Mapping Map Elements

[rasagy]

For B.Des. & M.Des. Students, we’re starting with a map inspiration exercise.

Find an example of a map and make a small map taxonomy chart with examples of key elements, such as:

• Typography (How do labels of country vs city vs river vs forests differ?)
• Color (Land vs Water vs specific regions vs admin boundaries vs transportation or PoI)
• Iconography (Land use, PoI, transportation)
• Patterns or textures
• Any other detail that you notice

For each map, write about:

• link to the map
• the designer/cartographer
• the topic/area the map represents
• the style of map
• what you loved
• what could be better

References

• David Rumsey’s Cartography Archive
• Rasagy’s Map Board on Pinterest
• Example of Map Taxonomy Chart by Nathaniel Slaughter that I showed in class

[rasagy]

Example:

• This is a map of California Roads for Cyclers
• Made by George W. Blum (1896)
• It’s a detailed foldable pocket map with physical features (terrain, mountains), as well as key cities, beaches/port/coastal PoI etc. It also labels each major cycling path by its road condition & grade.
• I loved how the map is surrounded by hand-lettered ads from different cycling groups, and the fact that the map evaluates every road for cyclists.

[lakshrajpal1803]

Laksh Rajpal | Bdes 3rd year | 21u130028

link to map

datavizztaxonomy.pdf

[SarthakRao]

Sarthak Rao, 19u130012

• La Côte Dentelée
• Made by Marc Moureau
• It is a hand-illustrated fantasy map of a fictional place. In the mapmaker's own words: “More than a personal map, I offer you a gloriously generic fantasy setting full of wacky French names. Featuring sea creatures, tiny cities, boats and a mysterious pink egg the size of a hill... Quite the silly place, actually.”
• The use of Gothic fonts and old parchment paper textures portray a cool and adventurous, historic feel (choice of names as well, apparently). It sparks excitement for whatever it may be linked to (game, novel, movie, etc.)

[jishnuthewalker]

s://twitter.com/YukaOmatic https://byronb.storenvy.com/

link to the map: https://www.reddit.com/r/imaginarymaps/comments/8fddnw/kanto_map_by_bryon/

[karantanna-kt]

Karan Tanna | 22M2246

Nolli's Map of Rome, created by Italian architect and surveyor Giambattista Nolli in 1748, is a groundbreaking cartographic masterpiece that vividly captures the intricacies of the city's urban fabric. This iconic map, known for its innovative use of perspective and accuracy, portrays Rome as an interconnected network of spaces, highlighting both its monumental landmarks and intimate alleyways. Nolli's meticulous representation of public spaces, private courtyards, and buildings provides a unique insight into the city's architectural and social dynamics, making it a timeless work of art and a valuable historical document.

Source : Nolli's Map from David Rumsey's Collection

What I liked about it? The use of one colour and medium to depict plethora of elements is phenomenal. Use of shading and patterns and motifs, and text here is remarkable and enagaging for the reader and provides accurate understanding of the locations.

What could have been improved? The streets could have been further labelled and what goes where could have been added to make it easy for the viewer to navigate. However, it must have had cultural and logical reasons to do so in that time.

Overall it is well designed and made, as per the resources they had in that time period.

[sparshGupta24]

Sparsh Gupta | M.Des 2nd yr | Interaction Design | 22m2252

[!! Work in progress !!]

Map link- https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~31565~1150044

[shivaniv25]

Shivani Verma, 22m2255

Topic: 1940's City Plan or Map of Bombay (Mumbai), India

Source: https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/bombay-joshi-1940-2

[Rajdeep115]

The map celebrates the Twelve Years' Truce (1609-1621) between Spain and the Netherlands. By Visscher, Claes Janszoon, Amsterdam Published around 1621

Source: link

[Mukul3110]

Mukul Mahajan 21u130029 Bdes, 3rd Year

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Bengal_%281905%29#/media/File:Pope1880BengalPres2.jpg

Map showing the modern day nation of Bangladesh and Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Nagaland and Manipur within the Province before division into Bihar and Orissa.

[AnujsAmbhore1]

Work in Progress :

Anuj Ambhore, B.Des 21U130031 The map of Chicago Plan Commission

Source - https://pin.it/5h9fOCL Photo by Eric Fischer on flickr (cc)

[Ketaki007]

Ketaki K 22M2245 This is a detailed conceptual map of Westeros - the fictional world of "Game of Thrones" - an American fantasy drama television series Link to map : https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Frgicbdajy4731.jpg&rdt=58228 Edited by : https://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/ What can be improved : The icon styles across the map are inconsistent - hand-painted and digital (outlined and filled) The secondary fonts are not aligned with the theme of the show. The size ans font styles aren't encoded using a defined logic As the map was designed and edited by two different people, the gap in their perceptions / attention to detail is evident in the results

[vinaydhomne]

Map: Realms of the Vangard Coast Vinay Kumar 22M2250 Source: Altor Fulgrave ( https://www.reddit.com/r/wonderdraft/comments/b0ncmv/first_finished_map_in_wonderdraft/?rdt=42365)

This is a fictional map of a kingdom. Made by Altor Fulgrave I liked the way of representing divers types of land-form with use of slit color deference and incorporated in single map with significant distinguishable deference. Like the way coastline created in the combination of black and white line. Text over the dark background have an offset of white color makes it more readable. Like the wat mountain has convex and land-forms has concave text type with detail in right side bottom.

[PoojaKumari56]

Pooja Kumari 22M2256

https://twitter.com/DavidRumseyMaps/status/1677769623926890496/photo/1 the designer/cartographer : Richard Edes Harrison (1901-1994) the topic/area the map represents : Five Japans (Map of Japan)

Richard Edes Harrison made maps that radically changed our world view. As chief cartographer for Fortune Magazine, Harrison developed mapping concepts later found in GIS, data visualization, and thematic cartography.

[Anshika1105]

Anshika-21u130027 Source

[RaghavSamodia1]

incomplete SOURCE

This is a map showing earth's revolution around sun it illustrates the tilting of earth on its axis the change and description of season also it shows orbit of mercury and venus

[avanibhagdi]

Avani Bhagdikar 21u130032

Sonoma County:

https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~353714~90120844:Sonoma-County--Its-highlights-fill-?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No#

What I liked: -the color scheme feels very cozy and welcoming and seems to invite the viewer to explore the region it depicts -the details are one of my favorites parts of this piece; they make the map a better storytelling device -it does not feel dry or boring or overly formal as so many maps do- there is a lot of humanity/ personality to the map

What I did Not like: -can come off as chaotic and cluttered, due to the number of elements and lack of visible order -not useful for most circumstances that would require the use of a map- it seemed to be focusing on aesthetics rather than function -it is not appropriate for viewing at a small scale

[abhishekshirsagar]

Province of Skyrim

Source: https://elderscrolls.fandom.com/wiki/File:Map_of_skyrim_bintoenglish.jpg Map by Nataly Dravarol

Since the above map did not have enough typographic hierarchy, I chose this other map.

Gallipoli Campaign

Source: https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/6888559

The map represents the Gallipoli peninsular region of Turkey. It is a perspective map that locates cities, towns, airstrips, ships and geographical features like hills, rivers, bays and sea. It also shows information about where the Allied Units set up their strongholds and other developments in the First World War.

[RaghavSamodia1]

Samarth Dhanuka B.Des. 21U130001

INDIA VETUS Made by Philipp Clüver (aka Cluverius) Map is from a series called Introductio in Universam Geographiam The map is of India, although it is incorrect, including the placement of Sri Lanka being on the left instead of the irhgt of India.

What is really nice about the map is its use of the cardinal points around the map. The intensive marking of the shore/coast by using three layers- colour on land, black strokes and colour in water (near the shore).

[ANOOF-PK]

Anoof P K 21U130023

Website Link - https://www.tannedtravelgirl.com/india/fort-kochi-travel-blog-kerala Image Link - https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b37b71f506fbe848e3351a3/1586593219951-KSE89CEM5LJM1U4AZ9HO/kochi+travel+map?format=1500w

the designer/cartographer - Tanned Travel Girl the topic/area the map represents - Map of Kochi, Ernakulam Dist., Kerala. This map is about Famous Landmarks, Road and its Direction of Landmarks, Different Places, etc. the style of the map- Geographical Map

what you loved -

1. Showing Bus Stops, Boat Stations and Railway Stations.
2. Green Texture Showing Plain Areas/ Forest Area
3. Famous Landmark with its Picture.

what could be better-

1. Color of Road ( Like Main Road, Short Road)
2. Circle Colour Should be different ( Landmarks, Buildings).
3. Some of the Most Visited Areas should be marked as Highlighted.
4. Should have been a Better and more detailed map.

[yashbhrani]

The following map is put on display in Purana Qila, which is the ancient Indraprastha of Mahābhārata. Source: https://www.rashtradhara.com/indias-map-during-mahabharat-times/

What I Liked:

• The use of textures is nice.
• The color pallet is subtle and correctly depicts the era.
• Choice of typography

What I do not like:

• No hierarchy in cities of more importance in the story
• No names for the rivers or geographical features
• Fonts too small
• Forests/lakes not depicted, which were important to the story

[anniketmohalik]

Anniket Mohalik | 21U130008

Map of the City of San Francisco California

Source: https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~353589~90120589:Map-of-the-City-of-San-Francisco-Ca?qvq=q:city%3D*%20;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=1&trs=19928#

• Small font size
• Lack colour in borders and routes
• Only black coloured iconography is used

[MansiKhedekar]

Mansi Khedekar 22M2253

1940s City Plan or Map of Bombay (Mumbai), India (Greater Bombay City) by Prof. A. S. Vaidya

Source - https://www.geographicus.com/P/AntiqueMap/bombay-joshi-1940-2

Some thoughts,

• The map is hand-drawn over a base map of Mumbai and the work should be appreciated because of the use of sketch pens and pens.
• A lot of details (with landmarks and localities) are captured in the map that only a person living there can appreciate (as it was made before google maps).
• The map also has a very detailed key.

[AmrutaBailke]

Amruta Bailke 22M2254

Source: https://twitter.com/DavidRumseyMaps/status/1677769623926890496/photo/4

Tittle: The World according to standard NJ (How a great oil company works in time of peace and how the war is affecting it)

Map by: Richard Harrison (1940)

[Yash2412kothari]

Yash Kothari 21U130033 Map Link: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/96601/lake-malawi-mozambique-tanzania-malawi-lake-nyassa-the-royal-geographical-society-weller Lake Nyassa, the River Shire &c. from the M.S. Map by Dr. Kirk, published by J. Murray for the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society in 1865

[manishverma612]

Manish Verma 21U130014 Delhi Metro Map

(Work in progress)

[AnjaneshIndranil]

Anjanesh Indranil 22M2248 Manhattan New York Map

Source: link

• Use of isometric view gives a 3d effect
• Simplified the map by putting only iconic buildings not all
• Use of arrows for showing path on water

[Vaish0204]

Pabboju Vaishnavi | 22m2249

Source: https://www.behance.net/gallery/41803619/Stardew-Valley-Official-Map

Designer/cartographer: Adam Rufino

The Strawdew Valley Map is from the famous indie game Strawdew Valley, a simulation RPG developed by Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone. This map showcases the entire town of Strawdew, all the key locations, and the roads that lead to important places.

What I loved:

• The map is extremely beautiful with various colors, textures, and shading.
• It's very illustration-heavy and gives off a whimsical aura.

What could be better:

• It's a little disconcerting how most illustrations are in 2d style, yet all the cottages and buildings are drawn with perspective.

[akashdas58]

Akash Das 21U130020 (B.Des 3rd year)

• This is a map of expedition of Citroen Centre-Asia Map done in the the 3rd mission by G.-M. Haardt https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~332060~90100455:Expedition-Citroen-Centre-Asie-3eme?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:subject%3D%22automobile%22%20;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=57&trs=1071#
• Made by L. Audouin-Dubreuil, Louis (1933)
• It is a map of the expedition route done in the the 3rd mission by G.-M. Haardt. The red line is the main route travelled in the expedition. Also it represents additional data like population stats, races, etc. of different regions/countries. It also represents the altitude of the route by plotting it on distance-altitude graph.
• It is a Separate Type Map.
• I loved the old look of the map and the typography in it. It is very clean and simple yet gives lot of information about the expedition. The details in hill shading are also nice. Also loved the additional information given which is unique and the graph of altitude at each distance and checkpoint in the route is also very informative and appealing to see and understand.

[AditiChintey]

Aditi Chintey | 21u130026 3rd Year B.des

This is a map of the Business District of San Diego, made approx. between 1941-1952. Link : https://www.flickr.com/photos/jassy-50/3272838028/in/photostream/

• Made by Hester & Smith
• It is an old map depicting the landmarks, utilities, public buildings etc of Downtown San Diego, from years 1941 to 1952.
• It is a Pictoral Map
• What I like about it : I really like the illustrations, and especially the perspective view for map. It gives us the picture of San Diego as a planned city but not completely industralized yet. It' s simple but yet informative and interesting.
• HWat doesnt work : The perspective might made the information at the ends hard to read. The fonts or texts sometimes mix with the background, thus might miss the eye easily.

[Dhairya0802]

Dhairyasheel Pawar 21U130037 B.Des third year

Map of Hindostan by Pistacchi Andre Map with multiple Illustrations flows, and cultural depictions. Map Link: https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~347350~90114862?qvq=q%3ASubject%3D%22Pictorial%20map%22%20%3Bsort%3APub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No%3Blc%3ARUMSEY~8~1&mi=98&trs=5142

[kashyapine]

Anmol Kashyap 22M2241

Map of Tea Countries of Assam & Cachar (1873)

Link to the map https://google.com/image

• The map is compiled by Major Briggs and published by W. & A. K. Johnston (Hedinburgh) in the year 1873
• It's a detailed map of 19th century Assam and Cachar region. It features the major Tea Estates of the region from that time which were controlled and regulated by the British.
• The map is a hand-drawn masterpiece with fine line drawing style. It uses minimal color scheme with only RBYG (Red, Blue, Yellow, Green) and Key (Black) color.
• I liked the detailing on the map. I could observe how the names of places has changed in the last two centuries. For instance, my hometown district Lakhimpur was named Luckimpore back then. Current capital city Guwahati was named Gowhatti by the British government. What's also interesting is while many changes could be observed, certain things never changed such as the division of Upper and Lower Assam respectively.
• Only suggestion I would add from my side is an addition of prominent border lines as the map fails to distinguish the Assam region with other states / countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar etc. But, tracing back the map's timeline two centuries ago, it is fair to say that back then, there were no major distinct boundaries as the entire region was (at some point) controlled by the British government.

[devaharshareddy]

Deva Harsha Reddy 22M2243, M.Des Source- https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~268347~90042691:A-Great-Industry---Where-Our-Tea-Co?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort# Map Title- A Great Industry: Where Our Tea Comes From. MacDonald Gill, 1937. Printed in England. Map Notes- A collection of three lithograph pictorial maps, signed, dated and produced in 1937 by Macdonald Gill for the Tea Market Expansion Board. Depicting the local landmarks, industries and wildlife of Britain’s main tea suppliers in the early twentieth century: India, Ceylon, Java and Sumatra, with an inset map: A key showing relative positions of India, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra.

[AhmadThahaHussain]

Ahmad Thaha Hussain 21U130016

Source : https://nwcartographic.com/blogs/essays-articles/world-map-of-al-sharif-al-idrisi

The World Map by one of the greatest cartographers, Muhammed al Idrisi aka Sharif al Idrisi

What I like about the map: It has a very subtle type of color scheme and the symbols are very easy to understand. The Arabic font he has used is easy to read as well. What makes me on my toes is that it was made in 1154, which is 869 years old from now! That's like 8 centuries old. The accuracy and simplicity is too good.

What updates can be made: It is not oriented in the north south way. In fact it is in south north orientation. The map needs to be updated with places. But if I were living there during that time, I think this map will be more than enough.

[rasagy]

This was great, thanks for finding some inspiring maps and deconstructing them!

Closing this issue.

[Chinmayk79]