Design principles for cartography<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"Cartographers rely on many design principles when compiling maps and constructing page layouts, whether on screen or on paper. Five of these design principles form a system for seeing and understanding the relative importance of the content in the map and on the page. Without these primary principles, map-based communication is bound to fail.<\/p>\n
Legibility and visual contrast provide the basis for seeing the contents within the map. Figure-ground and visual hierarchy lead the map reader to determine the importance of things and ultimately find patterns. And proportion lends aesthetic appeal to the map and its layout.<\/p>\n
These five principles are essential in cartography. It’s worth noting that they are not applied in isolation but act complementarily. Together, they help cartographers create maps that successfully communicate geographic information.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
1. Legibility<\/h1>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Legibility is the ability to be seen and understood. Many people strive to make their map contents and page elements easily seen, but it is also important that they are understood. Readers effortlessly see and understand symbols that are appropriately sized and familiar. Geometric symbols are easier to read at smaller sizes, while more complex symbols require more space to be legible.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963922,"id":2963922,"title":"1 - Legibility - Correct (A)","filename":"1-Legibility-Correct-A.jpg","filesize":360046,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/1-legibility-correct-a","alt":"Appropriately sized text and fonts with open space within and between letters can be more easily read. Familiar symbols and those that look like what they stand for can be more easily understood.","author":"4331","description":"Appropriately sized text and fonts with open space within and between letters can be more easily read. Familiar symbols and those that look like what they stand for can be more easily understood.","caption":"Appropriately sized text and fonts with open space within and between letters can be more easily read. Familiar symbols and those that look like what they stand for can be more easily understood.","name":"1-legibility-correct-a","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:30:33","modified":"2026-04-24 23:34:32","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2100,"height":988,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":361,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":903,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A-1536x723.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":723,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A-2048x964.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":964,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A-826x389.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":389,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Correct-A-1920x903.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":903}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963923,"id":2963923,"title":"1 - Legibility - Too small (B)","filename":"1-Legibility-Too-small-B.jpg","filesize":317564,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/1-legibility-too-small-b","alt":"Symbols and text that are too small are illegible (B).","author":"4331","description":"Symbols and text that are too small are illegible.","caption":"Symbols and text that are too small are illegible.","name":"1-legibility-too-small-b","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:31:38","modified":"2026-04-25 00:05:54","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2100,"height":988,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":361,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":903,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B-1536x723.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":723,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B-2048x964.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":964,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B-826x389.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":389,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Too-small-B-1920x903.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":903}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963924,"id":2963924,"title":"1 -Legibility - Complex (C)","filename":"1-Legibility-Complex-C.jpg","filesize":365039,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/1-legibility-complex-c","alt":"Complex text and symbols need to be larger to be seen and understood (C), and unfamiliar symbols can confuse map readers and require the use of a legend (C).","author":"4331","description":"Complex text and symbols need to be larger to be seen and understood (C), and unfamiliar symbols can confuse map readers and require the use of a legend (C).","caption":"Complex text and symbols need to be larger to be seen and understood (C), and unfamiliar symbols can confuse map readers and require the use of a legend (C).","name":"1-legibility-complex-c","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:32:19","modified":"2026-04-24 23:32:53","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2100,"height":988,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":361,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":903,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C-1536x723.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":723,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C-2048x964.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":964,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C-826x389.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":389,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1-Legibility-Complex-C-1920x903.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":903}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
2. Visual Contrast<\/h1>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Visual contrast relates to how map features and page elements contrast with each other and their background. To understand this principle at work, consider your inability to see well in a dark environment. Because not much reflected light reaches your eyes, there is little visual contrast between the objects in your field of view, and you can\u2019t easily distinguish one object from one another or from its surroundings. Increase the illumination and you\u2019re better able to distinguish between features and their background.<\/p>\n
The concept of visual contrast also applies in cartography. Good visual contrast can result in a crisp, clean, clear-looking map. Visual contrast helps to emphasize differences, highlight important features, and improve readability. It can be achieved by varying symbol and text sizes and using contrasting colors. The higher the contrast between features, the more some features will stand out (usually those that are bigger, darker, or brighter). Conversely, low visual contrast can be used to promote a more subtle impression, and lower contrast maps can be used as basemaps on which thematic operational layers can be overlaid.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963927,"id":2963927,"title":"2 - Visual contrast (A)","filename":"2-Visual-contrast-A.jpg","filesize":266541,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/2-visual-contrast-a","alt":"Although black and white provides the best visual contrast between colors, this is not always the best color choice for maps.","author":"4331","description":"Although black and white provides the best visual contrast between colors, this is not always the best color choice for maps.","caption":"Although black and white provides the best visual contrast between colors, this is not always the best color choice for maps.","name":"2-visual-contrast-a","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:36:39","modified":"2026-04-24 23:37:12","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2064,"height":1001,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":372,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":931,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A-1536x745.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":745,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A-2048x993.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":993,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A-826x401.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":401,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-A-1920x931.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":931}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963930,"id":2963930,"title":"2 - Visual contrast (B)","filename":"2-Visual-contrast-B.jpg","filesize":426883,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/2-visual-contrast-b","alt":"When using colors of similar high (shown here) or low (shown below) saturation (brightness), the hues (red, green, blue, yellow) must be distinguishable. If not, varying the saturation or value (lightness or darkness) of a color can also create contrast. Line and symbol casings and text masks can help as well.","author":"4331","description":"When using colors of similar high (shown here) or low (shown below) saturation (brightness), the hues (red, green, blue, yellow) must be distinguishable. If not, varying the saturation or value (lightness or darkness) of a color can also create contrast. Line and symbol casings and text masks can help as well.","caption":"When using colors of similar high (shown here) or low (shown below) saturation (brightness), the hues (red, green, blue, yellow) must be distinguishable. If not, varying the saturation or value (lightness or darkness) of a color can also create contrast. Line and symbol casings and text masks can help as well.","name":"2-visual-contrast-b","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:39:04","modified":"2026-04-24 23:39:13","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2064,"height":1000,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":372,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":930,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B-1536x744.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":744,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B-2048x992.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":992,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B-826x400.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":400,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-B-1920x930.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":930}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963931,"id":2963931,"title":"2 - Visual contrast (C)","filename":"2-Visual-contrast-C.jpg","filesize":346973,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/2-visual-contrast-c","alt":"Low visual contrast works best for basemaps so that the overlaid thematic layers are more visually prominent.","author":"4331","description":"Low visual contrast works best for basemaps so that the overlaid thematic layers are more visually prominent.","caption":"Low visual contrast works best for basemaps so that the overlaid thematic layers are more visually prominent.","name":"2-visual-contrast-c","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:41:07","modified":"2026-04-24 23:41:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2064,"height":1001,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":225,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":372,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":931,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C-1536x745.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":745,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C-2048x993.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":993,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C-826x401.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":401,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2-Visual-contrast-C-1920x931.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":931}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
3. Figure-Ground<\/h1>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Figure-ground organization, or figure-ground for short, is the spontaneous separation of the primary area of interest in the foreground (the figure) from an amorphous background. Cartographers use this design principle to help readers focus on a specific area of the map. There are many ways to promote figure-ground, such as showing the map as a closed form that only includes the figure, or using the techniques illustrated with the above map of Botswana. Some of the techniques can be used together, and other techniques allow you to highlight your area of interest.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963935,"id":2963935,"title":"3 - Figure-ground - (A and B)","filename":"3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-scaled.jpg","filesize":370576,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/3-figure-ground-a-and-b","alt":"No figure-ground organization (left) and a closed form (right).","author":"4331","description":"No figure-ground organization (left) and a closed form (right).","caption":"No figure-ground organization (left) and a closed form (right).","name":"3-figure-ground-a-and-b","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:48:47","modified":"2026-04-24 23:48:57","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":368,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-1536x736.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":736,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-2048x981.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":981,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-826x396.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":396,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-A-and-B-1920x920.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":920}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963936,"id":2963936,"title":"3 - Figure-ground - (C and D)","filename":"3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-scaled.jpg","filesize":485548,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/3-figure-ground-c-and-d","alt":"A drop shadow (left) and screening (right).","author":"4331","description":"A drop shadow (left) and screening (right).","caption":"A drop shadow (left) and screening (right).","name":"3-figure-ground-c-and-d","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:49:59","modified":"2026-04-24 23:50:09","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":368,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-1536x736.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":736,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-2048x981.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":981,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-826x396.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":396,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-C-and-D-1920x920.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":920}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963937,"id":2963937,"title":"3 - Figure-ground - (E and F)","filename":"3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-scaled.jpg","filesize":355934,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/3-figure-ground-e-and-f","alt":"Illumination (left) and a vignette (right).","author":"4331","description":"Illumination (left) and a vignette (right).","caption":"Illumination (left) and a vignette (right).","name":"3-figure-ground-e-and-f","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:50:28","modified":"2026-04-24 23:50:39","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1226,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":222,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":368,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":920,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-1536x736.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":736,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-2048x981.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":981,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-826x396.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":396,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3-Figure-ground-E-and-F-1920x920.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":920}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
4. Visual Hierarchy<\/h1>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Visual hierarchy is the internal graphic organization or structure of the content in a map. Visual hierarchy helps cartographers communicate the relative importance of mapped features through a visual impression that prioritizes or orders the categories of features. This visual layering of information is fundamental to a reader\u2019s ability to understand a map. Correctly applied, visual hierarchy reflects an appropriate intellectual order by graphically emphasizing the most important map features and de-emphasizing those that are less important.<\/p>\n
The hierarchical organization for reference maps (those that show the location of a variety of physical and cultural features, such as terrain, roads, boundaries, and settlements) works differently than for thematic maps (those that concentrate on the distribution of a single attribute or the relationship among a few related attributes).<\/p>\n
For reference maps, subtle differences order the layers. Often, the order depends on the way layers occur geographically, with physiography on the bottom, followed by hydrography, vegetation, and human-made features, then boundaries and administrative features on top. For thematic maps, reference layers recede to the background, allowing the thematic layer to ascend to a higher visual plane. Labels remain on the highest visual plane to ensure legibility.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963938,"id":2963938,"title":"4 - Visual hierarchy - Reference map","filename":"4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","filesize":820894,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/4-visual-hierarchy-reference-map","alt":"In reference maps, different colors, patterns, and sizes for the text and symbols help distinguish among features on the same layer and between layers. Overlaying one layer atop another provides the subtle separation needed to understand the hierarchy of feature layers. (Reference map segment courtesy of Land Information New Zealand.)","author":"4331","description":"In reference maps, different colors, patterns, and sizes for the text and symbols help distinguish among features on the same layer and between layers. Overlaying one layer atop another provides the subtle separation needed to understand the hierarchy of feature layers.","caption":"In reference maps, different colors, patterns, and sizes for the text and symbols help distinguish among features on the same layer and between layers. Overlaying one layer atop another provides the subtle separation needed to understand the hierarchy of feature layers. (Reference map segment courtesy of Land Information New Zealand.)","name":"4-visual-hierarchy-reference-map","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:51:15","modified":"2026-04-24 23:52:14","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1621,"height":1004,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","medium-width":421,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":476,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","large-width":1621,"large-height":1004,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map-1536x951.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":951,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","2048x2048-width":1621,"2048x2048-height":1004,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map-751x465.jpg","card_image-width":751,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4-Visual-hierarchy-Reference-map.jpg","wide_image-width":1621,"wide_image-height":1004}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963939,"id":2963939,"title":"5 - Visual hierarchy - Thematic map","filename":"5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","filesize":591279,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/5-visual-hierarchy-thematic-map","alt":"When mapping thematic data, the base layer content is kept to a minimum so that the thematic layer lies on the highest visual plane in the hierarchy.","author":"4331","description":"When mapping thematic data, the base layer content is kept to a minimum so that the thematic layer lies on the highest visual plane in the hierarchy.","caption":"When mapping thematic data, the base layer content is kept to a minimum so that the thematic layer lies on the highest visual plane in the hierarchy.","name":"5-visual-hierarchy-thematic-map","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:52:33","modified":"2026-04-24 23:52:40","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1617,"height":1004,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","medium-width":420,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":477,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","large-width":1617,"large-height":1004,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map-1536x954.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":954,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","2048x2048-width":1617,"2048x2048-height":1004,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map-749x465.jpg","card_image-width":749,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5-Visual-hierarchy-Thematic-map.jpg","wide_image-width":1617,"wide_image-height":1004}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
5. Proportion<\/h1>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
Proportion helps the map and its elements come together as a cohesive whole to form an aesthetically pleasing visualization. Proportion is the relationship between one element and another in the map and on the layout. Design concepts that relate to proportion include symmetry, balance, and harmony.<\/p>\n
Balance is the distribution of visual weight within a map or on a layout. The impression of visual balance is controlled by the size, visual weight, and location of the contents in the map and the elements on the layout. Visual balance can be promoted by placing the map figure in the visual center of the layout, which is a point just above the geometric center. This is the point on which the eye first focuses, and it serves as the fulcrum, or balancing point, for the layout. The visual center of the whole image shifts as changes are made to the elements on the layout.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963940,"id":2963940,"title":"6 - Balance (A, B, and C)","filename":"6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","filesize":168380,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/6-balance-a-b-and-c","alt":"On layout at the left, the map is positioned at the visual center of the layout, and map elements are arranged in a symmetrical manner to create formal balance. The other two layouts (middle and right) are designed with informal balance. The position of elements on the layout can also cause the eye to move in a desired direction, for example, from the title to the map to the other elements on the page.","author":"4331","description":"On layout at the left, the map is positioned at the visual center of the layout, and map elements are arranged in a symmetrical manner to create formal balance. The other two layouts (middle and right) are designed with informal balance. The position of elements on the layout can also cause the eye to move in a desired direction, for example, from the title to the map to the other elements on the page.","caption":"On layout at the left, the map is positioned at the visual center of the layout, and map elements are arranged in a symmetrical manner to create formal balance. The other two layouts (middle and right) are designed with informal balance. The position of elements on the layout can also cause the eye to move in a desired direction, for example, from the title to the map to the other elements on the page.","name":"6-balance-a-b-and-c","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:55:14","modified":"2026-04-24 23:55:22","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1756,"height":875,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":231,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":383,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","large-width":1756,"large-height":875,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C-1536x765.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":765,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","2048x2048-width":1756,"2048x2048-height":875,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C-826x412.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":412,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/6-Balance-A-B-and-C.jpg","wide_image-width":1756,"wide_image-height":875}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
<\/p>\n
When a layout has harmony, the map and its elements have a cohesive arrangement and present a meaningful whole. Harmony can be promoted through alignment and distribution. Alignment positions elements relative to each other (left, center, right, top, bottom). Distribution spaces elements evenly between each other. Both can be employed with objects within elements, such as the parts of a legend, or with a set of related elements, such as the locator map, text block, and legend in the layout of a map of the US below.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2963941,"id":2963941,"title":"7 - Proportion","filename":"7-Proportion-scaled.jpg","filesize":223820,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\/7-proportion","alt":"Symmetry, balance, and harmony work together to promote good proportion.","author":"4331","description":"Symmetry, balance, and harmony work together to promote good proportion.","caption":"Symmetry, balance, and harmony work together to promote good proportion.","name":"7-proportion","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2963914,"date":"2026-04-24 23:56:07","modified":"2026-04-24 23:56:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1531,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-scaled.jpg","medium-width":436,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":459,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-scaled.jpg","large-width":1806,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-1536x918.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":918,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-2048x1225.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1225,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-778x465.jpg","card_image-width":778,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7-Proportion-1806x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1806,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"
To learn more about these and other design principles for cartography, see Map Use: Map Reading and Design, Volume 1, ninth edition<\/em><\/a>, from Esri Press.<\/p>\n"}],"related_articles":"","show_article_image":false,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Card.jpg","wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Banner-1.jpg"},"yoast_head":"\nPrimary Design Principles for Cartography<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Primary Design Principles for Cartography\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ArcGIS Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ESRI\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Aileen Buckley\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/874953792dea98fe178fbb6a5e8255b0\"},\"headline\":\"Primary Design Principles for Cartography\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-25T00:50:40+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\"},\"wordCount\":5,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"cartogaraphy\",\"cartographic design principles\",\"cartography\",\"principles of cartography\",\"principles of map design\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Mapping\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\",\"name\":\"Primary Design Principles for Cartography\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-25T00:50:40+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Primary Design Principles for Cartography\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/\",\"name\":\"ArcGIS Blog\",\"description\":\"Get insider info from Esri product teams\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Esri\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Esri.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Esri.png\",\"width\":400,\"height\":400,\"caption\":\"Esri\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ESRI\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/5311\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/874953792dea98fe178fbb6a5e8255b0\",\"name\":\"Aileen Buckley\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Aileen.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Aileen.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Aileen Buckley\"},\"description\":\"Dr. Aileen Buckley is a cartographer researcher and Senior Principal GIS Engineer at Esri. I'm on the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World Team, making, writing, and talking about maps. I'm also involved in a number of cartographic societies and association, and I'm the chair of the ICA Ethics in Cartography Commission.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/buckley.aileen\/\",\"linkedin.com\/in\/aileenbuckley\"],\"honorificPrefix\":\"Dr.\",\"honorificSuffix\":\"PhD\",\"gender\":\"female\",\"award\":[\"Chair of the ICA Commission on Ethics in Cartography\"],\"knowsAbout\":[\"Cartography\",\"GIS\"],\"knowsLanguage\":[\"English\"],\"jobTitle\":\"Research Cartographer\",\"worksFor\":\"Esri\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/author\/abuckley\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Primary Design Principles for Cartography","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Primary Design Principles for Cartography","og_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography","og_site_name":"ArcGIS Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@ESRI","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography"},"author":{"name":"Aileen Buckley","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/874953792dea98fe178fbb6a5e8255b0"},"headline":"Primary Design Principles for Cartography","datePublished":"2026-04-25T00:50:40+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography"},"wordCount":5,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization"},"keywords":["cartogaraphy","cartographic design principles","cartography","principles of cartography","principles of map design"],"articleSection":["Mapping"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography","name":"Primary Design Principles for Cartography","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-04-25T00:50:40+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-pro\/mapping\/primary-design-principles-for-cartography#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Primary Design Principles for Cartography"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/","name":"ArcGIS Blog","description":"Get insider info from Esri product teams","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization","name":"Esri","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Esri.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Esri.png","width":400,"height":400,"caption":"Esri"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/","https:\/\/x.com\/ESRI","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/5311\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/874953792dea98fe178fbb6a5e8255b0","name":"Aileen Buckley","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Aileen.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Aileen.jpg","caption":"Aileen Buckley"},"description":"Dr. Aileen Buckley is a cartographer researcher and Senior Principal GIS Engineer at Esri. I'm on the ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World Team, making, writing, and talking about maps. I'm also involved in a number of cartographic societies and association, and I'm the chair of the ICA Ethics in Cartography Commission.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/buckley.aileen\/","linkedin.com\/in\/aileenbuckley"],"honorificPrefix":"Dr.","honorificSuffix":"PhD","gender":"female","award":["Chair of the ICA Commission on Ethics in Cartography"],"knowsAbout":["Cartography","GIS"],"knowsLanguage":["English"],"jobTitle":"Research Cartographer","worksFor":"Esri","url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/author\/abuckley"}]}},"text_date":"April 24, 2026","author_name":"Aileen Buckley","author_page":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/author\/abuckley","custom_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Banner-1.jpg","primary_product":"ArcGIS Pro","tag_data":[{"term_id":763852,"name":"cartogaraphy","slug":"cartogaraphy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":763852,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":769212,"name":"cartographic design principles","slug":"cartographic-design-principles","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":769212,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":26451,"name":"cartography","slug":"cartography","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":26451,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":561,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":769202,"name":"principles of cartography","slug":"principles-of-cartography","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":769202,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":769192,"name":"principles of map design","slug":"principles-of-map-design","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":769192,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"}],"category_data":[{"term_id":22941,"name":"Mapping","slug":"mapping","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":22941,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":2698,"filter":"raw"}],"product_data":[{"term_id":36551,"name":"ArcGIS Online","slug":"arcgis-online","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36551,"taxonomy":"product","description":"","parent":0,"count":2433,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":36561,"name":"ArcGIS Pro","slug":"arcgis-pro","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36561,"taxonomy":"product","description":"","parent":0,"count":2045,"filter":"raw"}],"primary_product_link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?s=#&products=arcgis-pro","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/2963914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4331"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2963914"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/2963914\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2963914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2963914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2963914"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=2963914"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=2963914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
"}],"short_description":"Five of the primary design principles are legibility, visual contrast, figure-ground, visual hierarchy, and proportion.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"