 10 minutes long PowerPoint in.pdf format in your Resources folder Spatialization, by Sara Fabirkant About 8 minutes long The Art in Cartography, by Sara Fabrikant Nine-and-a-half minutes long The Social Construction of Maps, by Jeremy Crampton About 10 minutes long