DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN CARTOGRAPHY

1. Graphic hierarchy: Need to be able to distinguish between foreground and background so that
readers can focus on the figure rather than the background

Enhance figure-ground relationship:

- The smaller of two areas with contrasting values will usually stand out as the figure
- Texture contrast is effective
- Emphasized with a strong and crisp outline
- Figure is centrally located and closed
- An area of partially hidden background will make the figure appears to be on top of the background
- Use of legend and labels
- Use contrasting hues (yellow-black or white—blue), complementary colors are not effective

2. Color logic:
Perception of graphics:
a. Limitations of the eyes
- We can only see maximum 12 colors
- 7 shades of the same color
- Color blindness

b. Texture vibration can be a distraction

3. Geographic context: refers to map elements that provide critical information to readers
a. Elements found on all maps (Eg. distance/scale, direction, legend, source of information)
b. Elements that are sensitive to content (Eg. Title, cartographer, date of production)
c. Elements that are used selectively to assist effective communication (Eg. neatline, locator map,
inset map, index map)

[Scale]
Problems: difficulties in setting appropriate map scale
Small scale map = larger aerial coverage/problem
area shown, the problem may appear insignificant
Large scale map = smaller aerial coverage, can
cause panic because the problem appears to be
everywhere

Solution
Use a large scale map along with a regional or state locator inset map

[Titles]
Help establish the place, subject and temporal context (Eg. Pop. change in Hong Kong, 2008)
 [Legends (headings)]
Provide further details (SHOULD NOT BE JUST “KEY” OR “LEGEND”)
Example: Literacy rate (%), Millions of US dollars

[Source and production dates]

Acknowledge data sources in the presentation of map
Specify date of data (when collected) and date of production (when the map was created)

4. Visual balance
Experimenting with map layout
a. Develop sketches first
b. Experiment with possible layouts in a computerized environment

Testing visual balance: Guidelines in achieving visual balance:

a. Distribute map elements as evenly as
possible to avoid unnecessary crowding or
blank areas
b. There should be a defensible reason for
each element placed on a map
c. Less is more, simplify to make it more
readable

Two centers of an image space:

An image has two centers; a geometric center and an optical center. Important map
objects should be placed around the optical center

Example: Larger objects look heavier, red objects look heavier than blue objects
isolated objects look heavier than those surrounded by other elements, regular
shaped objects look heavier than irregular ones

Other methods of achieving balance: the Golden Rule (1:1.618)

5. Lettering
- Legibility is defined as the smallest symbol that can be easily read from a certain distance
- The minimum size of the smallest symbol should be thought in advance when you know the
distance the map is to be viewed from
- Many maps failed because the text, point or line symbols are too small (unreadable, difficult to find
the symbol from a distance)

Readability of text on a map: or water (top right is referred then left then
Selected font: some fonts may not be middle)
supported by the computer Line: Name should be placed alongside or
Font variation: simple, bold, capital parallel to the line, avoid complicated
lettering improve readability curvature
Font size: should not be smaller than 10 Area: Placed within the boundaries, letter-
point spaced across the area, letter size should
Font orientation: upright vary to reflect the hierarchy of regions
Figure-ground relationship: apply cast (Country>states>cities>towns)
shadow for important text or add a outline This one is better
to text

Positioning Guidelines:
Points: Name should be entirely on land
Map Design Process: Planning  Composing  Editing and Proofreading