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Stephen R. Smith
Stephen R. Smith

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Jan 11, 2019

Explorations in Generative Art

My journey from Markov to Canvas2D. From “Joy Division” to generative solar systems. — Folks that follow me for cool map things have probably been disappointed for the past few weeks. I used my vacation downtime (aka when the kids are sleeping) to fiddle with javascript-based generative art, and I tweeted about it incessantly. For cartography, I love the intersection of data, software, and…

Design

4 min read

Explorations in Generative Art
Explorations in Generative Art

May 7, 2018

The Value of Being Spatial

Delight instead of Dollars — As a spatial professional of nearly 10 years, I’m keenly aware of the pay delta between Spatial and other similar fields like development or design. Every time I read a thinkpiece or snarky tweet about it, I sigh and look at my pay stub wistfully, imagining what could be. But…

GIS

2 min read

The Value of Being Spatial
The Value of Being Spatial

Published in Vermont Center for Geographic Information

·Feb 2, 2018

Let’s Improve That Map

My personal best practices for better map design — For the Vermont Center for Geographic Information “GeoEnlightenment” series, I was asked to share my personal cartography tips and tricks. To highlight my approach to designing maps, I decided to take the audience through a bad-to-better evolution of a new map. In this post, we’ll focus on making a useful…

Data Visualization

5 min read

Let’s Improve That Map
Let’s Improve That Map

Dec 23, 2017

Futuristic Maps

Cartography from 2058 — I was casting about for map design idea one night, and my wife had a good suggestion. You’re always replicating old maps. Why not make the map from the future? Never one to turn down a challenge, I set my imagination into motion to try to picture what a map…

Cartography

3 min read

Futuristic Maps
Futuristic Maps

Nov 8, 2017

Map Review: World Specialty-Coffee Map

An Original Map by Cafe Imports — A few months ago, my buddy Ian (who roasts amazing coffee) tweeted a link to a global specialty coffee map created by Cafe Imports. This map caught my attention for several reasons. …

Maps

5 min read

Where Your Coffee Comes From
Where Your Coffee Comes From

Nov 1, 2017

Messin Around with Maps: My Rapid Prototyping Process

I was browsing Pinterest for map inspiration (Pinspiration?) and got the idea to do a worldwide map layout showing the four hemispheres. I hopped into Mike Bostock’s bl.ocks and found an example of the d3.orthographic projection. I forked the gist and started tweaking the translation settings to get snapshots of the four hemispheres. Using this Projection Explorer was a big help there. While I was tweaking the code in Atom, I used atom-live-server to watch the changes render live in Firefox. When I was satisfied with the settings, I took a screenshot.

D 3

1 min read

Messin Around with Maps
Messin Around with Maps

Oct 21, 2017

Map Finds #1

I love the freedom of expression that comes from eschewing the typical data-driven approach to cartography, and mixing in additional disciplines like illustration, abstract art, or architectural design to a map. Below are a few fun finds from across the internet, stumbled upon via Pinterest. Source

Maps

2 min read

Map Finds #1
Map Finds #1

Sep 26, 2017

I’m good at maps

I’m good at maps A client asked me for a line on a map, so I made it for them. It’s the Arctic circle at an oblique angle in an orthographic projection. I can also do it nadir.

Cartography

1 min read

I’m good at maps
I’m good at maps

Feb 17, 2016

Carto-thoughts from the #cartosummit

My attempt to summarize the proceedings, plus my own thoughts, questions, and musings. Warning — No Lifeguard on Duty It’s frightening to say things on the internet. We all have thoughts, opinions, and viewpoints, and we love talking about them. But when we do, we run the risk of running…

Cartography

12 min read

Carto-thoughts from the #cartosummit
Carto-thoughts from the #cartosummit
Stephen R. Smith

Stephen R. Smith

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