Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users

by Cynthia A. Brewer

Describing how to build balanced map layouts suited to varied mapping goals, this guide focuses on export options that suit different media and can be edited in other applications. The wide range of text characteristics needed for expert map design as well as how to improve map readability with type effects such as character spacing, leading, callouts, shadows, and halos is detailed. Tips are included for using font tools in the Windows operating system, such as creating special characters in map text, as is information on using text characteristics to indicate feature locations, categories, and hierarchies on maps. How cartographic conventions guide placement of labels for point, line, and area features are also explained.

Genres: Cartography, Nonfiction, Geography, Design, Textbooks, Reference, Urban Planning

220 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Cynthia A. Brewer is a professor in the Department of Geography at The Pennsylvania State University. She has M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in geography with emphasis in cartography from Michigan State University. Her research interests are in map design, color theory applications in cartography, multiscale and multirepresentation cartography, hypothesis generation in visualization, choropleth classification for maps in series, and atlas mapping. Dr. Brewer is a consultant to Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), doing cartographic critique of ArcGIS 9.0 and multiscale map design, and to the Population Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, where she planned and produced a diversity atlas of the 2000 Census and did design and analysis consulting for the comprehensive second atlas. She is currently chair of the U.S. National Committee to the International Cartographic Association, was president of the North American Cartographic Information Society in 1998-1999, and has been a member of the Editorial Board of Cartography and Geographic Information Science since 2000. She is the author of Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users, ESRI Press, 2005.

Reviews

[Laurian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty good and much of what I expected. I cannot really criticize the book because what I'm really looking for is a book on doing UI for maps, which as far as I can tell doesn't really exist (yet). But this was good for helping me think about coloring elements, thinking through how to organize and display different types of data, and all of the different choices for how to do so.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes many tips for creating better maps. It also has explanations of the cartographic standards out there in the world. Not the most exciting read, but a must-read for any cartographer.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chock-full of practical, actionable advice on visualization, from labelling to color theory (including color blindness).

[Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to reference for any GIS professional, even the experienced ones.

[Tom Panning · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you will be handcrafting static maps, this book goes over a lot of the details that can make the difference between a map that is accurate and one that is accurate and easy to understand. Many of the examples are taken from real maps, and you can get a feel for the depth of experience that the author is drawing on. Some tips are broadly applicable to anyone who is making a map for any purpose, but others only apply to people who have the ability to spend a lot of time on each map.
I was hoping for a book that would talk more about designing interactive maps, but that is not the purpose of this book. I've rated it based on what it is, and if I could find a book on interactive maps that is as good as this one, I would be ecstatic.

[Nyall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of this book. It's full off useful cartographic advice, with plenty of illustrated examples. Before I read it I was worried it might be too ArcGIS centric (given that it's published by ESRI), but all the guidelines given are generic and can easily be applied to any GIS/Illustration package.

[Aubrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a book to help me design web based map applications. Unfortunately, this was not the book. It contains information primarily on designing static maps for things like posters, signs, brochures, presentations, etc. It did have a few good tips, but most of it wasn't what I was looking for.

[Synaps · Rating 5 out of 5]

The creator of ColorBrewer, a precious open-source palette builder, signs the perfect manual for beginners, with a clear and illustrated discussion of all key concepts: audience, visual hierarchy and balance, projections, legends and symbols, fonts and labels, color schemes, etc.

[KungFu Drafter · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can you really say about a book on making maps? If you're starting out in GIS then it's a good read. I found it a little out of my area of expertise but still interesting.

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for beginners

I enjoyed the simplicity of this book and how it nudges you into some deep concepts in a clear, fluent manner.

[Joan Doss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great textbook to learn the basics of good graphic design and map making. I will definitely use this as a reference in the future.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a spectacular resource. I borrowed my copy, but think purchasing my own would be worth the investment.

[Kalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished my textbook, only two weeks left of class but it was a great learning tool with the balance of text info graphics and examples.