Land Information and Computer Graphics Facility

UW-Madison
LICGF/SIAC
GIS Training Workshops

Fundamentals of Map Design

Course Fee: $175

Course time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

It's easier than ever to produce a map - even using a word processing program. It's also easier than ever to miss the mark and end up with a poor map. If you are designing and producing maps, but are unsure of the effectiveness of the final product, then this workshop is for you. You will learn basic principles of map design including the design process, communicating intended messages, design controls, visual variables, symbolization and evaluating and critiquing the design of your maps and maps produced by others. With all the effort you put into building data for mapping and analysis, you need to be ready to achieve your desired impact through well-designed output.

Bring maps to the workshop produced by you or others in your organization. Through an interactive group exercise we will analyze maps produced by all workshop participants.

Topics covered

• Planning and communicating better with maps
• Map design concepts and steps
• Objects of design
• Designing for applications and situations
• Developing a critical eye for map design
• Understanding visual variables
• Graphic symbolization including the use of color, text, and patterns
• Map layout
• Understanding map design controls and limitations
• Learning how to develop a consistent organizational "look" to your maps
• Designing for output options and methods

Note:

This course is taught by our SIAC partner the State Cartographer's Office. The instructors will be Ted Koch, State Cartographer and Bob Gurda, Assistant State Cartographer. Location to be announced.