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VCB313 Advanced Computer Illustration

Project: Map

Maps are essential tools in our daily lives. Road maps, navigation charts, building diagrams, park maps, etc., help us get us to where we're going. In addition, good maps inform us about the location in question; they make us aware of landmarks, amenities, facilities, points of interest, and other useful bits of information. But making a good map takes more than just throwing a bunch of information into a diagram; good maps must be easy to read and understand—usable. Skillful use of colors, symbols, typography is essential to the successful mapmaker.

Assignment

Using Adobe Illustrator create a detailed tourist information map for the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park (including visitor center and Tropical Encounters room), that makes use of patterns, brushes and/or symbols.

Specifications:

• Size: 11" x 17"
• Orientation: Vertical or horizontal
• Color System: CMYK
• Due Date: week 4
• Deliverables: Upon completion, I need the following:
1. The digital Illustrator file (give it to me via jump drive or upload it to the portal).
2. A print-out (black & white is fine) with your name on it.

Other Requirements

• The map should fill the page as best as possible.
• The map must have a key/legend (bonus: include a scale, and don't forget to indicate north);
• You must use original symbols, patterns and/or brushes within the map (not the ones in the Illustrator libraries);
• It must be in color (not just grayscale).

Procedure

1. Download the existing park map. You'll note it's rather basic and contains the entire zoo. What's more, the Tropical Encounters room is barley mentioned.
2. Visit the conservatory in person and walk around. It's a great place to go in the middle of winter—warm, bright, full of plants and running water. Take pictures, follow trails, get a feel for the area. Was there something on a map or in a description that you found confusing or vague? This is your opportunity to see it for yourself. What are the most important landmarks? What should a visitor to the park need to know? Did you find anything that surprised you? What can you find that's in the building but not on any existing maps?
3. Make a list of all the items you need to include in your map. You should include all major attractions/landmarks, amenities, walking paths, structures, etc. However, it is up to you to determine the level of detail.
4. Determine how your elements will be represented. What colors should you use? How will you indicate different rooms and spaces? How will you indicate amenities like bathrooms, information desks, gift shops, elevators, and food concessions? How about other features—ponds, streams, statuary, benches, specific plants—how will you represent those? With colors? patterns? photos? a combination?
5. Open a new Illustrator document: 11" X 17" (you can choose whether to orient it vertically or horizontally). Save it as yourName_map.ai.
6. Build your map. You may want to start with the basic pdf map downloaded above—place it into Illustrator and convert it's layers to a template layer.
7. Create original symbols, brushes, and patterns. For example, you may create a symbol to represent benches; you may create a pattern brush for a stream; you may use a pattern to represent trees or flowers or some other element (refer to the Pattern/Brush/Symbol exercise). These items must be saved as swatches and/or symbols in the swatch and symbol palettes to be counted!
8. You may use photographs in your design as long as they are ones you shot yourself and they are skillfully integrated into the design.
9. Label everything! Rooms, landmarks, etc. should be clearly identified with text. Typeface and colors are up to you—be remember, they must be legible (hint: text need not always be black).
10. Create a key (legend) that shows your various symbols/patterns and what they represent).
11. You may use as many (or as few) layers as you like, but I recommend keeping separate kinds of elements on separate layers (e.g. text on one layer, symbols on another, bodies of water on another, etc.).
12. Before you complete your project make sure you convert all text to paths.
13. Upon completion, save your file, and upload a copy to the portal.

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