GIS4007 - Module 3 - Cartographic design

For Module 3, our goal was to design a map of public schools in Ward 7, Washington D.C.. To do this we followed Gestalt’s principles of visual hierarchy, contrast, figure-ground, and balance to create a map that would both be informative and visually appealing. 

Using ArcGIS Pro, I clipped data given to us by UWF, from District of Columbia Open data, for Ward 7. I symbolized elementary, middle, and high schools with visually distinct icons and colors, and added essential map elements including a inset map for the state and states around it, a title, scale bar, north arrow, and legend (the essential map elements).

 I emphasized visual hierarchy by using bold, vibrant symbols for schools and subtler tones for base layers and features, making sure that the most important features popped while background data faded into the context of the map. I wanted to make sure the map users would first know what location they are reading from, then understand the context (symbols) for the schools. Figure-ground distinction was done by lightening the fill color of Ward 7 and greying the surrounding areas, keeping the viewer’s focus on the district data. I used boldly labeled words to separate the map into its proper neighborhoods. so the school near the words would have an association.

For contrast, I used a limited color palette and varied intensity to differentiate features without overwhelming the viewer. I kept parks and local roads a similar color to the base to show a distinction, but not enough to detract from the main point of the map. Finally, to create balance, I carefully placed elements like the legend and inset map for visual harmony, and I labeled the Anacostia River with curved blue text to match the feature base color for a natural look. 

Similar to the typography lab, this module helped me think like a cartographer, showing how small stylistic choices like symbol size, text placement, or even color variation, can actually enhance a map’s readability drastically.