Flow Maps

This map  was a bit of a departure for me as I like to keep my maps quite simple, tending to adhere to the Tufte-ism “more data ink, less non-data ink”. This began by creating a dark background layer that was not too “ocean blue” but also worked well with the continent colors.  I think the dark blue I chose provides good start on figure-ground organization.  It was quite a task finding colors that worked well with each continent AND the background color.

I really found the flow arrows (Asia/Oceania) that wrapped around the Cape of Good Hope in the lab example distracting and somewhat deceptive.  These folks are not coming to America on one of Magellan’s ships!  It made more sense to me visually (and spatially and realistically) to have the flow arrows breach the side borders and wraparound.  Unconventional, perhaps, but I think a better representation that doesn’t take over the whole map.

I lightened the country border colors as this map is about regional movement, not individual countries. This also helped the labels stand out more. I created a halo effect around the label text by duplicating the label level, increasing the stroke size (to 1) of the labels in the level copy, changing the copies label stroke color to white, and positioning this new layer behind the label text.  This further helps the labels stand out against the continents.

The most significant effect applied was a glow effect and drop shadows applied to the flow arrows.  Using Inner Glow, I created a minor glow effect that helped give the flow arrows more of a border.  I also applied Drop Shadows to the arrows that helped lift them off the surface.  I think this helps accentuate the movement of people from the regions to the USA. At one point I had the continents also raised by use of a drop shadow.  I later removed it and was so relieved by the reduction of clutter.  The important message is the movement of people from continental regions to the USA, not the application of as many visual effects as can be crammed in a map. On that note, I also did not use the bevel effect.  I found these reminiscent of the worst abuses of the PowerPoint epoch.