Requesting constructive criticism of maps
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:54 am
Greetings, all. Recently I've decided to work in earnest on an idea which had its inception here--I'm starting a cartography business specializing in stylized hiking maps. In that pursuit I've been working very hard, but I find I need more eyeballs than my own to advise me on where my maps are lacking and/or what direction to move in.
I've gotten 2 maps to the "90% complete" draft stage so far--Point Reyes and Yosemite.
You can view either map in greater detail by right clicking them and selecting "open image in new tab" (on Chrome).
Bearing in mind that these maps are intended as wall art for the purpose of reminiscing on trips and/or visualizing them in an intuitive way rather than actual navigation, the specific questions I have are as follows:
Which icon style do you prefer between the Point Reyes and Yosemite maps? What would make them better?
For archaic-style maps such as these, is it more useful or immersion-breaking to have inherently modern points of interest such as gas stations, picnic areas, parking areas, and/or grocery stores, respectively? Relatedly, should I use the more commonly used modern highway numbers ("Highway 120") or use the less well-known but generally less inherently modern road names (Tioga Road") where possible?
How important are labels on roads, streams, peaks, lakes, and/or less well-defined features such as mountain ranges, respectively? Should there be labels on all, most, some, or none?
Any other tips or criticism are more than welcome.
I've gotten 2 maps to the "90% complete" draft stage so far--Point Reyes and Yosemite.
You can view either map in greater detail by right clicking them and selecting "open image in new tab" (on Chrome).
Bearing in mind that these maps are intended as wall art for the purpose of reminiscing on trips and/or visualizing them in an intuitive way rather than actual navigation, the specific questions I have are as follows:
Which icon style do you prefer between the Point Reyes and Yosemite maps? What would make them better?
For archaic-style maps such as these, is it more useful or immersion-breaking to have inherently modern points of interest such as gas stations, picnic areas, parking areas, and/or grocery stores, respectively? Relatedly, should I use the more commonly used modern highway numbers ("Highway 120") or use the less well-known but generally less inherently modern road names (Tioga Road") where possible?
How important are labels on roads, streams, peaks, lakes, and/or less well-defined features such as mountain ranges, respectively? Should there be labels on all, most, some, or none?
Any other tips or criticism are more than welcome.