Common Mapping Scenarios
Scenario: Restaurant Finder App
Requirements:
- Restaurants must be highly visible
- Street context for navigation
- Muted background (food photos overlay)
Recommendations:
- Use bold, warm colors for restaurant markers (red, orange)
- Gray out background (low saturation)
- Keep street labels clear but not dominant
- High contrast for selected restaurant
- Mobile-optimized touch targets
Scenario: Real Estate Map
Requirements:
- Property boundaries clearly visible
- Neighborhood context
- Price differentiation
Recommendations:
- Use color scale for price ranges (green=affordable, red=expensive)
- Show parks and amenities prominently
- Include school zones if relevant
- Label neighborhoods clearly
- Show transit access
Scenario: Data Visualization Overlay
Requirements:
- Data layer is primary focus
- Base map provides context only
- Multiple data points may cluster
Recommendations:
- Monochromatic, low-contrast base map
- Use data-ink ratio principle (minimize non-data elements)
- Base map grayscale or single muted hue
- Remove unnecessary labels
- Consider using light base for dark data, vice versa
Scenario: Navigation/Routing
Requirements:
- Route must be unmissable
- Turn-by-turn clarity
- Current location always visible
Recommendations:
- Route in high-contrast color (blue or purple)
- Animate route line or use dashed pattern
- Large, clear turn indicators
- Dim unrelated features
- User location: pulsing blue dot
- Next turn: prominent arrow/icon