- Map critiques are constructive.
- Do not use the word ‘like’.
- Critiques address what works and what doesn’t work.
- State what you see, what you notice.
- Put the map into context - what is the map intention?
- Provide feedback that will help the cartographer make improvements
- Come prepared to receive feedback
- Do not be defensive (or offensive) – you are not under attack (or attacking)
- Critiques are done on work that is in progress – consider it a brainstorming session
- Offer solutions, ideas, or alternatives - do not just state a problem
- Not all feedback needs to be incorporated into your next draft - they are all suggestions
- Use an active voice
- We are all in this together to learn how to make good maps!
Questions to Guide Map Critiques
Below is a list questions that can help guide your map critique. It will not be possible to cover all of these in every critique - just cover the most relevant questions.
General
Color
Symbology
Data
Text
Layout
Visual Hierarchy
Map Elements
General
- At what distance is the map meant to be read? One or many?
- Is the medium appropriate to the use? For instance, should the map be larger/smaller? Electronic rather than on paper? Interactive?
- Can you readily understand the overall purpose of the map and how it is to be read?
- What is its intended use? Does it have one?
- Stand back from the map. Does your eye fall on important elements or an oversized or overly bright unimportant element?
- Are all necessary elements included? Are all unnecessary elements excluded? Are these choices appropriate?
- Did the mapmaker have any inappropriate assumptions or did they have something to hide?
- What kinds of compromises did the mapmaker have to make due to data, medium, printing, or other constraints?
- What is the purpose of the map? Show research findings? Teach concepts? Illustrate relationships?
- Does it tell the story through the title, the objects, the legend and notes?
- Does the mapmaker credit appropriate sources?
- Do you have all the information you will need to interpret the map appropriately?
Color
- Do the colors clash or clutter?
- Are there too many (most common) or too few colors?
- Do they add emphasis in appropriate places/ways?
- Do they cause vibrating or rising/receding effects? If so, is that appropriate?
- Do the colors help or hinder the reader in interpreting the map?
- Are any colors too close or too different in hue, value and saturation?
- Are the colors meant to be intuitive or conventional?
Symbology
- Is the symbology appropriate to the use of the map?
- What was the main motivation in choosing the symbols?
- Do the classifications or color values make sense for different feature types?
- Does the map make appropriate use of conventional or intuitive symbology?
Data
- Are the data appropriate to the use and/or intended message of the map?
- Is the scale of the map appropriate to its intended use?
- Does the data in the map match the scale? In other words, do the features have too little detail
(they look blocky) or too much (their boundaries are too convoluted)?
Text
- Does the layout have too many fonts? Fewer fonts and font styles make for cleaner layouts.
- Is the choice of font appropriate to the map's use and to the feel of the layout?
- Are the labels, titles, legend labels, etc. in an appropriate size, location, and/or color?
- Are all necessary textual elements in the layout?
- Are there any unnecessary elements?
Layout
- Are the elements in the layout distributed in a balanced or appropriate way?
- Are the sizes of the elements appropriate and balanced?
- Does the layout have enough or too much negative space?
- Are the map objects laid out so the map is visually stable?
- Are the map objects placed logically?
- Is there any outstanding gap/empty space?
- Does the map object that attracts you most comply with the apparent map objective?
- Do you think the design optimally uses the visual center?
- Do all the map objects work well together?
- Are the letter styles in harmony with one another or are they in visual competition on the map?
- Do the chosen patterns create a pleasing appearance or they clash with one another in some manner?
- Is the reader’s eye led through the map appropriately?
Visual Hierarchy
- Are the map objects laid out so the map is visually stable?
- Are the map objects placed logically?
- Is there any outstanding gap/empty space?
- Does the map object that attracts you most comply with the apparent map objective?
- Do you think the design optimally uses the visual center?
- Do all the map objects work well together?
- Are the letter styles in harmony with one another or are they in visual competition on the map?
- Do the chosen patterns create a pleasing appearance or they clash with one another in some manner?
- Is the reader’s eye led through the map appropriately?
Map Elements
- Are the positions of the marginal map objects justified; are they in their proper places?
- Is the legend information sufficient to understand the map?
- Is it easy to compare the symbols in the map body to their counterparts in the legend boxes?
- Are the legend boxes conveniently close to the map body?
- Are the legend box symbols properly displayed without ambiguity?
- Are the colors really representing the mapped phenomena?
- Do you think the user can easily decipher the colors?
- Is the scale bar too long?
- Does the scale bar have appropriate units?
- Is the scale bar placed at the bottom of the map where it can be easily used?
- Is the scale bar easy to use – the number and value of the subdivisions?
- Is the scale absolutely important to have for this map objective?
- Is the north arrow absolutely important to have for this map objective?
- Is the text legible (size) in the marginal area?
- Is the text visually contrasted and explicitly distinct?
- Do you think you can locate areal extent of this map on earth? What is missing?
- Do you think this map is current? What is missing?
- Can you rely on this map for extracting information?