Week 3 - Cartographic Design

This week in GIS3015 lab we created a map using Gestalt's Principles of map design. Some of the principles I used include contrast between map features, and the creation of a figure-ground effect based on the figure weight and coloration of the map symbols.

Our foundation with which to work was a view of the public schools within Ward 7, Washington D.C. Required map elements include a scaled symbology for the schools within Ward 7, an inset map of the Washington D.C. area, and labels on at least seven neighborhoods within Ward 7.

The map

The finished product - public schools in Ward 7.

For me the central challenge this week was to try and incorporate a sense of balance and the figure-ground effect while working with a funky lopsided central figure (Ward 7!) and several competing map features. In the end I decided to not depict all of provided map layers... for example, there is a layer called "neighborhood clusters" that I chose to show with map labels as opposed to a separate map symbol. I also decided not to show all of the streets within the Washington D.C. area - I felt that by depicting all of the roads within Ward 7 it would better call attention to the prominence of that area in relation to everything else on the map.

Another challenge for this week (and probably for the weeks to come!) involves what could be termed 'intuitive mapping'. The map features need to make sense to the viewer with only minimal reliance on a map legend (this week's rubric specifically stated that only the schools should be on the legend). This meant that I really needed to make Ward 7 stand out without calling attention to it specifically. To achieve this end I used a very light neutral color to represent the ward, and a darker neutral color for the Washington D.C. area. The D.C. color was further muted by setting the transparency for that layer at 60%, otherwise that color would have been dominant. I also used a yellow color gradient for the overall map background to further emphasize the lighter Ward 7 area.

My central figures are the schools, which needed to be depicted by school type. The school types were shown by using varying sizes of the same symbol - I felt that would be visually less complicated than using different symbols/colors for each school type. To make the schools stand out against the neutral background they needed to be depicted in an eye popping color. Happily the symbol I picked came preset to fire engine red!

I noticed that Ward 7 has a northeast/southwest tilt to it - this was great news for me, as I was able to balance out my map by placing the map inset and essential map elements (i.e. legend, etc.) along the exact opposite angle of Ward 7.

...and I'm just now realizing that I've inadvertently used an "X" pattern to balance out my map. "X" always marks the spot, right?