So our trip in SF continues! To utilise the time we spent on that arduous 20-hour flight, we scheduled a visit to Stanford University and Stamen Design to learn more about mapping and data visualisation.
Stanford University
Our first stop, Stanford University. We were invited to the David Rumsey Map Center (DRMC) to explore their collections and tour their premises!
As our schedule was practically packed for the past few days, it was nice to be able to slow down and appreciate the lovely landscape of California during our Lyft-ride to Stanford.
We reached earlier than expected and took the chance to explore the campus!
More photos of the campus
Soon, it was time to meet with the representatives from DRMC. We were given a brief introduction of what they have been and are currently doing. They also took us through the equipment and tools they use to help with their work.
One of my favourite items was the gigantic TV-like screen that was slide-showing the collection of their maps. It didn’t occur to me that the screens were interactive until I laid my itchy fingers on one of the thumbnails.
Being a geek, naturally I’m inclined to pioneering technologies like VR. What followed next was their VR stations.
It was a humbling experience to be able to see part of the initiatives Stanford is involved in. It made me wonder what else can be discovered on this 8,180 acres (1 football field is about 1.32 acres) campus?
Stamen Design Studio
Our next stop, Stamen Design. We signed up for a one-day workshop to learn from their Lead Cartographer — Alan McConchie.
When we arrived at the doors of Stamen, we were locked out! Luckily, Peiying’s activated her International call and saved the day!
I liked how the workshop was tailored to our needs and the materials provided were not easily available elsewhere. Alan also provided us with valuable resources that we could go to when we leave the class.
The session touched a range of topics, from map engines, to map aesthetics, to datasets and structures.
One gnawing challenge I had since I joined Kontinentalist was the database stack for our Map Platform. It is one of the pipelines that would be a costly mistake if designed wrongly.
I consider myself a novice in the web-development scene. Moreover, mapping is a whole new extension of web development. It was reassuring when Alan encouraged me to not follow the tested proven track — who knows, we might create a new standard for others to follow? (that’s like, the best case scenario).
We ended the session with Alan discussing briefly with us about Maptime — an initiative started by him to build a community of mappers offering educational support for beginners.
Peiying’s highlight
We had the privilege of visiting the David Rumsey Map Centre at Stanford during our visit to San Francisco, and got a chance to see their extensive collection of maps. We got to witness the wonderful work that they’re doing and the knowledge and information that they’re sharing with the rest of the world. Having previously worked at a museum and being a bit of an antique enthusiast, it was a real treat for me too be able to explore the digitised collection of historical maps!
Joceline’s highlight
Meeting Alan from Stamen was a privilege. Coming from a non-cartography background, I asked him if there were any sacred rules in map design that I should never break because I had these insecurities that my design would never be as legit as cartographers who had gone through formal training. To my surprise, he said conventions existed for a reason, but I should feel free to break the rules. At the end of the day, design was about having the vision and the sense of aesthetic, not so much the technical skills. Map design was no exception in that regard. We also brought up our struggles to design maps for small screens. Alan mentioned that designing interactive maps for mobile was still a challenge even for him, and we had to keep experimenting until we were comfortable with it. His answers were very reassuring and it encouraged me to trust myself and to keep learning. Might I add that one of the resources that Alan shared with us, bl.ocks, literally changed my life!
This post is part 3 of a series on Kontinentalist’s trip to San Francisco. You may read part 1 and part 2.
