The Secret of Map Design …

A recent CARTO-SoC email details Nick Tasker’s light hearted definition of map design, as presented at the SoC summer school.

Map Design can be summed up in one word, "CARTOGRAPHY"

The capital "C" stands for compromise, for after all every map is a compromise.

That leaves 10 letters; each letter represents 10% of the total.

Next comes "ART", 30%.

Don't forget the "O" which stands for opportunity, a good 10% of every map is opportunity.

After that comes the science, "GRAPH", 50%.

And lastly never forget the "Y" (why?), 10% for the "why is it required/who you are doing it for/the user need etc".

Just a bit of fun, but hopefully some serious undercurrents that we should all bear in mind when designing maps!!

Nick Tasker, Commercial Communications Manager, UK Hydrographic Office

Distributed by CARTO-SoC, the Society of Cartographers Mailing List.
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