GIS 4006 - Module 1 - Map Critique

For this weeks assignment, Module 1, we were tasked with finding two maps, one that exemplifies a well-designed map, and one that exemplifies a poorly designed map. I chose the following two maps and wrote the following evaluation synopsis for each.

Well-designed Map
Title: National Elevation Data Set Shaded Relief of the United States
Author: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Theme: Elevation for the United States

I chose this map for the well-designed selection because I feel it conveys the best sense of topography elevation in a simple, clear manner. This map may lack map elements such as scales, legends, and quantitative data but I feel like that information is not necessary to accomplish what the original authors were trying to convey, a good representation of the United States elevation. I believe the first three Tuftesisms represent this map:

1. Graphical excellence is the well-designed presentation of interesting data – a matter of

substance, of statistics, and of design.

2. Graphical excellence consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity, precision, and

efficiency.

3. Graphical excellence is that which gives to the viewer the greatest number of ideas in the

shortest time with the least ink in the smallest space.

Poorly designed Map

Title: N/A

Author: N/A

Theme: Terrain and Collective Groups of Fantasy World.

 

 I chose this map for the poor design selection because although it does convey its intended theme it was assembled in an uncreative and artistically poor manner. The look and feel of this map is achieved minimally using an ordinary Mercator projection, which I would attribute to a lack of creativity. The setting for this map may be fictitious but that does not disqualify it from being a well-designed map. This map fails the following “Tufteisms”:


1. Graphical excellence is the well-designed presentation of interesting data – a matter of substance, of statistics, and of design.

2.Graphical excellence consists of complex ideas communicated with clarity,
precision, and efficiency.

And

20. The revelation of the complex. 

Here is an example of a fictitious map where the artist clearly devoted an enormous amount of artistic detail into, which can be appreciated.