{"id":2732382,"date":"2025-03-18T13:28:54","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:28:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2732382"},"modified":"2025-03-18T13:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:26:12","slug":"simplify-your-map","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/mapping\/simplify-your-map","title":{"rendered":"Simplify your map"},"author":7411,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[22941],"tags":[23201,26451,31301,27911,27931],"industry":[],"product":[36551,36561],"class_list":["post-2732382","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mapping","tag-cartographic-design","tag-cartography","tag-symbology","tag-tutorial","tag-video","product-arcgis-online","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"short_description":"Two short videos with tips for making pop-ups and symbols for maps in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

When someone asks me for help improving their map, my advice is almost always to simplify<\/strong><\/em>. A simpler map is easier to design and easier to read. When it comes to visual communication, less is more. Try using fewer layers, fewer colors, and fewer words.<\/p>\n

Two places where simplification is especially impactful are pop-ups and symbols.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2732572,"id":2732572,"title":"image for blog","filename":"image-for-blog.png","filesize":482056,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/mapping\/simplify-your-map\/image-for-blog","alt":"Simplified pop-up and symbol","author":"7411","description":"","caption":"","name":"image-for-blog","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2732382,"date":"2025-03-18 19:36:52","modified":"2025-03-18 19:37:08","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1180,"height":813,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","medium-width":379,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":529,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","large-width":1180,"large-height":813,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","1536x1536-width":1180,"1536x1536-height":813,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","2048x2048-width":1180,"2048x2048-height":813,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog-675x465.png","card_image-width":675,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-for-blog.png","wide_image-width":1180,"wide_image-height":813}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Pop-ups<\/h2>\n

The video below shows how you can improve pop-ups in ArcGIS Online by removing fields that aren’t needed and configuring the names and formatting of those fields that are left.<\/p>\n

Making a better map doesn’t always mean complex and time-consuming cartographic tricks\u2014the biggest improvements are often found in small and simple steps, like tidying a pop-up.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_dsskl3z0","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The data shown in this video is\u00a0Parks\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0Active Travelways<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Halifax Open Data<\/a>. It also features an altered version (fields added and removed) of\u00a0Public Washrooms<\/a>, also from Halifax Open Data.<\/em><\/p>\n

Symbols<\/h2>\n

The video below shows how to simplify symbols in ArcGIS Pro. If you remove extra colors, outlines, and shapes from your symbols, you can reduce the visual clutter on your map. The result will be a streamlined design that is easier to read and understand.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_10antmiz","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

The data shown in this video is\u00a0Bus Stops<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Transit Bus Routes<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0Halifax Open Data<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

You may feel hesitant to take my advice regarding symbols. Perhaps you’re thinking of all your favorite detailed and complex maps. While complex maps can be very beautiful, they are also very difficult to design. When I do make a complex map, I’m even more vigorous in my pursuit of simplicity: I’m only able to include so much information because each layer and element is designed to be as simple as possible. Take a second look at your favorite maps: how complex are the symbols, really?<\/p>\n

Here are a few examples to consider:<\/p>\n