Well Designed Example
Poor Designed Example
Well Designed Map
The map effectively conveys the largest ancestry populations of each state and county in the U.S. It's well-suited for people interested in ancestry, ethnicity, and population information. The map has a professional look with well-organized elements, good contrast, and visual emphasis on key themes. The data is color-coded and easy to interpret, with clear symbols and a readable legend. Inset maps, footnotes, and source information contribute to its accuracy. The map is balanced with logical placement of elements like the legend, inset maps, and text blocks. The borders and scales are well defined, although a north arrow is missing. The map design effectively supports its purpose. Overall, it's a well-designed map that clearly communicates its purpose.
Poor Designed Map
This map is easy to interpret as a bad example for lots of reasons. The map's purpose is to display state capital populations as of 1999. However, the design makes it feel incomplete and unprofessional. The map lacks visual emphasis, with few design elements other than a plain map and green circles. The symbology is not effectively applied, and the colors blend together, making it difficult to interpret. The labels are small and not easily visible, and there are no supporting graphics or other materials to aid comprehension. The map layout is unbalanced, with the map placed off-center and circles scattered around the page. The lack of borders and proper placement of map elements further detracts from the map's functionality. overall, this is a poorly designed map that doesn't communicate its goals effectively.
