1. Map Design and Cartographic Principles

2. 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?

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Scale Bars General Suited for reference Detailed
Suited for measurements

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

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

9. Visual Hierarchy

10. Vegetation of Parks Emphasized
Vegetation of Country Emphasized

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

12. Decorative Elements

13. Decorative Elements

14. Decorative Elements: Zoom Lines

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

16. Empty Spaces

17. Empty Spaces

18. Boxes and Frames

19. Alignments

20. Framing and Edges

21. 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!