Beginning the mapping process

The main goal of a map is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between the map author and reader. It's important to communicate important information, but we must also attract and retain the viewer's interest. After all, if no one looks at your map, your information doesn't get communicated at all! The design of your map, like a well-articulated argument, can either support or hinder your message.

The design is a process, with specific strategies and benchmarks to help us achieve clear communication. Bad design is usually easy to spot—we can quickly point to why or how something isn't working. Good design can be harder to identify. If all the elements are working together as they should, everything is seamless.

In mapping, we work with the trinity of balance, harmony, and unity. Balance is the art of placing elements around the page so that they don't draw the eye unnaturally to one side or the other. While symmetry is seldom possible (particularly with maps, since we have no control over the shape of an area), we can still achieve balance through careful planning.

Unity means that the map elements all look like they belong together, rather than loosely assembled from a variety of sources. This improves comprehension and is a clear sign of professionalism. This may extend beyond a single map to a map series, and be required to coordinate with the design of other materials, such as a report or corporate branding.

Finally, harmony is the most difficult to quantify. In a visually harmonious map, the message is clear, and the map looks less like it was assembled and more like it magically appeared fully developed. All the pieces are working together to lead the map reader through the information in a logical way, with map elements forming the supporting cast rather than trying to be the stars of the show.