For 265101 class...

1. Slide Presentation
Quick Guide
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

2. Slide Layout
Should be consistent throughout the presentation
Headings, sub-headings, and logo in the same place
Margin identical throughout (with exception of tables and charts)
Use color for visual interest
Replace words with visuals when possible
Provide white space
Lines, boxes, and open space should be consistent
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

3. Text Should Provide the Message
Highlight Main Points
1 Message per slide
Use only keywords or phrases
Use bullets when possible
One thought per bullet
3-6 bullets per slider
NEVER READ THE SLIDES!
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

4. Fonts Should be Readable
Use no more than 2 fonts
Use no less than 24 pts for main message and 18 pts for bullets
Use distance readable fonts line (i.e., san-serif fonts)
Do not use close-uptextfonts (i.e., serif fonts), or Fancy Fonts
Do not use Script or italics
Use Upper and lower case fonts
Always spell check
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

5. Visual Should Simplify the Message
Use bar/line/pie charts,
tables, diagrams, cartoons,
clip art, photos, illustration
Tables:
should contain only necessary
information
Large numbers should be
rounded
Pie charts:
Show data as % of whole
No more than 5 sections
Bar charts:
Show relationship between
variables
no more than 3-4 bars
Line charts:
Make data points readable
Use color or shapes for
different data points
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

6. Audience
Formulate your objectives
Consider the audience:
Who will be there?
Why do they need this information?
How will this information help them in their job?
If they receive this information - so what? How this will
benefit them?
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

7. Audience Learning
Audience learn better when:
Information relates specially or in general to their
work environments
They are able to apply session ideas to their own
work
Use anecdotal examples
Link content to experiences
Presenter does not READ THE TEXT or READ THE
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

8. Delivery
Your presentation should reflect the session’s description
Be prepared
Rehearse the presentation ahead of time
Arrive early to check the room & equipment
Book End your presentation (strong opening, strong closing)
State your objectives clearly early in the presentation
Establish good eye contact, get audience involved
Be enthusiastic!
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

9. Questions, Answers, and Handouts
Provide opportunities for questions & answers
Stay after the session and answer any additional questions
Provide relevant handouts that:
Complement the presentation
Provide technical details
Provide references
Technical detail is presented in the Handouts not in the delivery
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

10. Data Graphics

11. Common mistakes found in data tables
Use more complete title. IMPORTANT:
List major variables, unit of analysis,
year(s), and cases (or selection criterion for
cases)
Use complete source citation
(and don't just list the url)
Avoid awkward
abbreviations, such
as "LA" or "Philly"
No need for digits to
the right of the
decimal place for
discrete variables
Excel displays
###### if the
number is too
wide for the
column --
expand column
width
Use 1000
comma
separators
(e.g.,
9,710,156)
Be more precise:
"Per capita
income in 1989,
in $000 s "
Right justify
all digits
Be consistent with the degree of
accuracy used: In general, no need
for digits beyond 1/10th
of a percent
(e.g., 12.6%)
Make sure categories
are mutually exclusive
(no overlap) and
exhaustive (all
possibilities covered)
"Hispanic origin," for
US Census purposes,
can be of any race.
Therefore, one cannot
combine these
categories without
risking double-
Spell out "%" as
"percent" in
titles. Also
explain "percent
of … "

12. Example 1
Data on Favorite TV Shows

13. Favorite TV Shows among Clague Middle School 8th Graders (Number of Students), 1999
(the result of a nonscientific survey -- note the oversampling of girls vs. boys)
gender Real World Simpson's 7th heaven
Buffy the
Vampire
Slayer
Party of
Five
Dawson's
Creek
Charmed 90210 Total
Male 4 7 1 1 1 1 0 0 15
Female 3 4 4 8 5 16 1 3 44
TOTAL 7 11 5 9 6 17 1 3 59
gender Real World Simpson's 7th heaven
Buffy the
Vampire
Slayer
Party of
Five
Dawson's
Creek
Charmed 90210 Total
Male 27% 47% 7% 7% 7% 7% 0% 0% 100%
Female 7% 9% 9% 18% 11% 36% 2% 7% 100%
Data Table
Percents

14. ADVANTAGE: a simple way
to show the big and small
categories
DISADVANTAGES: harder
to include multiple
variables (without multiple
pie charts);
takes up a lot of space/ink
(low information/ink ratio).
preferred TV shows among boys at Clague Middle School, 1998
Real World
26%
Simpson's
46%
7th heaven
7%
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
7%
Party of Five
7%
Dawson's Creek
7%
Charmed
0%
Pie Chart

15. Preferred TV shows among Clague students (comparing boys and girls), in percent, 1998
27%
47%
7%
7%
7%
7% 0%0%
7%
9%
9%
18%
11%
36%
2%
7%
Real World
Simpson's
7th heaven
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Party of Five
Dawson's Creek
Charmed
90210
Boys
Girls
This is a "DOUGHNUT
CHART" --
a relatively new option on
Excel.
Fun, but the eye sees
variations in the graphic
design, not in the data.
VERDICT: not very
useful here.
Doughnut Chart

16. 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
number of students
Real World
Simpson's
7th heaven
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Party of Five
Dawson's Creek
Charmed
90210
Preferred TV shows among Clague students (comparing boys and girls),
1998
Female
Male
Note: 3-D graphics can be
appealing but distracting.
The basic goal: have the eye
see patterns in the data, not
just patterns in Excel graphing
capabilities.
Also: harder to see zero
values.
Horizontal can sometimes be
helpful, but not here.
3D Bar Chart

17. Preferred TV shows among Clague students (comparing boys and girls),
1998
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Real World Simpson's 7th heaven Buffy the
Vampire Slayer
Party of Five Dawson's Creek Charmed 90210
numberofstudents
Male
Female
Note: 2-D is easier on
the eye.
And compared to the
pie chart, easier to
include multiple
dimensions (gender
and show).
But: since many more
girls answered the
survey than boys, it is
hard to easily compare
what shows appeal to
boys vs. girls.
2D Bar Chart (Absolute Values)

18. Preferred TV shows among Clague students (comparing boys and girls), in percent, 1998
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Real World Simpson's 7th heaven Buffy the
Vampire Slayer
Party of Five Dawson's Creek Charmed 90210
Male
Female
Note: by converting
to percent of total (for
boys or for girls), one
can more easily
compare what shows
appeal to boys vs.
girls.
2D Column Chart (%)

19. Preferred TV shows among Clague students (comparing boys and girls), in percent, 1998
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Real World Simpson's 7th heaven Buffy the
Vampire Slayer
Party of Five Dawson's Creek Charmed 90210
Male
Female
Note: add some
gridlines, and have
all these lines a light
greyscale so that
the data stands out.
The harder
question: can you
develop a theory to
explain these
differences in
viewing
preferences
between teenage
boys and girls?
2D Column Chart (%)

20. Example 2
Data on World Cities

21. Population, Income and Social Measures for 25 Major Metropolitan Areas of the World, ranked by latitude, 1980
Percent of Population
under Age 20
Regional
Population
Weekly Earnings
Population per
Physician
Residents Per
Housing Unit
Latitude (degrees)
Santiago 41.7 4,039,287 1,988 -33
Sao Paulo 40 12,588,439 122 437 4.12 -24
Jakarta 52.9 6,555,954 34 1,968 -6
Bogota 51.5 4,012,433 95 4
Manila 51.4 5,925,884 43 14
Bangkok 44.1 5,350,000 64 1,256 6.28 14
Mexico City 48.5 14,750,182 87 554 5.03 19
Delhi 48.9 5,940,119 4.95 29
Cairo 47.4 11,000,000 49 630 4.45 30
Busan 42.1 6,414,631 2,133 8.52 35
Seoul 42.5 12,835,554 129 1,552 8.66 38
San Francisco 19.9 3,250,630 400 179 2.15 38
Istanbul 43.5 4,741,890 82 449 41
Lyon 22.4 4,992,000 223 557 2.18 46
Budapest 23.3 2,060,644 182 2.75 47
Vienna 21.4 1,531,346 259 252 1.86 48
Munich 18 3,658,000 300 213 2.22 48
Paris 18.7 10,046,000 247 281 1.99 49
Dusseldorf 21.1 5,209,000 257 2.05 51
Rotterdam 23.1 3,154,000 52
Warsaw 23 2,773,882 146 2.9 52
West Berlin 21.6 1,888,669 250 230 1.69 53
Hamburg 20.6 1,637,132 285 269 2.06 53
Helsinki 22.1 910,414 262 2.21 60
Source: Marlin, John T., Immanuel Ness, and Stephen T. Collins. 1986. Book of World City Rankings. New York and London: The Free Press.
Data Table

22. 0
2000000
4000000
6000000
8000000
10000000
12000000
14000000
16000000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Percent of Population under Age 20
Regional Population
Goal: to compare
regional population and
percent of population
under age 20.
If using a simple column
chart, the radically
different scale of the two
variables obscures the
smaller variable (percent
of pop).
This is not very good.
2D Column Chart

23. Goal: to compare
regional population and
percent of population
under age 20.
You can use two different
scales, which allows for
both variables to be
clearly shown.
But this can be
confusing, and the
patterns are still not very
clear.
Sorting the data from
high to low for one
variable might help.
Line Chart
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Population
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
PercentofPopulationunderAge20
Regional Population
Percent of Population under Age 20

24. Goal: to compare
regional population and
percent of population
under age 20.
Using an x-y scatterplot,
it is much easier to show
the patterns between two
variables. (this can be a
very useful tool for
bivariate graphing.)
X-Y Scatterplot
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Percent of Population under Age 20
RegionalPopulation
Note that the larger cities
tend to have a greater
percent of their
population under age 20
(which can either
indicate high fertility
rates, low life
expectancies, or age-
selective migration -- all
characteristic of cities in
developing countries)

25. X-Y Scatterplot 2
Note that the larger cities
tend to have larger
household sizes.
0
2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Residents per housing unit
RegionalPopulation

26. X-Y Scatterplot 3
Note that cities with
younger populations
also tend to have larger
household sizes.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Residents per housing unit
PercentofPopulationUnderAge20

27. Bubble Chart
Note: The size of the
bubble is proportionate
to the metropolitan
population size
Latitude, Percent of Population under Age 20, and Population Size for 25 Major Metropolitan Areas of the World, 1980
(with selected cities labeled)
Istanbul
Rotterdam
Bangkok
Lyon
Cairo
Paris
Mexico City
Sao Paolo
Seoul
Jakarta
Manila
San Francisco
Bogota
Santiago
Delhi
Busan
-60
-48
-36
-24
-12
0
12
24
36
48
60
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Percent of Metropolitan Population under Age 20
SOUTH--Latitude(degrees)--NORTH
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
Equator
(This is an example of juxtaposing variables in an unusual way to reveal patterns. The bubble option allows for 3 variables. Using colors would allow for 4.)

28. Maps
http://www.sae.org/events/bce/powerpoint_help.pdf

29. pt from Guilford Publications.
Guide to Map Design for GIS, John Krygier and Denis Wood
What is it?
What is it?

30. Red Lake
Mississippi River St. Louis River
Lake Superior
3
1It’s a Map
Ojibwe (Native American) ca. 1820
Maps are a powerful way of thinking about the earth.
This Native map, drawn on birch bark (which accounts for its shape),
shows the migration legend of the Ojibwe, from the creation of their people
(on the right) to their home in the upper Midwest (on the left). The left
and central portions of the map show Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and
Red Lake in Minnesota. The right side of the map relates the spiritual
realities of the Ojibwe origins with important spiritual guides symbolized
along the route. The map is a sophisticated synthesis of spiritual and
physical geography, revealing the vital importance of making maps in the
context of your life and belief systems.
Lake Michigan
Lakes Erie, Huron, & Ontario
1It’s a Map
Ojibwe (Native American) ca. 1820
Maps are a powerful way of thinking about the earth.
This Native map, drawn on birch bark (which accounts for its sh
shows the migration legend of the Ojibwe, from the creation of thei
(on the right) to their home in the upper Midwest (on the left). T
and central portions of the map show Lake Huron, Lake Superio
Red Lake in Minnesota. The right side of the map relates the spi
realities of the Ojibwe origins with important spiritual guides sym
along the route. The map is a sophisticated synthesis of spiritual
Lake Michigan
Lakes Erie, Huron, & Ontario

31. 3
1It’s a Map
Ojibwe (Native American) ca. 1820
Maps are a powerful way of thinking about the earth.
This Native map, drawn on birch bark (which accounts for its shape),
shows the migration legend of the Ojibwe, from the creation of their people
(on the right) to their home in the upper Midwest (on the left). The left
and central portions of the map show Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and
Red Lake in Minnesota. The right side of the map relates the spiritual
realities of the Ojibwe origins with important spiritual guides symbolized
along the route. The map is a sophisticated synthesis of spiritual and
physical geography, revealing the vital importance of making maps in the
context of your life and belief systems.

32. Maps Shape How We See
The earth is really big and complex
Maps are small and show only a few of the multitude of human and
natural features. When making maps, we strip away selected details and
flatten the earth’s surface, showing what we could not otherwise see.

33. 94
curved surface gets distorted when you flatten it.
An orange peel tears when you peel
and flatten it.
A toad skin tears when you peel
and flatten it.

34. Less detail
Map makers remove detail
to show what they choose
to show.
Entire earth,
all at once
Map makers flatten the
earth’s entire surface. This
map stretches continental
shapes, revealing distortions
that occur when we flatten
the earth’s surface.
Seeing the
invisible
On maps we can record
what is visible to us –
coastlines – and what is not
visible to us – temperatures.

35. from http://makingmaps.owu.edu
146
intellectual hierarchy, you can choose a visual hierarchy that reflects
the intellectual hierarchy. If map elements are not important to your
goals for your map, they are probably “map-crap” and can be left off.
Depth on the flats...
Some elements stand out, and others fall
to the back. This is visual hierarchy.
A successful visual hierarchy shows you
what is most important first; these
elements jump out. Less important
elements are less visually noticeable and
fall to the back. A successful visual
hierarchy clearly communicates the
intellectual hierarchy and intent of your
your map.
Side view of graphic above showing depth.
Good visual hierarchy:Poor visual hierarchy:
St. Quash
City
St. Quash Serial Murders St. Quash Serial Murders
Lupin Lake
Mt. St. Quash
Contour Interval = 100 m
Red
C
reek
bodies found
St. Quash
City
Lupin Lake
Mt. St. Quash
Contour Interval = 100 m
Red
C
r
eek
bodies found
146
Some elements stand out, and others fall
to the back. This is visual hierarchy.
A successful visual hierarchy shows you
what is most important first; these
elements jump out. Less important
elements are less visually noticeable and
fall to the back. A successful visual
hierarchy clearly communicates the
intellectual hierarchy and intent of your
your map.
Side view of graphic above showing depth.
Good visual hierarchy:Poor visual hierarchy:
St. Quash
City
St. Quash Serial Murders St. Quash Serial Murders
Lupin Lake
Mt. St. Quash
Contour Interval = 100 m
Red
C
reek
bodies found
St. Quash
City
Lupin Lake
Mt. St. Quash
Contour Interval = 100 m
Red
C
r
eek
bodies found

36. visual difference
see the point of your map.
Noticeable visual differences separate figure
from ground and enhance visual hierarchy.
The examples on the following pages all
enhance visual differences to build a visual
hierarchy. To focus attention on the most
important areas on your map, make it visually
different from peripheral areas.
Poor visual difference:
Inatz
Lakey
Ada
Meeker
River City
Rainville
Riegen
Tipp
City
Anatol
Buena Vista
Campton
Westin
Deer
City
Jaybe
Campton
Meeker
Riegen
Campton
Westin
Deer
City
Jaybe
Inatz
Lakey
Ada
River City
Rainville
Tipp
City
Anatol
Buena Vista
Good visual difference:
Meeker
Riegen
Campton
Westin
Deer
City
Jaybe
Inatz
Lakey
Ada
River City
Rainville
Tipp
City
Anatol
Buena Vista

37. 150
detail
Figure has more detail than ground. To focus
attention on the most important area on your
map, reduce detail in peripheral areas.
River City Anatol River City AnatolRiver City Anatol
Inatz
Lakey
Ada
Meeker
River City
Rainville
Riegen
Tipp
City
Anatol
Buena Vista
Campton
Westin
Deer
City
Jaybe
Poor detail:
Meeker
Riegen
Campton
Westin
Deer
City
Jaybe
Good detail:

38. Where is ...
Where is 231 Crestview
Road, in Columbus, Ohio?
What is the route ...
How do I get from 231
Crestview Road to
Delaware, Ohio?
How many ...
How many people live in
Delaware, Ohio, and where
are they?

39. 2
Why Are You
Making Your Map?
What are you trying to say with your map? Who are you saying it to?
What do they know? How will they use it? Are they going to see it on
a computer, paper, poster, or projected on a screen during a presentation?
Careful consideration of these issues will guide the making of your map
and will produce a map that more effectively accomplishes what you
want it to do.
1Why are you making your map?
Prior to making a map, clarify your
intent: intent shapes design.

40. 1Why are you making your map?
Prior to making a map, clarify your intent. Simply writing out
the purpose of the map prior to making it will clarify goals; help
determine relevant data, map design, and symbolization choices;
and will lead to a better map.
What the map is for: A map showing a proposed Black
Heritage Trail in Eli County, VA. The map is the visual
centerpiece of a proposal for grants to develop the trail and its
associated sites, and must visually tantalize granting agencies.
Poor: Good:

41. Heritage Trail in Eli County, VA. The map is the visual
centerpiece of a proposal for grants to develop the trail and its
associated sites, and must visually tantalize granting agencies.
Poor: Good:
ü title suggests county rather than trail
as primary subject of the map.
ü hard to figure out where the trail is.
ü cities and roads along trail not visually
different from other cities and roads.
ü little visual depth to the map: trail
is not visually prominent.
ü title suggests trail as primary subject
of the map.
ü easy to see the trail.
ü cities and roads along trail are
visually prominent.
ü meaningful visual depth to the map:
trail is visually prominent.
Eli County, VA
Black Heritage Trail
RadenCaspar
Tuper
Centerton
Belle
Varney
Eli
Beebe
Cash
Reper
S
everin Mountain
Black Heritage Trail
Eli County, VA
RadenCaspar
Tuper
Centerton
Belle
Varney
Eli
Beebe
Cash
Reper
S
everin Mountain

42. Goal: The County Chamber of
Commerce shows the shortest and
least costly route for the connector.
They focus on property values:
Good: Good:
Different goals call for different maps! Frequently the quality of
a map is a matter of perspective, not design. This is because a map is
a statement locating facts, and people tend to select the facts that make
their case. That’s what the map is for: to make their case.
Consider the examples below. A proposed connector road (dashed
black) cuts through a city. Different groups create equally good maps
to articulate their different perspectives on the proposed route. Though
the maps may seem polemical, isolating the facts each presents is useful
in focusing debate.
Goal: A community group
contends the connector will
devastate the African American
community by cutting it in half:

43. 28
Goal: The County Chamber of
Commerce shows the shortest and
least costly route for the connector.
They focus on property values:
Good: Good:
the maps may seem polemical, isolating the facts each presents is useful
in focusing debate.
lowmed.highProperty Values: lowmed.high% African Amer:
Goal: A community group
contends the connector will
devastate the African American
community by cutting it in half:
African American
Community Center
1st African Methodist
Episcopal Church
Lincoln Park
MLK High
School

44. 29
Good: Good:
lowmed.high% Historical
Buildings: lowmed.highDensity of
Businesses:
Goal: A historical preservation
group shows that historical
properties in a historical district
will be adversely affected:
Goal: The Oberlin Business
Association argues the proposed
road will siphon traffic and thus
business away from their members:
Historic ‘Shotgun’
Houses, ca. 1860
Oberlin
Business
District
Oldest Home
in City
Historic
City Hall
Olmsted’s
Lincoln Park
Oberlin
Historical
District

45. Goal: An environmental group
shows how the proposed
connector violates the city’s long-
standing policy of avoiding road
construction in floodplains:
Good: Good:
Goal: A newspaper story changes
the scale to show that the County
Chamber of Commerce wants the
connector as part of an incentive
package to attract a pharmaceutical
firm to a suburban development.
Most of the employees for the new
facility would come from the
suburbs south of the city:
Potential
Pharmaceutical
Facility
Downtown
Area (detail
on previous
maps)
New Suburban
Development
100-Year
Floodplain

46. balance
Balancing map elements is complicated and
intuitive. The map elements to balance vary
in weight. Heavier elements include those
that are larger, darker, brightly colored,
simpler and more compact in shape, and
closer to the map edge (particularly the top).
Lighter elements include those that are
smaller, lighter, dully colored, complex or
irregularly shaped, and closer to the map
center.
Poor balance: Better balance:
Coctails Served
Miffloe Co. Golf Courses
Projection:AlbersYes
Coctails Served
Miffloe Co. Golf Courses
Balance refers to the stability of a map layout. When
balance is poor, map readers may be distracted. When
balance is achieved, map readers will focus on the
content of the map. Balance can be symmetrical or
asymmetrical.
alance
Balancing map elements is complicated and
ntuitive. The map elements to balance vary
3Balance refers to the stability of a map layout. Wh
balance is poor, map readers may be distracted. W
balance is achieved, map readers will focus on th
content of the map. Balance can be symmetrical
asymmetrical.
Map layout: balance

47. smaller, lighter, dully colored, complex or
irregularly shaped, and closer to the map
center.
Poor balance: Better balance:
Coctails Served
Miffloe Co. Golf Courses
Projection:Albers
RF=1:15,000
Yes
No
Coctails Served
Miffloe Co. Golf Courses
Projection:Albers
RF=1:15,000Yes
No

48. 126
Poor layout: Good layout:
Earwig Bites in Ohio
Per 1000 persons, by county, 2000
Data Source: Ohio EPA
Projection: Albers Equal Area
0 50 100 mi
Earwig Bites
Ohio EPA
0
50
100 mi
N
Earwig Bites per
1000 persons
0
1-3
4-10
11-100
101-455
0
1-3
4-10
11-100
101-455

49. 256
11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
ya!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
ya!
ya!
Election 2004
11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
Election 2004

50. 11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
Election 2004
2002 Township Elections 2002 Township Elections
The use of colors on maps is complex: colors
interact with surrounding colors, there are
perceptual differences among map viewers, and
color has symbolic connotations.
color interacts with
surrounding colors
Simultaneous Contrast
The appearance of any color on a map depends on the colors that
surround it. This optical illusion makes the grey dot on the top look
slightly darker than the grey dot below (for most people).
If the background of a map has varying colors, check that the symbols
that are supposed to be the same color look the same everywhere
on the map.
Purity of Hues
When used together on a map, some hues look pure, while other
hues look like mixtures. Green and red seem to be relatively pure
compared to orange or purple, which seem to be a mix.
Consider the purity of hues when combining colors on a map. If
your goal for your map is to imply distinctive differences, use pure
hues (green, red, blue). If your goal is to imply less distinctive
differences, used mixed hues (orange, brown).
Poor use of purity of hues: Good use of purity of hues:
on maps

51. 11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
Election 2004
262
2002 Township Elections
Reed County, WI
Republican Win
Democrat Win
2002 Township Elections
Reed County, WI
Republican Win
Democrat Win
hues look like mixtures. Green and red seem to be relatively pure
compared to orange or purple, which seem to be a mix.
Consider the purity of hues when combining colors on a map. If
your goal for your map is to imply distinctive differences, use pure
hues (green, red, blue). If your goal is to imply less distinctive
differences, used mixed hues (orange, brown).
Poor use of purity of hues: Good use of purity of hues:

52. 11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
Election 2004
Favorite Hotdog Condiment
Majority Opinion, Oregon, 2003
Favorite Hotdog Condiment
Majority Opinion, Oregon, 2003
Relish
Mustard
Ketchup This value series
suggests an order
in the data that
does not exist. Relish
Mustard
Ketchup Three hues suggest
no order and reflect
actual condiment
colors.
Color differences should suggest differences in
your data. Qualitative, binary, and ordered
(quantitative) differences can be matched to colors
that suggest similar variations.Mapping
QualitativeData
Poor qualitative colors (value): Good qualitative colors (hue):

53. 11Color is a vital and vexing part of making maps. Prior to the computer,
making color maps was difficult and expensive. With computers, color
is always an option and is often used poorly and even when it is not
necessary. Yes, you can easily use color on you map, but ask yourself:
Is it really necessary? If so, then at least use color well.
Color on Maps
no!
The fruity colors on the above map may
appeal to those with dubious tastes, but
they make the data tough to understand:
ü which counties have the highest rates?
ü which counties have the lowest rates?
Switch to red & blue and ask the same
questions of the map. The reader has a
much easier time interpreting the data!
Large Bush Win
Medium Bush Win
Small Bush Win
Small Kerry Win
Medium Kerry Win
Large Kerry Win
no!
no!
Election 2004
268
Elvis Is Dead?
Majority Opinion, Oregon, 2003
Elvis Is Dead?
Majority Opinion, Oregon, 2003
Relish
Mustard
in the data that
does not exist. Relish
Mustard
actual condiment
colors.
No
Yes This pair of values
suggests that Yes
opinions are more
important than No.
No
Yes Two hues suggest
either opinion is as
important.
Mapping
BinaryData
OK binary colors (value): OK binary colors (hue):

54. 278
critiquing the whole map
ü does your map do what you want it to do?
ü is your map suitable for your intended audience? Will they be
confused, bored, interested, or informed?
ü does the map reproduce well on its final medium? Has the
potential of a black-and-white or color design been reached?
ü describe the overall look of the map in terms of these
word pairs, then ask: is that what I want to convey?
ü confusing or clear ü interesting or boring
ü amorphous or structured ü light or dark
ü fragmented or coherent ü constrained or lavish
ü random or ordered ü modern or traditional
ü crowded or empty ü bold or timid
ü free or bounded ü subtle or blatant
ü lopsided or balanced ü flexible or rigid
ü neat or sloppy ü hard or soft
ü crude or elegant ü tentative or final
ü high or low contrast ü authoritative or unauthoratative
ü complex or simple ü appropriate or inappropriate
often noted the location of the event. This map must appeal to
a broad audience and be as fun as the data while also being
informative. The map your lackey created - which we are looking
at – can be critiqued and reworked to be much better.

55. 279
ü only barely ... the data are there but the map is dull and confusing.
ü the viewers of this map will certainly expect something easier to
interpret and more visually interesting.
ü the map has to be black and white, but much more can be done
with monochrome than this pitiful map does.
ü I don’t think this is what I want to convey ...
ü confusing ü definitely boring
ü too structured ü too light for dark phenomena
ü numbers = fragmented ü overly constrained
ü numbers = random ü blandly traditional
ü too empty ü timid
ü over-bounded ü too subtle
ü OK balance ü dull and rigid
ü neat but dull ü hard and edgy
ü crude looking ü seems tentative, unfinished
ü contrast too high ü authoritative but dull
ü simplistic ü inappropriate, given map goals!
Undertake a systematic critique, then redesign the map ...

56. How to Design a Bad
Presentation
Ways to misuse visuals, text, and animation in PowerPoint presentation
Adapted from Brian Satterfield’s article
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/training/page6702.cfm

57. 1.Jam as much information into the slides as possible
The more information you include, the more your audience will learn
and retain. THIS IS OFTEN NOT THE CASE.
2.Avoid the use of visuals
Or use clip art of flowers, cartoons no matter what your are talking about
3.Use plenty of animations – just because you can
Animation can be fun
Flashing icons grab audience attention
4.Use transitions arbitrarily
They will wait to see what’s next transition

58. 5.Use tiny, hard-to-read fonts
Fancy fonts make your slide more beautiful
6.Choose color schemes at random
Hot pink and baby blue are my favorite colors
7.Don’t Proofread
Don’t worry, only texts of short words on my slides, not even a
full sentence
8.Forget the feedback
Your presentation is so good that nobody has any question.