Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users

By Cynthia A. Brewer

Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users , second edition, is a comprehensive guide to creating maps that communicate effectively. In Designing Better Maps , renowned cartographer Cynthia A. Brewer guides readers through the basics of good cartography, including layout design, scales, projections, color selection, font choices, and symbol placement. Designing Better Maps also describes the author's ColorBrewer application, an online color selection tool. The second edition includes a new chapter on map publishing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1589484401
• ISBN13: 9781589484405
• Release Date: December 2015
• Publisher: Esri Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 2.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 9.9" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Map visualization 101

This book addresses all major topics needed when considering what color to assign to a group of layers, which symbols and scales to use, how to annotate maps and how to complement maps with text boxes. It is well written so it's easy reading and does not require extensive background from other fields. Getting from here to there is simple enough by scanning the chapter index. Great reference for map designers, both beginners and experienced ones.

Designing Better Maps

Since I am relatively new to the world of GIS Mapping, this book was an invaluable aid to designing more attractive maps. It's a beautifully laid-out book with lots of common-sense tips in it. Well worth the price! Linda Pierce Pray, Montana

Great overview of map design using ArcMap

This book is the first one I would recommend to the typical GIS user wanting to make better maps. Some other reviewers have commented that many of the suggestions are basic; however, I have seen countless maps that could benefit from the design suggestions presented here.

For anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking

Designing Better Maps: A Guide for GIS Users is a guide to cartography, written in response to advances in digital mapping and geographic information system (GIS) software and illustrated throughout with map samples in color. With such increasingly widespread tools, more analysts, researchers, planners, graphic designers, and lay people lacking basic cartography training have been creating maps that appear slick on the surface but contain internal flaws due to common beginner mistakes. Designing Better Maps seeks to rectify such errors by offering a basic cartographic education for non-cartographers. Chapters cover the basics in type, color and color decisions, customizing symbols, properly designed marginal elements, and more. An easy-to-follow resource and a "must-have" for anyone working with GIS software who has little prior training or experience in mapmaking.

Great book to improve your map designs

This is a comprehensive book that covers all aspects of good map design. It is especially useful for those without a cartography or graphic design background. Unlike other map design books that cover way too much irrelevant material; it's easy to follow and gives enough information to help new and experienced GIS users create maps that are focused and easy to read. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to design better maps. Cindy Brewer is one of the nation's experts on cartographic design and color usage and everyone should learn from her. Check out her other book on Mapping the Census 2000 for beautiful and informative map examples.