Making maps is rife with rules. But following rules does not necessarily produce a great (or even good) map. It may be the implementation of broader design principles that leads to a successful map.
Principles are an intellectual generalization of a broad field of knowledge: a kind of map, in the broadest sense of the word.
They [...]
Archive for the ‘07 Hierarchies’ Category
More Principles of Map Design
Posted in 02 Why Are You Making Your Map?, 06 Map Layout, 07 Hierarchies, 08 Generalization & Classification, 09 Map Symbolization, Deep Map Thoughts, tagged Cartographic Design, Cartography, Design, Design Principles, Hate Group Maps, Map Design, maps, Run Over Children Maps, Terror Maps on February 5, 2008 | 6 Comments »
How Useful is Tufte for Making Maps?
Posted in 06 Map Layout, 07 Hierarchies, 08 Generalization & Classification, 09 Map Symbolization, 10 Type on Maps, 12 Finishing Your Map, Map Books on August 16, 2007 | 14 Comments »
Edward Tufte’s The Visual Display of Quantitative Information (1998, 2nd edition 2001) is a classic book, arguably his best, and certainly a key text in the field of information graphics (which encompasses cartography). I know some cartography courses use the book as a text.
I recall being inspired by the book as a neophyte cartographer back [...]
Map Graphic Design Guides
Posted in 07 Hierarchies on July 25, 2007 | 2 Comments »
Back in the day when I was working at the University of Wisconsin Cartographic Lab we created graphic design guides with different size type, lines, and area shading. Such guides provide, for example, a quick idea of what 10 point black type over a 50% gray background looks like, and help to see design [...]