Module 10: Isarithmic Maps

I wish I could have had this new level of comfort with the pen tool, anchor points, and handles when I was working the previous module! Nonetheless, it was encouraging to feel a little bit better about it during this exercise.

One of my favorite features on this map has to be contour values that are incorporated into the lines. I used a small white background behind each one to make sure that these numbers did not get lost in other map traffic. It was just a matter of ordering the layers properly, and we were good to go.

I tried to give a meaningful legend a stab, so we will see. I could have pulled off shading or coloring in each precipitation zone relatively easily, but I am satisfied with black and white.

Module 9: Flow Maps

For this map, I wanted to pursue the look a classic textbook map. I ended up being very pleased with the layout and design of this map. One of my favorite highlights is the branch and trunk feature I was able to create for the flow lines coming from Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

This particular project was slowed by a few technical difficulties. A few of them were specific to my computer; however, I encountered one problem that I have yet to find a solution for. I posted about it in detail in our class discussion. To summarize, at some point during my work, I must have changed a default setting in Illustrator. Now, when I create any object, whether it is a line, or a shape, or anything else I get a small black line around it, whether I want it to have a stroke or not. I cannot even change the color, it stays black.

Unfortunately, this technical limitation influenced design considerations, and ultimately the final product.

Module 8: Dot Maps

I have dots that tend to coalesce and my map is probably not the best map for extracting data from; however, the strength of this map lies in the ability that an engaged reader will have to recall patterns in the data from memory. I devoted much of my time to locating dots in fashion that would reflect real-world locations of housing units within each enumeration unit (the counties). It was a manual approach that seems to be almost a hybrid of the geographically weighted and geographical based methods of dot placement. You might be able to recognize the I-4 corridor through central Florida, and you should see clusters of population densities around different metropolitan statistical areas.

For a while, I considered a black map with white dots as a means of creating a map that looked like you were looking down at Florida at night. I may go back and give this a look just out of curiosity.

While I feel like I am far from an expert on dot maps, I do feel like I have been properly introduced. I did not have trouble with the mathematical concepts, but I could use more experience.

I am very grateful for every one's input in the class discussion board. The wealth of knowledge there bailed me out of some confusion, and the shortcuts discussed are the best.

Module 7: Proportional Map Symbols

This was the first exercise where I felt immediately comfortable with the technical aspects of the assignment. In addition, I am feeling more and more confident with the nuances of Adobe Illustrator. As a result, I was able to devote the majority of my time to the design and appearance of my map. I hoped to establish a noticeable figure ground with the light blue background and purple circles for my proportional symbols.

One problem I encountered was with changing the color of my country labels. At first, when I attempted to lighten the labels to gray, my entire artboard would turn the same color. After a few moments of frustration, I realized that my label layer had imported a path shape from ArcGIS. As soon as I identified this, I was able to delete it and continue.

MS Excel's function features allowed me to calculate circle sizes needed quickly, and I ended up with what has been my favorite map project so far!

Module 6: Choropleth Maps

When I started this lab, my immediate struggle was figuring out how to change the map projection. After reviewing discussion topics and a few google searches later, I had what I wanted and I was able to continue. My color map was relatively straightforward with the exception of the North arrow. I somehow lost it in transition, and I didn't want to use the one from the AI symbol library, so I generated my own. This lab was by far my most successful one in terms of working with layers. This should prove to be productive going forward. The grayscale map involved tabulating our raw data into census divisions. This was not difficult; however, it was a little time consuming. After rolling all of the states into their respective census divisions, I used the two columns of data and generated a population change percentage. An example of my equation in excel might have looked something like this "=(C8-D8)/D8*100" where C8 would have been the sum of 2000 populations and D8 would have been the sum of 1990 populations. After this, I reviewed the basics on equal interval data classification, and I had something to work with. I didn't have a census division falling into my fourth class, so I hope that I am not missing something.

My only regret is not labeling the divisions clearly on the map. I checked out other blogs and saw some ingenious techniques that I considered applying, but I did not want to be guilty of blatant plagiarism. All in all, I am happy with my final product and look forward to doing more!

Module 5: Map Composition

In this exercise we were given fundamental map elements, with instructions to add a few that were missing, and to compose the elements into a visually pleasing and informative map. I wanted to place as much emphasis as possible on the mapped area. The default color patterns were decent; however, I am partial to a more uniform color pattern adjusted for intensity. I was hesitant to place the legend and the inset at the top of the paper. Our text had warned about a top heavy design and the intrinsic sense of gravity. After evaluating the size of the legend and the inset, I decided that they could work at the top after all. The mapped area carries enough emphasis that balance is still maintained. Working with the peninsula of Florida will always create a balance challenge, but at the same time, it opens up the door for interpretive design. Feel free to contribute any and all feedback.

Module 4: Map Elements and Typography

This was a challenging assignment, as I was working with Adobe Illustrator for the first time; however, after I gained some momentum I was able to move right along. One of my favorite features so far is being able to warp text on a path with a negative arch. I believe that this gave my map a traditional feel, especially labeling bodies of water. I like the idea of generating a look that map users are already familiar and comfortable with. I bent the rules slightly by using italicized text to label the different keys. Our reading says that we should limit the use of italics to hydrological features, but I think it is acceptable to apply this style to keys since they are so closely associated with a major hydrological feature (the ocean).