Beyond the Blandscape: Utilizing Aesthetics in Digital Cartography

Despite the rich design history within the field of cartography, the majority of digital maps exhibit a dominant aesthetic that is primarily designed to serve the usability and utility requirements of turn-by-turn urban navigation producing a so-called ‘blandscape’ of map design. In this research we consider not only how to produce more visually appealing digital maps, but also how the cartographic decisions made in the production of maps can influence behavior, particularly with regard to the encouragement of explorative experiences. Novel cartographic and technological solutions are therefore presented, which address exploration using digital maps in the context of location based gaming and tourism. These examples demonstrate the potential of digital cartography to influence behavior and the importance of aesthetics in the cartographic process.