Reasserting Design Relevance in Cartography: Some Examples

Abstract

While concepts and theories about design underpin the work of the professional cartographer, it is unrealistic for most map-makers to be cognisant of the plethora of techniques available to support excellence in design. In the second part of our paper to reassert the relevance of design in cartography, we present the results of a survey of cartographic experts drawn from the academic and professional world. The survey asked participants to present their top ten most expertly designed maps from throughout history. Here, we share the most frequently cited maps that emerged from that survey and describe why they exhibit design excellence. By showing map-makers a range of high-quality cartographic work, we aim to provide exemplars that demonstrate how design affects a map and expertly marries form with function. The techniques on display are well executed and create products that are both well suited to their purpose and have an aesthetic quality that invites people to take notice. They are all, in their own ways, beautiful examples of the art of design in cartography. We have deliberately avoided a ‘top ten’ approach and, instead, offer three examples in a range of map categories. The examples are neither definitive, nor exhaustive and should act as a starting point to explore design in cartography from those who have managed to set the bar high.

Keywords:

• cartography
• design
• aesthetics

The authors wish to thank the cartographic experts who took part in our survey and offered their top 10 well-designed maps. It was a hard job to whittle down the list from over 100 examples cited so apologies if we have missed out one of your favourites!

Small extracts of the maps presented in this paper have been used to display excellence in design. We have sought to contact all copyright holders to gain permission and we thank them for allowing us to reproduce the extracts here. We are also grateful to the International Cartographic Association Commission on Map Design for hosting online extracts of the maps presented here and for providing a mechanism for readers to discuss and debate the relative merits of the maps included, and to propose alternatives. Please visit mapdesign.icaci.org for more details.