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Lecture 07 Map Layout

This document discusses map layout and design principles. It begins by outlining the learning outcomes, which are to describe the process of designing map layouts, explain map design principles, and describe how to evaluate a map. It then provides a lecture outline on what map layout is, map design, principles of map design, and map critiques. The document explains the key elements of map layout and design principles such as legibility, visual contrast, figure-ground relationships, hierarchical organization, and balance. It provides examples to illustrate these principles. Finally, it shows an example map and asks the reader to critically evaluate it based on map elements and design.

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Haizz Nur
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6 views

Lecture 07 Map Layout

This document discusses map layout and design principles. It begins by outlining the learning outcomes, which are to describe the process of designing map layouts, explain map design principles, and describe how to evaluate a map. It then provides a lecture outline on what map layout is, map design, principles of map design, and map critiques. The document explains the key elements of map layout and design principles such as legibility, visual contrast, figure-ground relationships, hierarchical organization, and balance. It provides examples to illustrate these principles. Finally, it shows an example map and asks the reader to critically evaluate it based on map elements and design.

Uploaded by

Haizz Nur
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lecture 07:

Map Layout
Prof. Sr. Dr. Mohd Razali bin Mahmud
& Dr. Aimi binti Musa

Credit Photo: Endeavormd, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons


Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes

1) Describe the process of designing map layouts.


2) Explain the principles in map design.
3) Describe how to evaluate a map.

2
Lecture Outline
Lecture Outline

▪ What is Map Layout?


▪ Map Design
▪ Principle in Map Design
▪ Map Critiques

3
What is map layout?
What is map layout?

▪ The gathering of the various elements of a map into


a single whole, including the map itself, its legend,
title, scale bars, and other map elements.
▪ Also called as map composition or (cartographic)
page layout.
▪ Determines the aesthetic quality of a map.
▪ Involves the map design process.

4
What to Include in the Map Layout?
Map Layout

Map Elements..

5
Elements of Map

▪ Elements that may be included: neat line, map


body, graticule, insets, title, legend, label, scale,
Map Layout

north arrow, source of data, map projection,


generalization, author, date, border, grid, graphs
etc.
▪ However, not all map elements are required for
every map.
▪ P/S: Please refer Prof. Razali’s Lecture 05.

6
Design Layouts

▪ When designing the map layout, always consider


Map Design

your map design first.


▪ Do not be afraid to start over from scratch if your
first map design is not working. Why?
▪ Because cartography is a creative process that
often requires multiple iterations of design.

7
Design Layouts (cont.)

▪ Once the map design is created, evaluate the map


Map Design

critically.
▪ What to evaluate?
a) Is it suited the user’s need?
b) Not overly complicated or too simplistic
c) Make sure included all the relevant information the user need
d) Map should be easy to use
e) An ACCURATE representation of reality

8
Design Layouts (cont.)

▪ The language of the map should relate to the


Map Design

elements represented.
▪ Map design should be clear, legible and attractive.
How to identify this? – expert, colleagues, friends
▪ Always remember, map must be useful to the user.

9
Principles of Map Design

▪ Five of the main design principles are;


Map Design

a) Legibility
b) Visual contrast
c) Figure-ground
d) Hierarchical organization, and
e) Balance

10
Principles of Map Design:
a) LEGIBILITY
▪ “The ability to be seen and
understood”
Map Design

▪ It depends on good decision-making


for selecting symbols that are
familiar and choosing appropriate
size.
▪ For example, geometric symbols are
easier to read at smaller sizes; more
complex symbols needs larger sizes

Credit: https://www.esri.com

11
Principles of Map Design:
b) VISUAL CONSTRAST
▪ Relates to how map features and
page elements contrast with each
Map Design

other and their background.


▪ The higher the contrast between
features, the more something will
stand out, usually the feature that is
darker or brighter.
▪ A map that has low visual contrast
can be used to promote a more

Credit: https://www.esri.com
subtle impression.
12
Principles of Map Design:
c) FIGURE-GROUND

▪ The spontaneous separation of the


Map Design

figure in the foreground from an


“amorphous” background.
▪ This will help map users/readers find
the area of the map or page to focus
on.
▪ For example, using a closed forms
(A), white wash (B), a drop shadow
(C), or feathering (D).
Credit: https://www.esri.com

13
Principles of Map Design:
d) HIERARCHICAL ORGANIZATION

▪ One of the major objective in map making is “separate meaningful


characteristics and to portray likenesses, differences, and
Map Design

interrelationships” – (Robinson, et al,. 1995, p. 327)


▪ Think of a hierarchy as the visual separation of your map into
layers of information.
▪ Some types of features will be seen as more important than other
kinds of features, and some features will seem more important
than other features of the same type.

14
Principles of Map Design:
e) BALANCE

▪ Involves the organization of the map and other


Map Layout

elements on the page.


▪ A well-balanced map page results in an impression of
equilibrium and harmony.

15
Principles of Map Design:
e) BALANCE
Map Layout

Which of the top six maps


seems most balanced?

Credit: https://www.esri.com 16
Principles of Map Design:
e) BALANCE
▪ (F) has visual equilibrium, usually
achieved by placing the central
Map Layout

figure slightly above center on


the page.
▪ However, the addition of page
elements, such as the title and
legend, will modify the visual
impression, so all content on the
page should be evaluated
together to judge balance.
Credit: https://www.esri.com 17
Example of
Map Critiques
Map Layout

Critically evaluate
this map by
considering the
map elements in
map making…

18
Example of Map Critiques

▪ Map title: The title is fairly vague


▪ North arrow: Maybe too large for this map?
Map Layout

▪ Author and data source: Text too large- font size


▪ Scale bars: instead of 0-32, why not 0-30?
▪ What else..? Identify..

19
Map Layout

Credit: https://alg.manifoldapp.org
20
THANK YOU

In the Name of God for Mankind

utm.my univteknologimalaysia utmofficial

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