1. Making Beautiful Maps A Skillshare class by Jake Levitas Research Director Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (@GAFFTA) @CivicInnovation

2. Rough Outline

Brief history of maps

3. Inspiration 4. Map components 5. Making Maps using QGIS + Illustrator

1) Get the data

6. 2) Use + Analyze the data 7. 3a) Beautify the data 8. 3b) Design the map 9. What is a map anyway? 10. A map is a visual representation of an area a symbolic depiction highlighting relationships between elements of that spacesuch as objects, regions, and themes. 11. A brief history of maps 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. What can you dowith maps anyway? 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. Uhh...So, what is a map REALLY? (aka Map Components) 36. 37. 38. Points Lines Polygons TYPES OF SPATIAL DATA (VECTOR) 39. TYPES OF SPATIAL DATA (RASTER) 40. Map components, applied 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. Let's get to work! 49. Beautiful Maps Full Workflow

a) Download SHP / other spatial data b) Open in QGIS c) Analyze + visualize + manipulate in QGIS d) Export to SVG with QGIS Print Composer e) Open in Illustrator f) Complete map design

50. SHAPEFILES ...the answer to all of life's problems 51. Shapefile components

.shp = shape geometry

52. .dbf = attribute data (dBASE table) 53. .shx = index file 54. .prj = projection format + = 55. Step 1: Cut a Hole in a Box (aka Get the Data) 56. 57. http://gispub02.sfgov.org/data.asp 58. http://datasf.org 59. Step 2: Put Your Junk in that Box (aka Use + Analyze the Data) 60. Add Data Layers + Properties (in visual order) Features + Attributes Navigation 61. One layer at a time...

SF_Outline

62. Sfblocks bookmark mid-Market 63. StClines play with unique value symbology

Navigation: Zoom in + out to explore symbology

My_locations creating data and attributes around mid-market 64. Census2000

unique value mosaic

65. Graduated color chloropleth population 66. Settings-> style manager for colorbrewer ramp 67. Attribute table (% of pop don't divide by 0) 68. Update chloropleth Adjust all layers symbology and visibility 69. Step 3: Open the Box (aka Beautify the Data + Design the Map) 70. Map Symbology Types

Size (graduated symbol maps)

71. Color / Saturation (chloropleth maps) 72. Density 73. Isolines 74. Every good map has...

Title

75. Legend 76. Scale Bar 77. North Arrow 78. Data Source 79. Setup Map Elements + Export to AIwith QGIS Print Composer 80. The final touches in AI 1) Delete crap 2) Beautify the layout 3) PDF + JPG your way to fame and fortune 81. Beautiful Maps Full Workflow

a) Download SHP / other spatial data b) Open in QGIS c) Analyze + visualize + manipulate in QGIS d) Export to SVG with QGIS Print Composer e) Open in Illustrator f) Complete map design

82. Review 83. Maps have changed and evolved over time Maps have layers A smiley face has 3 vector data types Mapping can be (fairly) easy (as 1-2-3?) Spatial data is everywhere ...But be prepared for problems Maps can be incorporated into anything Maps can be used for the greater good 84. Resources 85. Assistance: CartoTalk QGIS Forums ESRI Forums Data: DataSF SF GIS Google it! (GIS data, SHP) Community: GAFFTA SF Data Viz Meetup Intersection Exhibit 86. Thanks! 87. [email_address] @CivicInnovation gaffta.org skillshare.com *please* leave feedback on skillshare + facebook!