The above map was selected as a well-designed map for several
reasons. Following Edward Tufte’s Map
Design Principles, the map is a “well-designed presentation of interesting data”
whose ideas are “communicated with clarity, precision, and efficiency” giving “the
viewer the greatest number of ideas in the shortest time with the least ink in
the smallest space”. This particular map
includes quite a bit of information of value to hikers, hunters, bicyclists,
and fishermen. The use of different
colors and line styles for trails, boundaries, and roads make the map easy to
read. Points of interest are clearly
designated with distinct symbols. The
locator map puts the smaller map in perspective. The north arrow and scale bar do not dominate
the map but are easy to find and use. The
title of the map clearly identifies the map’s coverage. This map meets Tufte’s Principles 1, 2, and 3
as well as Principle 7 (“clear, detailed, and thorough labeling”). As a recreational user of the Green Swamp East
tract, I personally found this map very useful because of the incorporation of
these principles.
(Map source: http://web2.geo.msu.edu/geogmich/eskers.html)
This map of esker locations in Michigan has been included as an example
of a poorly-designed map. Its strong
point is that it is very simple to read (the eskers clearly stand out), but this
poorly-designed map neither has enough information nor communicates with
clarity or precision. There is no north arrow,
no scale bar to reference distances, nor any county names to help the user determine
specific locations of the eskers without referring to another source. The addition of these items along with major
highways and interstates would help the user determine the location of an esker
more easily. The map is entitled “Eskers
in Michigan” and there is only one symbol used (denoting the eskers), but a
legend still should have been included. Edward
Tufte’s Commandment 1 (Map Substantial Information ~ Principles 1, 2 and 3 specifically)
and Commandment 3 (Effectively Label Maps ~ Principle 7 and 8) were not met.
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