Making Maps: A Visual Guide to Map Design for GIS

by John Krygier, Denis Wood

Acclaimed for its innovative use of visual material, this book is engaging, clear, and compelling—exactly how an effective map should be. Nearly every page is organized around maps and other figures (many in full color) that illustrate all aspects of map making, including instructive examples of both good and poor design choices. The book covers everything from locating and processing data to making decisions about layout, symbols, color, and type. Readers are invited to think critically about both the technical features and social significance of maps as they learn to create better maps of their own.
 
New to This Edition
*Extensively revised and expanded core chapters on map design.
*An annotated map design exemplar is used to show how the concepts in each chapter play out on an actual map.
*Updated to reflect current technological developments.
*Larger size and redesigned pages make the book even more user friendly.

Genres: Geography, Maps, Reference, Design, Cartography

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2005

Reviews

[Zaid Nolley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Works well as a primer and mainly sticks to common sense design practices, but expounding on these is still useful. Also good for gaining a familiarity with basic GIS and mapmaking terminology.

[Manuel Frias · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIS, cartography and geography teachers: show this book to your students! They will appreciate! Highly graphic and didactic, it is an excellent start for people learning the map design basics.

Well, not only for starters. GIS experts can also learn since the design aspects of the map are often forgotten or not considered important (how many of them have read Tufte?).

I liked very much the bibliography at the end of each chapter which inspires you to read more about each subject.

The illustrations and maps are most of them in black and white. That surprised me and somehow annoyed me. Until I read the last page: "...we have limited the use of color to keep down its cost.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally enjoyed this book. In a few chapters the authors assume the reader has enough expertise that they skim too much to be truly informative. Their repeated insistence to "use your brain" gets really annoying. Overall, this was a fun and informative read, despite implying that its readers are a little dim.

[Chipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent visual guide to map-making. Evening read for sure.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best map-making book ever.

[Avid Septiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

More...

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good ideas here but eye-poppingly bad graphics and graphic design! The choice of fonts, the layout, etc. is unbelievably terrible.