Moule 1: Map Critique

In this week's lab assignment, we were tasked with identifying an example of a well-designed map and a poorly-designed map. This critique is based on the map design principles learned in the lecture and in our readings. 

For a well-designed map, it was important to me to find a map that clearly and effectively conveyed a significant amount of information. I also looked for a map that included key map elements, such as a map legend, north arrow, title, and date. I enjoyed searching through older maps for foundational and artistic cartographic details.

For a poorly-designed map, I searched for a map that was not immediately clear and understandable, did not have the basic map elements, and was overall cluttered with detail or unnecessary information.

Well-Designed Map Evaluation Synopsis:

The intention of this reference map is to show the layout of New Orleans shortly after it was founded. The map is intended to be viewed by French royalty and nobility who otherwise would not know how the new settlement was progressing.

This map follows three design principles. First, the map effectively shows the complex layout of a new and growing city and clearly conveys where the important buildings are located, which parts of the settlement are developed, and where there is room to grow within the town limits. Second, the map gives a great amount of detail that is easy to quickly comprehend. At first glance of the map, I can see that this is a growing city. I can easily identify street names, I can see the church is centrally located, and a cemetery has been established in the back of the city. I can also tell where the city limits are and what lies outside of the town walls. Third, the alphabetical legend and labeling system on the map are clear and it is easy to reference where the government buildings, hospital, arsenal, and other key buildings are on the map.

There are components of the map that appeal to my aesthetic. The city grid lines and building lines are clean and easy to understand, the colors in the map are muted and show where the undeveloped parts of the city are, where the river is, and where the forest is. I like that the colors are not bold and overpowering. The font used to label the map is also appealing, it is decorative but not overdone. Overall, this is a lovely map to look at while still fully functional for its intended use.

Poor-Designed Map Evaluation Synopsis:

The intention of this thematic map is to show how an eagle, the national bird of the United States and a national symbol, fits perfectly over a geographic map of the US (as it was in 1833). This map falls short in three ways.

First, the map is not well designed overall. While it is creative to fit the national bird overtop of the United States, the map is not centered well on the page and the eagle itself is quite simplistic and poorly designed. This map could be improved if the geographical map of the US were centered on the page and if the borders of the US were clearly defined.

Second, the map is not clearly labeled and most of the map detail under the eagle is lost. One must already understand the geography of the US to understand this map. It is difficult to see major cities, rivers, and state lines. The map would be more effective if state lines, and cities stood out more on the map and were labeled in plain text with points for each state.

Third, the map contains too much chart junk. Non-American territories (such as Mexico) do not need to be labeled on this map. Labeling lesser-known rivers and mountain ranges also make the map look cluttered and messy. It is not necessary to show rivers and outside territories on this map, and it makes the map unpleasant to look at over all because the viewer feels obligated to strain and look for information that is covered up by the eagle.

References:

Unknown Cartographer. (1725). Map of the City of New Orleans as it was on May 30, 1725. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/resource/gdcwdl.wdl_15496/?r=-0.128,-0.038,1.257,0.766,0

Moore, I.W. (1833). The Eagle Map of the United States Engraved for Rudiments of National Knowledge. Library of Congress. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/map_item.pl?data=/gmd370/g3700/g3700/np000151.jp2&itemLink=r?ammem/gmd:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(g3700+np000151))+@field(COLLID+npmap))&title=The+eagle+map+of+the+United+States+/+engraved+for+Rudiments+of+national+knowledge+;+I.W.+Moore,+sc.&style=npmap&legend=