2026-11-02 –, Bataglieri
Learn design principles to make maps that communicate well. This workshop is divided into two sections. The first covers concepts and approaches to designing maps. The second will provide hands-on experience making a map in QGIS.
Communicating clearly with maps requires a specific set of skills that is distinct from other forms of communication. In this workshop, we'll learn strategies and steps to take in making maps that not only look good but communicate well. We’ll learn approaches and guidelines for creating professional quality maps using QGIS and practice a workflow that can be applied to other graphical GIS programs or even non-map figures.
Key Concepts:
- Minimize. Keep only what's absolutely necessary.
- Tell the Story. What do I want my reader to learn from this map? How does it support the claims I make in my text? What story should my map tell?
- Communication. Does my map communicate well?
This workshop is divided into two sections. The first covers concepts and approaches to designing maps. The second will provide hands-on experience making a map in QGIS. Participants are encouraged to bring examples from their own work for discussion.
Michele Tobias holds a PhD in geography from University of California Davis, as well as an MS from University of Michigan, and a BA from UCLA. She has worked at the UC Davis Library for the past decade as a geospatial data scientist helping researchers with their data needs. Her personal research interests include using open source tools to understand California's sandy beach vegetation and geomorphology. She also has an interest in using her geospatial skills to help underserved research communities. Michele has served on the board of directors for OSGeo (international) and Technocation (OSGeo US), as well as arts non-profit organizations, and is a founding member and coordinator of #maptimeDavis.