Thoughts

Briefly describe what you learned from class that surprised you.  What challenged you and how did you meet the challenge? The thing that surprised me the most was that the whole semester, we had to use Adobe Illustrator (AI) for map-making. I didn’t understand at first how the application relates to map-making but after having few experiences, I could understand why it’s useful in cartography. The challenge for me during the whole semester was using AI. I have never used it for graphic designs and the first time I worked with the application, I got adjusted to it for a while. I’m really thankful that my professor provided a beginner’s guide on how to use it and always gives us instructions which made my experience better.

How did this learning (mapping skills/map design) relate to the things you are learning in your other courses? Most of my courses didn’t require or get involved with mapping skills or map design. However, for my Climotology class, I was assigned to make infographics. The skills with AI that I acquired from GEOG 323 helped me to make neat and detailed infographics.

What is the most important criteria to you in designing a good map?  Explain why. I believe that hierarchical organization is an important criteria in designing a good map. Some types of features will be seen as more important than other kinds of features, and some features will seem more important than other features of the same type. Some page elements (e.g., the map) will seem more important than others (e.g., the title or legend). This visual layering of information within the map and on the page helps readers focus on what is important and lets them identify patterns.