Computer Cartography - Module 3 - Cartographic Design

This week's lab module for Computer Cartography 5007L continued to build upon the foundational principles of sound cartographic design. The focus of the exercise was to design a map of public schools in Ward 7, Washington D.C. We utilized Gestalt principles to make an aesthetically pleasing map. The main aim of Gestalt theory is to understand how humans visually perceive and organize individual components of a graphical images into a whole. We used concepts such as visual hierarchy, contrast, figure-ground, and balance. Below is my final map.

To create this map I used ArcGIS Pro and data provided by UWF. I employed several tools such as the clipping tool and SQL expressions to isolate the data that I wanted to present in the map. To establish visual hierarchy, I made my base layer for Ward 7 a pale yellow and surrounded it by grey to accentuate it. I also used three different-sized school symbols where the smallest represent elementary schools and the largest represent high schools. 

To achieve contrast in my map I used colors like the red of my school symbols that contrast well against the pale yellow of my Ward 7 layer. The use of pale yellow in the Ward 7 layer creates a contrast with the surrounding grey color of the negative space. Similarly, I used a slightly lighter shade of grey for the inset map and legend, which makes them stand out from the darker grey. 

To establish figure-ground relationship, I used lighter colors for important features and darker colors for the surrounding areas. This creates contrast and makes the important features appear closer to the reader therefore drawing the readers attention. I employed a similar design for my inset map.

In designing my map, I took care to ensure balance by placing the map elements in each quadrant where negative space occurred. However, due to the unusual shape of Ward 7, this proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. After using the measuring tool, I found that Ward 7 was almost the same length from North to South as it was from Southwest to Northeast. I debated between using a landscape or portrait layout but ultimately opted for landscape. I placed my inset in the northwest quadrant since there was enough space to make it the appropriate size. The legend, scale bar, and north arrow were placed in the southwest quadrant because it was the largest area and they fit well there. I placed the map title in the northeast quadrant after considering making a rectangle box across the top. I'm still not sure if I like it, but it fills the quadrant and maintains consistency. Lastly, I placed my name and data sources in the southwest quadrant because it was the smallest area and they have the least visual weight.