Kenneth Field

"Introduction

Making maps is easy

Making great maps is hard

1. Maps as Information Products

The nature of an information product

What is design?

Trends in map design

Functional design

Designer, data and audience

Engineers vs Designers vs Map Makers

Simplicity and complexity

Form and Function

Dispersal and Layering

Telling stories (metaphors and simile)

Minimalism and efficiency

Novelty or redundancy

Data density

Originality

Emotional response

Integrity

Self-explanatory focus

Wayfinding maps

Experiential maps

Numerical and statistical maps

Production paradigms

Viewing paradigms

2. Perceptions and Conventions

The way the eye and brain works

Vizualising for the mind

Logically coding points

Pictograms vs Icons vs Symbols

Logically coding lines

Logically coding areas

Connotations of form

Connotations of colour

Mixing and using colours

Colour constraints

Connotations of value

Working in greyscale

Connotations of typeface

Labelling hierarchies

Making connections on the map

Consistent denotation

Innovation and familiarity

Compare and contrast

Ways of seeing

Navigating the page

Navigating the screen

Navigating the mobile device

Factual understanding vs Interpretation

3. Objective Dimensions

Information overload

Selection by feature type

Selection by numbers

Dimensional comparison

Measurement of Earth

Scale

Distances

Spheres and elipses

Datums

Latitude and longitude

Geographic coordinates

Projected coordinates

Numerical integrity

Making numbers meaningful

Geographical distortions

Projection distortions

Projection families

Choosing a good projection

Compromising geographical form

Geography as a diagram

Measurement and proportions

Absolute data

Percentages, ratios and rates

Comparatives

Summarising data distributions

Classifying data

4. Structure and Organisation

Dispersal vs Layering

Grids in information design

Organisation and response

Generalising features

Styling features

Graphical hierarchies

Contrast

Actors and support cast

Repetition

Proximity

Balance

Staging hierarchies

Which way is up?

Signs and pointers

Focussing attention

Distractions

Language and phraseology

Choosing a font

Serif

Sans serif

Font efficiency: width, height, size

Font efficiency: structure, form, direction, colour

Typeface differentiation

Legibility

Type placement

The small print (marginalia)

5. Pick'n'Map

Choropleth

Isarithmic

Dot Density

Binning

Dasymetric

Value by alpha

Cartogram

Flow

Network mapping

Schematic diagrams

Isochrones

Graduated Symbol

Proportional Symbol

Unique Values

Bivariate mapping

Multivariate mapping

Embedded charts

Small multiples

Chernof Faces

Proportional text

6. Different viewpoints

Planimetric

Panoramic

Isometric

Aspect

Prism maps

3D isolines

Mapping change

Animation

Dynamic variables

Temporal

7. Going digital - the UI/UX challenge

Map Mashups

The 2 second rule

Resolution

Size

Performance

Responsive maps

Interaction

Capabilities

Native v Browser apps

Partial attention

Time and day

Inputs

Connectivity

Currency

Personalising the map experience

User testing

Eye tracking

Wireframes

Workflow

Prototypes

Development technologies