Overview

Overview

Welcome to Lesson 2! In the previous lesson, we learned the basics of map and map symbol design, and created some general purpose maps in ArcGIS Pro. This week, we're going to focus on what we left out of those maps - most notably, place labels and marginal map elements (e.g., scale bars, north arrows, etc.). We'll discuss typography and the art of text-based elements: you'll learn how to classify and select appropriate fonts, and how to apply this knowledge when creating place labels for maps. Then, we'll focus on another important topic in cartography: the design of a map layout. You'll build and customize a map legend, and practice designing with appropriate visual hierarchy and balanced negative space.

In this week's lab, we'll be working from the maps we designed last lesson. That way, you'll be able to focus on applying the new topics we have learned, rather than starting from the beginning. By the end of this lesson, you will have learned how to create a complete, well-designed general purpose map from open source data. In addition to that being an achievement in itself, these general skills will prepare you for creating more specific, topic-driven thematic maps in labs to come.

Learning Outcomes

Lesson 2 Objectives

Click for text description of objectives. 

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

• use symbol design knowledge to create clear categorical groups and orders of map labels;
• design and position labels appropriately based on the category (e.g., point; line; area) and content (e.g., river vs. road network) of map features;
• solve dense label placement problems using automatic tools in ArcGIS Pro;
• create a clean and useful map layout with appropriate visual hierarchy;
• customize marginal elements (e.g., legends, scale bars, titles) suitably for a map’s intended purpose.

Lesson Roadmap

Questions?

If you have questions, please feel free to post them to Lesson 2 Discussion Forum. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate.