Christopher Wesson
Cartographic Design
Consultant
June 2015
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
CARTOGRAPHY AT
ORDNANCE SURVEY
or Digimap…
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
CARTOGRAPHIC
DESIGN
PRINCIPLES
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
UNDERSTANDING OF USER REQUIREMENTS
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
1 How will the map be presented?
Examples: Website, technical document, locally-printed newsletter, presentation, mobile device, poster, glossy magazine, slideshow
2 Are there any constraints on the size and shape of the map?
Examples: The map needs to be 10cm by 10cm to fit on a leaflet; the map needs to be 360x240 pixels
3 Who will use the map?
Examples: General public, avid cyclists, attendees of an event, employees of an organisation
4 What is the purpose of the map?
Examples: To serve as a reference map; as a location map; to show a route; to show where something was or will be; to display demographic
information such as average income by region
5 What information needs to be included?
Examples: Third party data, topography, primary road network, aerial photography, statistics/tables, ‘walking distance’ scale bar, logos, images
6 What geographical area does the map need to cover?
Examples: England, Hampshire, Lake District, from London Bridge Station in the NE to Elephant and Castle in the SW, a 10-mile radius from the
event
7 Are there any additional design requirements?
Examples: Should the map style match an existing product? Should the map match a company’s colour scheme? Should a particular OS product
be used?
8 What is the desired delivery schedule?
Examples: By when do you need the first proof? By when do you need the final map?
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
CONSIDERATION OF DISPLAY FORMAT
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
A CLEAR VISUAL HIERARCHY
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
SIMPLICITY
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
LEGIBILITY
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Text size, font, etc.
Text size, font, etc.
CONSISTENCY
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
ACCESSIBILITY
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
GOOD COMPOSITION
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
SUMMARY
• Following the principles gives favourable chance of good cartographic design
• Consider them at every decision
• Design once, develop, design again
• Don’t be afraid to be creative
‘A solution to a problem in math is either right or wrong,
but a solution to a cartographic problem is only good or bad.’
Eduard Imhof
Find more on our principles on the OS website and blog:
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/cartodesign
Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
Christopher Wesson
christopher.wesson@os.uk
023 8005 5144

Cartography at the Ordnance Survey

  • 1.
    Christopher Wesson Cartographic Design Consultant June2015 Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles CARTOGRAPHY AT ORDNANCE SURVEY
  • 2.
    or Digimap… Cartography atOS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 3.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 4.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 5.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 6.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 7.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 8.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 9.
    CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 10.
    UNDERSTANDING OF USERREQUIREMENTS Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 11.
    1 How willthe map be presented? Examples: Website, technical document, locally-printed newsletter, presentation, mobile device, poster, glossy magazine, slideshow 2 Are there any constraints on the size and shape of the map? Examples: The map needs to be 10cm by 10cm to fit on a leaflet; the map needs to be 360x240 pixels 3 Who will use the map? Examples: General public, avid cyclists, attendees of an event, employees of an organisation 4 What is the purpose of the map? Examples: To serve as a reference map; as a location map; to show a route; to show where something was or will be; to display demographic information such as average income by region 5 What information needs to be included? Examples: Third party data, topography, primary road network, aerial photography, statistics/tables, ‘walking distance’ scale bar, logos, images 6 What geographical area does the map need to cover? Examples: England, Hampshire, Lake District, from London Bridge Station in the NE to Elephant and Castle in the SW, a 10-mile radius from the event 7 Are there any additional design requirements? Examples: Should the map style match an existing product? Should the map match a company’s colour scheme? Should a particular OS product be used? 8 What is the desired delivery schedule? Examples: By when do you need the first proof? By when do you need the final map? Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 12.
    CONSIDERATION OF DISPLAYFORMAT Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 13.
    A CLEAR VISUALHIERARCHY Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 14.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 15.
    SIMPLICITY Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 17.
    LEGIBILITY Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 18.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles Text size, font, etc. Text size, font, etc.
  • 19.
    CONSISTENCY Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 21.
    ACCESSIBILITY Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 22.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 23.
    GOOD COMPOSITION Cartography atOS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 24.
    Cartography at OSand our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 25.
    SUMMARY • Following theprinciples gives favourable chance of good cartographic design • Consider them at every decision • Design once, develop, design again • Don’t be afraid to be creative ‘A solution to a problem in math is either right or wrong, but a solution to a cartographic problem is only good or bad.’ Eduard Imhof Find more on our principles on the OS website and blog: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/cartodesign Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles
  • 26.