Design Stunning Maps

Design Stunning Maps is a beginner-friendly course for data analysts and professionals who want their maps to communicate clearly, accurately, and professionally. Many maps fail not because the data is wrong, but because design choices around color, layout, and emphasis make them hard to read. This course shows you how to fix that. You’ll learn core cartography principles that help maps tell a clear story—how to apply color theory to thematic data, place essential map elements correctly, and evaluate maps for strong visual hierarchy. Through short videos, practical readings, hands-on labs, and realistic review scenarios, you’ll practice diagnosing common design problems and making targeted improvements. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to confidently critique and refine maps for real-world use, including reports and presentations. You’ll finish with the skills needed to deliver a publication-ready map suitable for an annual report, ensuring your work is not only accurate, but clear, trustworthy, and easy for others to understand

• Apply core cartography principles for clear storytelling
• Use color theory for thematic data
• Position key map elements correctly
• Evaluate maps for strong visual hierarchy
• Diagnose and fix common design issues
• Create publication-ready maps

• Basic computer and internet skills
• Ability to follow instructions and complete practice activities