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During a sunny week in Arendal, the Nunataryuk Permafrost Atlas Advisory Board for Cartography and Design, composed of Alex Tait, Oliver Uberti, and Margaret Pearce, gathered together around a large table to ponder over some maps. A simple task, you might think. A map is just a map, usually showing us places and things that have occurred there, right? But a map can so much more than a way to show locations and data. A map can change our perception of events – reshaping our collective memories of those in the past, describe the ones we are living through in the present, or even spur us into action before we reach the hypothetical future. Not convinced? Read on and learn from the experts!

Alex Tait - Great maps take time

Alex, also known as “The Geographer” at National Geographic, is a member of the Nunataryuk project Advisory Board, and has a long experience working on atlases. Responsible for National Geographic’s map brand and guidelines, he dove right into how much careful consideration and work goes on behind the making of a map. While a map can be created quickly, several factors distinguish “just” a map from a good or great map. And maps take time. Alex pointed out that often you need anywhere between 8 to 12 rounds of revisions before a map is considered complete. He also presented on the "theory of change", where storytelling is used to make an impact. You can read some of his considerations for making good maps later in the story!

Oliver Uberti – Mapping the invisible

For centuries, maps and atlases depicted what people could see: roads, rivers, mountains, places of interest. But, according to some, today we need graphics to reveal the invisible patterns that shape our world.

You may already be familiar with Oliver Uberti’s work – the Atlas of the Invisible. Having started off studying printing and graphic design, Oliver became involved with the writing and design portion of the stories he wanted to tell as well. Thanks to his experience with all stages of the mapmaking and storytelling process, Oliver was able to illustrate how differently scientists, geographers, and designers interpret data and present the stories it contains visually. After the incredible success of his first book, "London: The Information Capital", which he worked on with a geographer, he went on to publish “Where the Animals Go”. With his latest book, "Atlas of the Invisible", Oliver addresses the invisible aspects of our past, our present, and our future. These were important considerations for the Permafrost Atlas too.

"We need graphics to reveal the invisible patterns that shape our world.”

Margaret Pearce - Cartography as a language for change

A picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a map? Sometimes it’s the empty spaces that speak the loudest.

Dr. Margaret Pearce, cartographer and writer, candidly illustrated for us the sheer time and effort needed to make one single map. Her latest, “Coming Home”, a seemingly traditional map of Canada but with a twist – labelled with indigenous place names. Designed in exactly the same way as the Atlas of Canada poster maps so it would feel “equal”, Margaret called around for permissions to give names to places. Through this map, she proposes an alternative vision where the map becomes a space for ruminative imagining, repositioning familiar anchors to tell a new story. But some spaces on the map remain glaringly empty. These tell a story too, a story of withholding or only partially telling.

Her current work in progress, a map of Inuit Nunagat, seeks to illustrate Indigenous Peoples’ “right to be cold” (Siila Watt Cloutier) and the impact that the warming of the Arctic will have beyond the confines of the region. This particular project struck a chord with several members of our staff, with the Arctic environment being a key focal point in our work. Margaret’s answer to being asked why she was making this map was simple but powerful – it's the responsibility of a cartographer to try and convey the idea that what’s happening here will impact the rest of the world.

"It’s the responsibility of a cartographer to try and convey the idea that what’s happening here will impact the rest of the world."

Understanding the here-and-now

A recent example of how maps can impact our perception of current events was when GRID-Arendal Cartographer and Geographer Levi Westerveld suddenly found himself going viral in March 2022. Levi was Tweeting about the maps created by the New York Times to illustrate the Russian war in Ukraine. In his 5-part thread, he wrote about the evolution of the maps and changes in visulaisation over time, such as the size of arrows, choice in colours, shading, and an increase in labeled cities. Even the smallest choice carries an enormous weight. You can read the full thread here.

"It often has happened to me that when people ask me where I work, they answer 'oh, GRID-Arendal, I have been using their maps for years'," says Head of Polar and Climate Tina Schoolmeester.

Indeed, soon after GRID-Arendal was established, it specialised in ground-breaking visualisation and mapping out environmental challenges, revealing issues that were not so easily seen through other analytical means. Throughout the years, our cartographic products advanced, and we are working with world-renowned cartographers, that also have a great eye for design and detail to produce radical and innovative maps beyond what GIS can do.

In the 30-plus years of GRID-Arendal’s existence, mapmaking has remained a cornerstone of our work and both supports and leads our environmental work. A key part of this communication is the creation of rich atlases for in-depth understanding of complex topics, and the use of Story Maps, which provide interactive and easily digestible content on key environmental issues to a wide audience. Decades on, we are still contacted and asked for high-resolution copies, updates, and permissions to use our maps long after the projects that enabled them to be created have come to an end.

Today, the GRID-Arendal “Cartography Hall of Fame” is graced by past staff such as Riccardo Pravettoni, Philippe Rekacewicz, and Levi Westerveld. They, and many others, left a mark which helped to define and distinguish the signature style and capabilities that keep GRID-Arendal a trusted provider at the forefront of environmental communication products. As production of the Permafrost Atlas continues, we can't wait to see what comes next!

Tips for good maps

Are you working on a map and want to know how to take it to the next level? Here are some tips from the experts!

Think of your audience. Who is it for? What do you want to say to them? What is your goal?
What is your platform? Think about the distribution, technology, and format.
Collect your data, process it, and begin organising it.
Think about the projection and scale of your map. What level of detail?
What's your layout like? Where do you want the attention to be focused?
What colours and typography will you use? Are they accessible?
Edit and review! This way you ensure the accuracy, legibility, and integrity of the map. Remember, as an author, you carry a certain level of responsibility.

About Nunataryuk

Nunataryuk is a Horizon 2020 project which investigates the impact of permafrost thaw in Arctic coastal areas on the global climate and to infrastructures and health. The project brings together many of the world’s leading experts in natural science and socio-economics for assessing the risk posed by permafrost thaw in the Arctic.

Permafrost thawing contributes to coastal erosion, which threatens settlements and local industries, posing economic threats to northern societies. But the changes are not only impacting the northern communities, but the global climate. Permafrost stores carbon and methane, which is released into the atmosphere when the permafrost thaws. Recent studies also show that permafrost contains mercury, which can enter the environment and ecosystems if permafrost thaws.

GRID-Arendal works together with all the 26 partner organisations to ensure effective communication and dissemination of the project and its results.

For further information on the project, please visit www.nunataryuk.org

This story was produced as part of the Nunataryuk project, which is funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No. 773421.