When looking at the Washington D.C. metro map, I think the first design principle that stands out is color. All of the different lines for the metro system are named after different colors, but instead of just labeling the lines, the map actually has those lines in the color that corresponds to the name. This makes it much easier to identify the Orange Line from the Silver Line versus looking at all black lines with labels all over them. By using color in this way, the map also cuts down on the need for labels for each line, making the map look cleaner and easier for the user to navigate.
Another design principle that is seem in the D.C. metro map is Contour Bias which is described as peoples’ preference for objects with contours versus sharp angles. This can be seen in the lines that are drawn to represent the different metro lines. Instead of the drawn lines having sharp corners, all of the corners are curved and are more gradual than a sharp turn. In addition, all of the symbols for the different stops along the lines are circles instead of squares, triangles, or another shape that has harsh angles and sharp lines. This makes the map overall more appealing to viewers and also makes it look less harsh and intimidating and like it is user-friendly.
A third design principle that is shown in the D.C. metro map is Ockham’s Razor. Ockham’s Razor states that simplicity is preferred to complexity and that whenever possible, unnecessary information and elements should be removed from the design and the most simple design should be used. In the D.C. metro map, there is very little detail given to the parts of the map that deal with the external physical locations. There is green and blue used to symbolize water and park areas, but other than that, there are no distinctions as far as terrain or much geographic detail. It is marked where the monuments are, but even these are done with simple line drawings versus pictures or more intricate illustrations. The utilization of Ockham’s Razor in this map allows for the important information to be clear and visible for the user and reduces non-essential information, such as terrain descriptions, to their simplest form.
Thanks Gillian for sharing your map!! It reminds me about Rona’s map about Osaka, which is also a big metro (https://sites.uci.edu/in4matx282f18/informations-2-1-2-rona-matsumoto-cabrera/). What I liked about the DC map is that it also integrated layers of landscapes in the background while considering carefully about the color choices (e.g., the green line is not made invisible due to the background landscape green). The Osaka map did a great job labeling numerical numbers for each stops, but the simplicity in the DC map made it a lot easier at a grannular level.