How does good map design support purpose?
Consider the following points when designing a map...
What is the map's purpose?
Create a story for the map to tell. Then build the map to tell the story.
For example, the Revolutionary War French Naval Blockade of Yorktown map below tells the story of the defeat of Cornwallis. It makes its point clear from the title and the ornamentation/embellishment.
Choose a map projection
For world or regional maps, select a projection that is appropriate and supports the map's purpose.
Color and tone
Well chosen color and tone can really enhance the map and draw attention. Consider contrasts in color and tone to differentiate different features such as land versus water or mountains versus plains.
Considering the Revolutionary War French Naval Blockade of Yorktown Map above notice how even in a nearly monochrome palatte color enhances the design. One color for the ocean, another for land. And red to emphasize cities.
Use an appropriate font for lettering
Consider style, size, and weight of the font to match the map design. A formal map imitating an antique would use an old-style serif font. A cartoon map would use a hand-written font. A map emmulating contemporary design would use a sans-serif font.
Again, the Revolutionary War French Naval Blockade of Yorktown map above demonstrates how font size and weight can emphasize the main areas and lesser weights demark less important areas still necessary for a complete geographical picture of the subject.
Use texture to enhance color and feel
Texture enhances color to give it life. Pure color in large doses is just to bland to hold interest. Patterns of darker colors, especially random patterns, make the color alive. Living color in turn gives life to the geographical feature. Patterned texture can make bodies of water shimmer.
Read ideas to use texture to make maps more visually interesting
Find out how oceans are a great opportunity to create lively texture on maps
Shape of the map and features on the map matter
Notice how Pinchon's Map of North Africa below uses both the shape of the land and the shape of the border...
The shape of north Africa is rounded at the top and is repeated in the shape of the border. The interest of the map is north Africa, so the bottom border effectively creates a magnifying lense that focuses on the point of the map. Shape is used to keep a sharp focus on north Africa.
Using negative space to focus viewer attention
Establish basic information with title or cartouche
The important thing is to tell the reader what the story is. Consider it the map's introduction. It may also be decorated to the point of being the main decoration on the map.
Indicate direction with a north arrow, compass rose, or border labels
Maps show spatial relationships. A north arrow, compass rose, or some other way of showing direction makes a map instantly identifiable.
When embellished it can create a beautiful decoration.
Provide well understood symbols for natural features
Natural feature symbols give a feeling for the land. Is it mountainous? Are there rivers? Forests?
Including natural features differentiates desert from forest and mountains from plains.
Create informative symbols for man-made features
Man-made features give a point of access for people. Cities, roads, railways, and boundaries are part of the human experience. Including these features tell the reader where people live, how they can travel, and how they define their region.
Add additional views or information with insets
Including bird's-eye city views, pictures of architectural features, and other additional information enables the map artist to provide cultural context to the land.
Sure, there are cities marked on the map. But what are they like? What do the buildings look like. Insets can answer these questions with specifics.
Include a touch of whimsy with figures, animals, monsters, ships, architectural features, winds, or heraldic devices
Added with taste, these can add enormously to a map's enjoyment. They can also be used to de-mark interesting historic events, points of interest, or any other information important to the purpose of the map.
Orientation
Although maps oriented with north at the top are by far the most common, consider the shape of the area you are mapping in your design choice. Sometimes a different orientation can make a map design both unique and striking.