In this chapter, we investigated the three key elements of good cartographic design—balance, harmony, and unity. Balance is key to keeping the reader's attention focused on the center of the page. Harmony helps the important parts of our map message shine through. Unity ties it all together with a professional, well-composed presentation. We looked at these concepts as applied to all elements that make up a map layout, then rounded out our discussion of multiple map frames with an introduction to small multiples, one of the most effective data visualization techniques for presenting volumes of data in a small space.
In the next chapter, we'll look at typography in maps, from selecting font pairings to placement and map grammar. We'll also learn some tools for labeling efficiency by creating reusable styles, and setting preferences for dynamic labeling.