Map Design

Question 1

what is cartographic design?

Answer 1

a mental and partly a physical process in which maps are conceived and created. Involves the conceptualisation and visualisation of the map.
Subjective.

Question 2

What is cartographic design driven by?

Answer 2

To create a map that appropriately serves the map user based on
the map’s intended use.
To create a map that communicates the map’s information in the
most efficient manner, simply and clearly.

Question 3

List the GESTALT PRINCIPLES

Answer 3

A. Closure
B. Common fate
C. Continuity
D. Figure-ground
E. Proximity
F. Similarity
G. Smallness or Area
H. Symmetry

Question 4

What do the gestalt principles represent?

Answer 4

the theoretical underpinning for many cartographic design rules, guidelines, and conventions. It attempts to describe how humans see individual graphical components, and then organise these components into a unified whole.

Question 5

What is Closure?

Answer 5

our brains tend to fill in missing information to perceive incomplete shapes or objects as complete.

Question 6

What is Common fate?

Answer 6

elements that move in the same direction or share a common dynamic attribute are perceived as belonging together.

Question 7

What is Continuity?

Answer 7

our brains prefer smooth and continuous lines or patterns. Allows us to move our eyes from one object to another.

Question 8

What is Figure-Ground?

Answer 8

how we perceive objects as distinct from their background. Can percieve object closer to than others.

Question 9

What is proximity?

Answer 9

elements that are close to each other in space are perceived as belonging together.

Question 10

What is Similarity?

Answer 10

group objects that are similar in shape, size, colour, or orientation tend to be grouped together in our perception.

Question 11

What is Smallness?

Answer 11

allows us to view smaller
areas as figures and larger areas as ground.

Question 12

What is Symmetry?

Answer 12

symmetrical objects are perceived as more stable and harmonious than asymmetrical ones.

Question 13

Design procees

Answer 13

1. how will it be produced?
2. scale and projection
3. select data
4. select map elements
5. rank symbols and elements to NB
6. create a map or a few

Question 14

What is Intellectual heirarchy?

Answer 14

importance that map elements are ranked according to.
1. title, subtitle and legend
2. base info roads an boundaries
3. place names
4. scale and north arrow
5. data source and notes
6. frame and neat lines

Question 15

What is Visual Heirarchy?

Answer 15

graphical representation of the intellectual hierarchy. Attracts the eyes to the most important aspects.
Thematic symbols, title and legend are emphasied the rest is deemphasied.

Question 16

What is contrast?

Answer 16

Visual differences between map features. Adds interest. Differentiate feautres and imply their importance.
Varying - size, space, oreintation, perspective height, shape and colour.

Question 17

What is the special application of contrast?

Answer 17

Figure ground = methods of accentuating certain chosen objects over others to make them closer to the viewer.

Question 18

What is balance?

Answer 18

refers to the organisation of map elements and empty space to create visual harmony and equalibrium.