Matthias Beilstein Kartographie
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Logo von beilstein

Cartography is an art · that gives us the world on paper · We see mountains, rivers, and coasts · that fill our hearts with longing  •  The map is a treasure chest · full of knowledge and secrets · It shows us paths and trails · that lead us to new destinations  •  It gives us orientation · in a world full of change · it's like a compass · that guides us to our destiny  •  But the map alone · is just a piece of paper · it takes the spirit of exploration · to bring it to life  •  So cartography remains · an art full of magic · that shows us the world in miniature · and inspires us.

Just about everything with a location reference can be seen on a map—and often this is the best way to view it. The main purpose of a map, orientation, is most effective when the spatial relationship of the map’s elements come to the fore. Enriched with the representation of quantitative and qualitative properties, this purpose is not only to be understood spatially, but in ideal terms it puts forward a comprehensive presentation of the subject on display. Aesthetic map graphics that are as self-explanatory as possible round off the whole map experience.

Characteristics
Orientation and NavigationOrientierung und Navigation
CommunicationKommunikation
Spatial RelationsRäumliche Beziehungen
OverviewÜbersicht
Research and AnalysisRecherche und Analyse
Knowledge and AwarenessWissen und Bewusstsein
PlanningPlanung
DocumentationDokumentation
Fields of Application
GeographyGeografie
EnvironmentUmwelt
HistoryGeschichte
EconomyWirtschaft
TransportVerkehr
PoliticsPolitik
ArtKunst
SocietyGesellschaft

Creating thematic maps is a fascinating process—a wide array of information from various sources is used as a foundation and rendered in cartographic form through symbols, colour and text as design elements. The challenge is to find a balance between accuracy and aesthetics and to convey the message of the map as comprehensibly and attractively as possible. The countless possibilities of visual representation and the careful handling of information lend cartography an artistic dimension.

Sources
Text (lexica, books, newspapers, etc.)Text (Lexika, Bücher, Zeitungen, etc.)
TablesTabellen
StatisticsStatistiken
Sensor dataSensordaten
PicturesFotos
Other mapsAndere Karten
TalksGespräche
Creative means
ShapeForm
ColourFarbe
WritingSchrift
Semiotics/MeaningSemiotik/Bedeutung
CreativityKreativität
EstheticsÄsthetik