Module 1 - Map Critique

For this assignment, we were given a list of maps to sort through and choose one we felt was an example of a good map, and one a bad map, using basic cartographic design principles as our guide. Some were obviously poor examples, through lack of basic map elements such as a title or legend, or because of unattractive or difficult to decipher layout and design. Many were perfectly acceptable - easier to read, pleasing to the eye, and containing all the important information necessary to help the user understand the map. Below are the "good" and "bad" map examples I chose, followed by a brief critique. 

An example of a well-designed US Ancestry map.

The above Ancestry map is a nice example of an attractive, professional product. The map highlights Tufteisms #2 and #3, as well as Cartographic Design Principle #4, which all have to do with communicating a large amount of information quickly, easily, and without cluttering up the overall design. The basic map elements, like title, legend, and scale, are there, as well as two points of purpose (state and county ancestry populations) and yet the overall feel of the map remains clean and easy to understand. I believe success is due to thoughtful color and layout choice: colors that are harmonious yet distinctive, using boxes to separate information, and full-bleed of images within those boxes to draw your eye from one square to another. Also note the careful choice of dark versus light colors for areas that will be highlighted in bulk in the smaller map. By choosing darker colors along the Southeast and East Coast, both maps remain balanced, whereas the reverse would have made the Central US too dominating and create a lack of balance. Those design choices are all examples of Principle #2, Hierarchy with Harmony. I also enjoy that the map, whether intentionally or unintentionally, creates a visual jumping off point for discussion about ancestry and location, falling under Principle #5-creating engagement of the mind or emotions. For example, the bands of Mexican ancestry in the Southwest in relation to border immigration or the band of African American ancestry and the slave history of the Southeast. Those topics could have been missed with different color choices.

An example of a poorly designed US 1999 Capitals Population map.

I chose this 1999 US Capitals Population map as a poor example of effective or pleasing map design. Most glaring to me is the lack of units by the numbers in the legend. As noted in Commandment #3, we must effectively label maps if they are to be useful. Without units this map cannot be used in comparisons to previous maps or related population studies, much less as a singular point of reference. I also feel this map fails Tufteism #1 and Principle #5, as it is not a well-designed presentation of interesting data and it doesn’t engage my emotion or my mind. The colors are unattractive, the map overall is bland, and while I appreciate the idea behind the dots being larger or smaller in relation to population numbers, in this map, in these colors, it appears distracting rather than the main informational point. The text is also bothersome in the fact that it varies from being near the circle, over the circle, or not near the circle. Poor placement of text fails Commandment #3 again and Commandment #5 in regards to overall layout being important in map success. The census information is certainly useful; the map just needs a color and text makeover.