What Makes a Good and a Bad Map?

We've all have been there before. We've stumbled across them in textbooks, fumbled with them in crowded cities, theme parks, and in the back of a car while simultaneously shouting at the driver to turn right or left - we really don't know. We've been overwhelmed, befuddled - most of all, lost. Why? Poor mapmaking; in this case we exclude the possibility of certain individuals' incompetence at reading well-designed maps. Most of all, we've taken maps for granted.

So what makes maps well-designed? There are so many elements that go into creating them. Map making is both an art and a science. It requires skill, talent, technology, training, and an artistic eye. All maps have different purposes. Cartographers must seek to make their maps as readable as possible to specific audiences.

Here, I have chosen one example of a good map and one of a bad map, and why (maps from Urban.org).


Example of a bad map


Why it is a bad map
There is no title or legend to describe what the map is depicting. A scale bar is missing, as well as a North arrow. The symbols, lines and points in the map do not have a legend for the viewer to understand what they represent. There are also too many red-brown points which make it difficult for the reader to see the map clearly, as many symbols overlap. The current scale of the map makes it difficult for one to see all the points. A map with the most relevant points, or a map that is larger in scale will make it easier to read. The map does not contain the name of the creator, source, or date. Finally, the aesthetics of the map are not appealing and do not have a color harmony that appeals to the viewer's eye.



Example of a good map


Why it is a good map
This is a good map for several reasons. It contains all the essential elements that are necessary for good map making. These are: a title, legend, scale bar, north arrow, neat/accurate lines, a date, and the map sources. The title is the largest font size on the map and should be clearly visible (usually at the top of the page). The legend allows the viewer to understand what the points on the map represent. The scale bar provides a sense of distance for the viewer and is usually placed at the bottom of the map. The North arrow, in the same way, provides a sense of direction for the viewer. Neat, accurate lines depict relevant areas on the map that are highlighted for the viewer. The date and the map sources are important for citing references and letting the viewer know when the map was created in case it is time sensitive. Finally, the aesthetics of the map are pleasing, and everything is neatly arranged on the page. The colors complement each other but are not too overwhelming.