Lab 7

Though natural breaks are said to be intuitive, I found the equal interval map (above) to be the most aesthetically pleasing. This map really highlights the center of America, where people travel the least for their work. Also more highlighted is our own east coast/northeast, where people travel the farthest for their jobs, likely because suburban living is a requirement instead of a choice for most city workers. Illinois sticks out like a sore thumb amidst the more relaxed Midwest, but then I remembered Chicago is there... oh, how one city can throw off data. It's no coincidence that the states with the largest cities have the most commuters... LA, NY, Chicago... you know how it is.

Map of the Week (map 5)

Here's a fun chloropleth map of the currency used in "Old Europe", approximately 1500-1780AD. This map doesn't even need a legend!

Lab 6

Here's lab 6. Obviously the green didn't show up in the printouts, but I thought it was appropriate. There are 1981 dots total.

Also, the sample map had a scale at the bottom but our instructions didn't say to include it... hopefully it's ok that I left it out.


Any considerations I should take for improving future labs? Since we only this week received previous graded labs, I didn't know things like... don't name your labs "Lab ___". I tried to improve the figure/ground dynamic and added a gradient to the figure as well... I thought it gave the map a nice 3D polish. Also messed with some fonts.

Map of the week (map 4)

Here's a dot map that might become a familiar sight for some. This is a map of foreclosures in northern Minneapolis and it just looks like google maps, but I find the striking red color, the clustering of foreclosures, and the unique balloon shape to make this an effective map. I'm mildly shocked, my eyes are immediately drawn to the area of attention, and while this isn't a good thematic map it sure gets a point across.

Lab 5

Self-explanatory lab 5 post. ta da!

Map o the week (map 3)

Figured I'd make this my map o the week, it's a neat Seismic map that constantly updates. Clearly outlined are the tectonic plates (imagine that). The actual website is even more neat.