Module 1 Overview: This week, we learned about best practices in designing the ideal map. We learned about Edward Tufte's 20 principles of graphical integrity. The principles were further summarized into six commandments:
- Commandment 1: Map Substantial Information (Tufteisms 1, 2, 3, 4, 20)
- Commandment 2: Don’t Lie with Maps (Tufteisms 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, and 13)
- Commandment 3: Effectively Label Maps (Tufteisms 7 & 8)
- Commandment 4: Minimize Map Crap (Tufteisms 11, 14, 15, 16, and 18)
- Commandment 5: Map Layout Matters (Tufteism 19)
- Commandment 6: Evaluate your Map (Tufteism 17)
For the lab assignment, we were provided a gallery of maps to review. The gallery contained well designed and poorly designed maps. We were tasked with selecting one poorly designed map and one well designed map for comparison purposes. The following information summarizes my submission for the the Module 1 Lab:
Critique of a Well-Designed Map:
General: The purpose of the “Geologic Map of the State
of Florida”, complied by T.M. Scott, classifies the geological period in which
Florida was formed. The map is not intended for the lay person since the reader
requires some education in geology and the geological time scale. As such, the
map was most likely intended for established geologist or those who have studied
geology.
Cartographic Design: Scott designed the map appropriately providing the
use of color to distinguish between each time period. All symbols and labels are legible and easy
to understand.
Map Elements and Page
Layout: This map features all of
the appropriate map elements to include:
North symbol, legend, author title, map title, map scale (in kilometers
and miles). The map is in landscape (horizontal) orientation, which appears to
be the most logical way to design this map.
The legend is designed with basic information and is clearly legible. The map is centered in the middle of the page,
with an appropriate amount of space around the border of the page. All parts of
the map relate to each other and are placed in a logical order.
Scale: The map was designed with the appropriate
extent, featuring the entire state of Florida. The scale units are appropriately
designed and is easy to interpret. The scale
units listed include both kilometers and miles, which is beneficial.
Legend: The legend is designed
with basic information and is clearly legible. The legend box is an appropriate
size, when compared to the rest of the map.
The legend items are listed in a logical, understandable order. For
example, the legend shows the latest time epoch (Pleistocene) to the earliest
time epoch (Eocene). The reader can easily tell that the sections highlighted in
light blue are classified as the oldest formations, whereas the yellow portions
are the newer formations.
Critique of Poorly
Designed Map:
General: It is difficult to determine the purpose of this map. There is no title or labeling to indicate the author’s point of view or purpose. The map is chaotic and is unorganized. Because there is no obvious purpose for this map, it is difficult to determine the intended audience. This map violates Commandment 3: Effectively Labelling Maps (Tufteisms 7 & 8) and Commandment 4: Minimizing Map Crap (Tufteisms 11, 14, 15, 16, and 18).
Cartographic Design: The map is poorly designed. There are no labels to indicate what the symbols mean. There are too many symbols on the map making it difficult to read. The symbols are not intuitive or easy to decipher.
Map Elements and Page Layout: The map does have borders. However, the map itself is not well balanced. The map and unlabeled symbols fill up most of the page, which further confuses the reader. Since there was no clear objective established for this map, it is unknown whether the map elements support the author’s intended purpose. Furthermore, there are no map titles, North arrow, legend, scale bar, or author/map credits included in this map.
Scale: The scale or map extent is not appropriate. Additionally, there is no scale bar on the map.
Legend: There is no legend
included with this map. Furthermore, there are no titles or subtitles.
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