harmonyheywoodMaps Rule, Wait Maps Have Rules?
Updated: Feb 2
๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ but did you know maps ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ? Most people hardly ever think about the similar patterns maps follow. We just pick it up, find point A find, find point B, then try trace the path between them. Such a simple task that can be done the same way no matter which map you pick up. This uniformity is not by chance, it is thanks to the 7 cardinal map rules this action is possible. Letโs take a look at some of the rules governing how maps are made, the map must haves that keep our lives from being complete and total navigation anarchy.
โด ๐๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Just like buying ocean front property in Nebraska, location is everything. The Collins Dictionary defines map as โa drawing of a particular area such as a city, a country, or a continent, showing its main features as they would appear if you looked at them from aboveโ Itโs right there in the definition, a map wouldnโt exist without a location, it has to depict something. Which is why the first and foremost thing all maps have to have is a location. Even if that location is the world itself, as shown in the exquisite 1897 map below.
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/1897-hemisphere-mapart
โด ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐
Just as a blonde and a brunette walk into a bar, everyone has their preference. Many people prefer polar maps, others like topographic, for some thematic maps are their thing and sailers always go for nautical. Which brings us to our second cartographical rule, maps need to specify their type. Such as the magnet board map of the world below it says it right there in the title Polar map of the World; polar being the type.
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/vintage-world-magnet-board
โด ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ญ๐ฌโฆ
Wait, you should judge a map by its cover. In this crazy world we might not be able to rely on much but we can always rely on a maps title. What you see is what you get, it has to be itโs in the rules. The title doesnโt just set the tone for the map it IS the map. Which is why there are guidelines in place to keep it honest. The map title must convey the following 2 things:
โช๏ธlocation
โช๏ธpurpose
Letโs take a look at the map below:
๐๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: British Isles
๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ญ: popular map
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐: Popular Map of British Isles
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/1963-msp-of-the-british-isles
โด ๐๐ก๐ ๐ค๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฎ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฉ
Key is to a map, what a key is to a door. Apart they are mindless protection. Together they unlock worlds. The key explains how to read your map. It takes the symbols, colors and lines and arranges them in a way that makes sense, creating a special language only you and the map share.
https://www.creativecartography.net/lake-tahoe
โด ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ
Not to confuse direction with orientation! Most maps we see today are oriented with north at the top, although itโs a standard it is not a rule nor is it required. In reality your map can have a number of locations at the top, which can make things a bit confusing. To add to that disorientation the map is fixed, we arenโt requiring us to orient ourselves to the map. How do we do this? Enter the North arrow, all maps have to have a North arrow. It doesnโt matter if it is an East up, West up, or even the rare South up, all maps have to point North.
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/retro-adventure-map-of-the-mediterranean
โด ๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฅ๐?
Donโt worry itโs not that kind of scale, maps donโt care if you had an extra donut with breakfast. We are talking about the configurations it takes to turn our 3D world into the 2D world of maps. How do you go about turning this big world of our into 1 piece of paper? Well you have to scale things downโฆquite a bit. So as a rule all maps need to show that scale. This gives the reader accurate real world knowledge. I know what your thinking, โbut maps arenโt always to scaleโ. If a map is not to scale in lieu it has to have N.T.S (not to scale) written in the scales place.
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/1953-vintage-world-map-magnet-board
โด ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฎ๐
Technically maps would cite the world as their data source however the requirement is more localized. The citation is the maps signature, it tells the world, who created it, when and why. A proper map citation encompasses the following:
โช๏ธauthor
โช๏ธpublisher
โช๏ธplace of publication
โช๏ธdate
The guidelines specify what but not where. Although usually found all together near the bottom this isnโt always the case. Take this beautiful map of the Isle of Mann. The citations show up in multiple locations.
https://www.creativecartography.net/product-page/1595-map-of-the-isle-of-mann
Thatโs it the 7
cardinal rules of a map. Now that you are well versedโฆ
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐ข๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ:
Go grab a paper map, open it, study it, go over this list and try to find the elements on it. Then close your eyes and randomly pick a spot. Use that map as your guide and go explore. Get outside, find something unexpected, make a memory! Whatever you do, where ever you go, just make sure you have a great time doing it!
#mapon everyone