- Surround all of the elements with boxes. This includes the legend, north arrow, scale bar, title, inset map(s), and any descriptive text you may have. The more boxes the better because they give the layout structure. The average map reader can’t figure out on their own where the legend ends and the map begins, for example.
- Ensure that the logos of all participating agencies and companies are placed prominently, preferably at the top, in a line. It’s okay if they are different sizes and shapes and colors. It’s okay if they clash with the rest of the map colors.
- Only spend, at most, about 30 minutes designing the map. Any more time than this is wasted. Good design does not take time, it only takes talent.
- Think a lot about what you want and need on the map rather than on what the map reader will want and need.
- Make sure the background (hillshade or orthophoto, for example) is displayed fully saturated so that it can adequately compete with the other map layers.
April Fools!!!
#1 by David on April 1, 2011 - 4:50 pm
Simplify matters by using the standard ArcGIS layout templates, approved by Cartographers everywhere.
#2 by Gretchen on April 1, 2011 - 5:02 pm
I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for sharing!
#3 by Adena Schutzberg on April 1, 2011 - 5:56 pm
Detail in no more than x (I like three) bullet points the objectives of the map. Keep them close at hand (in the old days we’d say: staple them to your forehead) and return to them when making design decisions.
#4 by Gretchen on April 1, 2011 - 6:26 pm
Staple them? Ouch!
#5 by Neill on April 1, 2011 - 6:54 pm
Don’t forget to make your North Arrow the biggest thing on the map layout..Gotta love it when you see that kinda thing happening..
#6 by Gretchen on April 1, 2011 - 7:12 pm
Definitely! Don’t waste precious time clicking and dragging that north arrow size box to make it smaller.
#7 by David on April 1, 2011 - 7:38 pm
Just about had apoplexy there, heart rate returning to normal now.
If there had been an entry like “Cartographic design serves only to make the map pretty, not more functional” You would have heard me screaming from all the way down here in California! 😛
#8 by Gretchen on April 1, 2011 - 7:45 pm
Would have loved to hear that!
#9 by Hans van der Maarel on April 1, 2011 - 7:47 pm
Use as many different fonts as possible. Preferably Comic Sans, Courier, Times New Roman, Papyrus and Arial.
#10 by Gretchen on April 1, 2011 - 7:53 pm
Wonderful!
#11 by David Imus on April 2, 2011 - 12:48 am
I especially like the 30-minute time limit. Wish I’d heard that valuable tip earlier, having just spent two years designing a map. Cheerio!
#12 by L. Jégou on April 2, 2011 - 5:01 pm
Display the default scalebar, if possible as large as the map itself, and with labels using the same font size as the legend.
#13 by Elliot Hartley on April 2, 2011 - 9:01 pm
Also just click print without checking the print settings. Don’t worry it will be fine and you almost never have problems with colour reproduction. ‘Best Quality’ on cheap paper always looks great as well!
Because printing is the easiest part of the process…
#14 by Gretchen on April 2, 2011 - 9:12 pm
Now that April Fool’s is over I can say this in all seriousness…@David I’d love to see that 2 year long map project. Do you have a link?
#15 by Gretchen on April 2, 2011 - 9:12 pm
Yes, colors on screen usually match those on paper.
#16 by Gretchen on April 2, 2011 - 9:13 pm
Almost wonder if we should try making a map with these characteristics: humongous scalebar, north arrow, lots of logos, etc.