Dan Fergus Design > Student Resources > Syllabus > Class Schedule > Project: Map

VCB313 Advanced Computer Illustration

Project: Map

Assignment

Using Adobe Illustrator create a detailed tourist information map that makes use of patterns, brushes and/or symbols. The location for your map is Minnehaha Falls Regional Park in Minneapolis.

Specifications:

• Size: 11" x 17"
• Orientation: Vertical or horizontal
• Color System: CMYK
• Due Date: week 8 (Nov 24), 8am.
• 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) with your name on it.

Other Requirements

• The map should fill the page as best as possible (you may opt to include some information outside of the park boundary or other imagery);
• 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 a copy of Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html.
2. Using Google Earth, go to your chosen location (paste the coordinates below into the address search field in Google Earth): 44°54'57.04"N 93°12'32.62"W
3. Zoom in & out; examine the area; take screen shots (if you like); add a placemark so you can refer to it later.
4. Research your assigned area. Determine the park's boundaries. Find out all that you can about amenities, facilities, attractions, sports fields, landmarks, roads, buildings, parking, etc., in and around the park. Find photos; even look at existing maps. Gather your information in one place.
5. Visit the park yourself and walk around. Take pictures, follow trails, get a feel for the area. Was there something on a map or in a description that you found confusing? 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? Can you find anything that is in the park but not on any existing maps?
6. Make a list of all the items you need to include in your map. You must include all major attractions/landmarks, amenities, roads, walking paths, bike paths, buildings, and geographic features (rivers, lakes, etc.) within the park itself. In addition, include major roads and landmarks outside of the park within the boundaries of your map (for example, you could include the Ford Parkway and the Lock & Dam just east of the park). Beyond that it is up to you to determine the level of detail. Note that this map will be fairly large, so I expect a pretty thoroughly researched, detailed map.
7. Determine how your elements will be represented. What colors should you use? You will you indicate roads versus trails? How about buildings—should they be simple black rectangles or something more detailed? How will you indicate amenities like bathrooms, boat launches, snack booths, picnic areas, etc.? How about geographic features—rivers, trees, hills, beaches, etc... how will you represent those? With colors? patterns? a combination?
8. Open a new Illustrator document: 11" X 17" (you can choose whether to orient it vertically or horizontally). Save it as yourName_map.ai.
9. Build your map. You may want to start with aerial photos (screen shots from Google Earth)—place them into Illustrator and convert their layers to template layers.
10. Create original symbols, brushes, and patterns. For example, you may create a symbol to represent picnic areas; you may create a pattern brush for a trail; you may use a pattern to represent trees or marsh 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!
11. Label everything! Roads, rivers, landmarks 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).
12. Create a key (legend) that shows your various symbols/patterns and what they represent).
13. 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.).
14. Before you complete your project make sure you convert all text to paths.
15. Upon completion, save your file, and upload a copy to the portal.

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