If those of us in the geographic information system (GIS) realm have disregarded design
in the past, we are now coming to realize that the elegant display of geographic data is
as important as the data itself. Some resistance may be introduced when we talk about
making a map look pretty; and rightly so. But elegance in mapping goes well beyond
making a map look attractive. In this text, I explain exactly how to convey information
to serve up the facts, hold the viewer’s attention, avoid potential confusion, and provide
all the necessary metadata. Even with no prior experience in cartography, you can
learn how to create maps with these qualities by studying these pages. Let’s begin.