Which of those map design is the most elegant?

[Magnificate]

The title says all. During my (minor) practice with alternate cartography I used four main designs. Now I want to focus on a single design and perfect it. Tell me what do you think about each of those maps. Which one is pretty, which is functional?

1) Bright colors. Different color for each nation. Full nation names in the map key. Capitals marked and signed on the map.

[Magnificate]

2) Light, but not intense colors. Different color for each block of nations. Full nations names on the map, with different font for each block. No capitals.

[Magnificate]

3) Gray or semi-intense colors. Different color for each significant nation, gray for all other, colored borders for blocks of nations. Full nation names on the map or abbreviation. No capitals.

[Magnificate]

4) Shades of one goldish color. Random color for each nation. Short nation names on the map. Capitals marked, but no signed.

[Nekromans]

Design One, definitely. Just... Perfection.

[Lokit]

I would say one.

[Douglas]

I like #3 myself, but I'm a plain sort of person.

[Gladi]

Bright day
I prefer four (4).

And in 2 there isn't ,uch of Bohemia in Bohemia...

[Kabraloth]

I'd say one, except the colors are a bit shrill. But it's the best of them.

[Magnificate]

And in 2 there isn't ,uch of Bohemia in Bohemia...
Their population must have been relocated, along with the country. ;)

Extra questions:
- Do you prefer highly decorative fonts, like those on 1 and 4 or simple ones?
- Is the color coded map key instantly readable and clear?

[Nekromans]

Extra answers:

- I prefer fancy fonts to normal Arial/Verdana/Times New Roman any day. If they had Viner Hand on here, I'd use that for all my posts! (And get yelled at.)
- The first map's key is great, because it makes sure not to clog up the screen with info, especially with all the fiddly countries on that map.

[Kabraloth]

- Do you prefer highly decorative fonts, like those on 1 and 4 or simple ones?
I prefer highly decorative fonts.
- Is the color coded map key instantly readable and clear?
No, it is too cluttered for that. Simply too many colours.

[Tyr]

Anything but one.
I hate that bright green

[Gladi]

Extra questions:
- Do you prefer highly decorative fonts, like those on 1 and 4 or simple ones?
- Is the color coded map key instantly readable and clear?

Simple fonts. Use you creativity in writing, not in making headaches.
-Not to me, I have to switch my gaze back and forth.

This is not Hard Rock or Heavy Metal. Less is better. Look in atlas.

[Thande]

I like the first and third ones.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

To me, three is ugly as sin, while one connotes a futuristic elegance reminiscent of the 1950s version of the future, thanks in large part to the fonts, bright colors, and clean lines of the borders.

[Othniel]

Three and Four. Three just looks professional, and four has got class.

[Ofaloaf]

Map no. 4 looks like it came from an 19th-century atlas, nt that that's a bad thing.

3 & 4 are both good maps. Map no. 1 is a little too... MS-Painty, what with all the assorted bright colors and all. Although, of course, the text is in an excellent font.

[Diamond]

I like #4, but #3 is a very close second...

[Doctor What]

I prefer three and one....

[Midgard]

Design one, with nation names listed on the map as opposed to the key.

[Tony Jones]

I like design 1, but maybe with the less intense colours of design 2...

[Saladin]

I like the colour tones of design 2, but with the legend of design 1, but using a simple sans serif font for easy reading.


They all look really good in their own ways; just remember the rules about fonts, for displays (and maps are displays) use a sans serif font, for text, especially large amounts of text, use a serifed font to help the eye follow the words