Running Head: DESIGNING MAPS LLOYD 1

Designing Maps Assignment

Cheryle Lloyd

University of Utah

PSY 3171
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We were asked to create two different maps regarding the same route from the economy

parking lot at the Salt Lake International Airport to the parking lot near the Social Behavioral

Science building at the University of Utah south campus. One map would be created only using

text directions and the other would be made up of entirely of visual information. After creating

our maps, we were asked to assess the difficulties and how we addressed these issues using any

of the 13 principles of design or any layout principles.

The time I struggled the most in this assignment was when I was initially trying to create

a path from the starting point to the ending point using only text. I used a layout principle of

design stating important information should capture the user’s attention within the design. To

accomplish this within my text-only map, I used the principle of discriminability and the pop-out

effect by bolding the font of the most essential pieces of my directions like turns and exits. The

bolded font makes the information easily discriminated from the adjacent text making it

effortless to find, or pop-out at you, on the paper. Sometimes in design it is necessary for users to

divide their attention across different pieces of information on the display. My text map utilized

bolded text for primary information and italicized text for secondary information needed by the

user if clarification is sought. I used italicized text because it would not distract the user from the

bolded text but could still be distinguished from the tertiary information or normal text. Another

principle of design I used while trying to create my text only map was the principle of predictive

aids. It can be frustrating to the driver when people or even some GPS systems tell us to turn

right when we had been driving in the left lane. To combat this I included lane changes in my

map well-prior to the listed turns needed in advance. This concept can be combined with the

principle regarding response expectancy, because being in the appropriate lane has the user
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expecting to make a turn based on what lane they are already in resulting in an easier and more

accurate response.

The greatest difficulty I encountered when creating the visual only map was that it lacked

the amount of details I could achieve within my text only directions. I applied various design

principles that helped me to convey my intended information only using visual elements by

supporting top-down processing of the user. For example, using the layout principle of

consistency, I support the user’s memory and attentional resources. It is common to find on other

maps, particularly Google Maps, the color layout: orange for freeways, yellow for highways, and

blue for the designated path, so I used the same color scheme for my visual only map. In addition

to color, I also used the standardized symbols found on other maps to have the user quickly and

accurately detect freeways, highways, and merging lanes. Remaining consistent across multiple

displays helps the user efficiently recognize information by having appropriate mental models

already available. It also does not tax the user’s memory and attention resources in having to

create new mental models. Another tactic I used to encourage top-down processing was to draw

important visual landmarks easily recognized to assist the user in navigating the map. For

example, I drew an airplane to represent the airport, the Utes stadium, and the iconic water tower

of Trolley Square located at the turn on 700 east and 600 south.

Having to create a text only and visual only map taught me the benefits and limitations of

both mediums. It also taught me how we can use the various principles of design to buffer

limitations by strengthening other ways to support the user in obtaining information either

quicker or more accurately. Knowledge of these principles will help me as I pursue a human

factors career.
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Text-Only Map

Starting Point: Salt Lake City Airport (Economy Parking Lot at the Salt Lake City

International Airport, Salt Lake City, UT 84116)

1. Walk to your car located in the Economy Parking lot.

2. Make sure your seatbelts and directions are inputted before starting your car.

3. Start your car and watch for obstacles when backing up.

4. Head south toward the exit of the airport parking lot.

5. Turn left out of the airport parking lot and stay in your left lane.

6. Watch out for merging traffic.

7. Keep left at the fork after seeing the sign directing you left toward the terminals

8. Watch out for merging traffic.

9. Merge left onto Terminal Drive and get into the middle lane.

10. Keep on Terminal Drive and follow the signs for the terminal pick-up by keeping straight
at the fork.

11. Take a slight left at the next fork following the sign for Terminal pickup.

12. Follow around the bend and merge onto Terminal Drive.

13. Watch out for merging traffic

14. Get in your middle lane.

15. Keep on Terminal Drive and follow Airport Exits for Salt Lake City signs.

16. Get into the far-left lane and follow signs for the I-80 East exit.

17. Stay left on the fork to merge onto I-80 East.

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18. Watch out for merging traffic.

19. Get into middle lane and follow the road for next 3 miles.

20. Keep right at the fork and take the 600 South exit (Exit 121).

21. Continue off the highway onto 600 South and get in the left-middle lane heading east

22. Continue heading east bound on 600 South, which becomes Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
after passing State Street.

23. After 600 east the middle-left lane will become the left lane.

24. Stay in the left lane and take a left at 700 East.

25. Get into the right lane and turn right at 400 South.

26. Get into the far-left lane and follow around the bend.

27. 400 South will turn into University Blvd (500 south) after the bend.

28. Use the far-left turning lane to make a left turn at 1580 east onto Campus Center Drive.

29. Keep left at the fork to keep on Campus Center Drive.

30. You do not have a yield sign, but still watch for oncoming traffic and the train ensuring it is
clear before entering the roundabout.

31.Make a slight right and follow the roundabout left until you are facing south to take the
first exit onto South Campus Drive.

32.Take your next right onto 1530 East and park your car.

33.Take your belongings and ensure your vehicle is locked before leaving the parking lot.

Ending Point: 380 S 1530 E Salt Lake City, UT 84112 (social behavioral science building

parking lot)
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Visual-Only Map