Cartography at the Ordnance Survey

Christopher WessonCartographic Design

ConsultantJune 2015

Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design Principles

CARTOGRAPHY AT ORDNANCE SURVEY

or Digimap…


CARTOGRAPHIC DESIGN

PRINCIPLES

Cartography at OS and our Cartographic Design

Principles

UNDERSTANDING OF USER REQUIREMENTS


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?


CONSIDERATION OF DISPLAY FORMAT


A CLEAR VISUAL HIERARCHY


SIMPLICITY


LEGIBILITY



Text size, font, etc.Text size, font, etc.

CONSISTENCY


ACCESSIBILITY


GOOD COMPOSITION


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


http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/cartodesign

Christopher [email protected] 023 8005 5144

Cartography at the Ordnance Survey

Government & Nonprofit

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