Module 1: Map Critique

    This week's lab had us sort through a collection of various maps and choose both a well-designed and poorly designed map to evaluate based on its inclusion of map elements, following of Edward Tufte's commandments and other factors. After many GIS courses, I thought I'd seen some bad maps but in reality, there are many people who clearly don't understand how to convey meaning through visual means to an average viewer. Below you will find the maps chosen for evaluation and a synopsis based on the findings of said evaluation.

 Well-Designed Map

Synopsis:

    The well-designed map evaluation I conducted emphasizes the alignment of its elements with both substantive and affective objectives. The map effectively showcases South Carolina Wildlife Management Area Game Zones, using clear symbology, intuitive labels, and distinct color-coding to convey information. It's simple and balanced design enhances readability for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts, regardless of age or education level. Visual emphasis is achieved through well-applied cartographic principles, ensuring that Game Zones are prominent and easy to interpret. Supporting elements like the legend, basemap, and logical layout contribute to the map's functionality and aesthetic. While minor improvements could be made, such as simplifying the scale bar and adjusting title positioning, the map successfully fulfills its purpose, offering a clear and user-friendly guide to South Carolina's Game Zones.

Poorly Designed Map

Synopsis:

    This poorly designed map evaluation I conducted reveals significant flaws in its execution, making it challenging to interpret and diminishing its effectiveness. The map attempts to convey "North American English Dialects Based on Pronunciation Patterns," but its cluttered and chaotic appearance overwhelms the viewer. There is no clear visual emphasis, and the symbology lacks coherence, with an overabundance of data and little to no visual hierarchy. Colors and symbols, while perhaps aligned with the substantive objective, fail the affective objective due to their confusing and overwhelming presentation. Map elements, such as text boxes and legends, are misaligned, inconsistent, and poorly positioned, adding to the confusion. The absence of a scale bar and logical scale units further diminishes the map's usability. While the legend attempts to depict map elements, its structure is convoluted and unclear. Titles and subtitles, though present, are poorly positioned and overshadowed by the chaotic map design. Overall, the map lacks balance, logic, and legibility, preventing it from effectively serving its intended audience of students and adults interested in North American dialects.