Cartographic Design Lab 3

This week was focused on cartographic design and implementing Gestalt's Principles of perceptual organization into map making. These principles try to describe the manner in which the map user see the components of the image and then organize them. Cartographic examples of Gestalt's principles include: closure, common fate, continuity, figure-ground, proximity, similarity, smallness/area, and symmetry. With this lab ward 7 schools within the Washington D.C. area were mapped (Figure 1). Principle's focused on while making this map were visual hierarchy, contrast, figure-ground, and balance. 

Figure 1

I implemented visual hierarchy by using thematic symbols to represent the schools. The map extent and roads are different shades of gray helping them blend into the background and help the schools stand out. By placing the title in a dark gray box with white font at the top of the map it makes it easily identifiable. The legends of school’s types and list of schools with names are both have a yellow background making them stand out from the background. Water bodies are colored a subdued blue and parks are colored a subdued green making them identifiable but not overshadowing more important elements.

Contrast was mainly achieved using color. The area of ward 7, outlying Washington D.C. area, and roads are all shades of gray. Using purple for the school symbology helps them stand out from the gray background and subdued water and park areas. Using the same symbology but in different sizes according to school type helps to show the contrast of the types of schools shown.

I established figure-ground by using the school building symbology in ArcGIS. The symbology is a building with a flag on top which helps to make the symbol feel closer to the map user. By making the ward 7 area a lighter color the eye is drawn the area of interest.

Since the area of interest comes to a point there is open space in the top right and bottom right corner of the layout. I utilized these areas by putting the legends, north arrow, and scale filling in the empty space. There is also a greater Washington D.C. area not being utilized on the map so I decided to put the inset map over that area.


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