Two months after completing this extensive map project and as I was preparing this case for my portfolio, I took a fresh look at my map and identified numerous imperfections. Some aspects should have been changed from the very outset, while certain minor details can still be refined in the future.
Perfection is unattainable, but what matters is ongoing progress. Therefore, I am pleased to share the pre-final version of this map. You can download it here . If you have any suggestions, I am open to them.
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While reviewing other maps, I typically analyze both strengths and weaknesses. However, in this discussion, I'm going to focus solely on weak points and key challenges that still need resolution:
1. Data Reliability. The availability and consistency of data sources posed challenges. Discrepancies and contradictions between data sets, along with difficulty navigating resources such as the Autoridade de Transportes website, led to unreliable information. Some routes, including those from the Arriva provider, may not be accurate or even exist.
2. Information Distribution Challenge. The density of population and public transportation network is uneven across the Porto metropolitan area. This fact makes it challenging to spread information on a map in a homogeneous map. I also tried to visually balance metro and train lines, but this alignment inevitably influenced the correct arrangement of bus routes.
3. Scale and Distortion Issues. The need for balanced spacing and information distribution resulted in distortions. For example, the area between Boavista and Campanhã appears stretched, while large regions in Gondomar and Vila Nova de Gaia became compressed due to format limitations. Also the district of Maia significantly suffered from horizontal compression, affecting the accuracy of bus routes representation.
4. Imaginary Metro Lines. The inclusion of the under-construction lines (Rosa, Rubi, Metrobus), and the reduction of the official five-line representation to a single bifurcating line may lead to potential misguidance.
5. Incomplete Bus Stop Coverage. The initial idea was to feature only bus stops with higher traffic, but without comprehensive data on whether some stops are more popular than others, the selection of the stops seems quite random.
6. Challenges for design system. Maintaining visual balance sometimes led to the inclusion of minor design details that do not entirely fit the current design system. Mistypes or misalignments may have gone unnoticed. This fact proves that the project of this scale requires collaborative efforts.
7. Poor alignment of elements in relation to the coordinate grid. Some information, like bus numbers or places of interest, in many places, lays over the lines of the grid reference system (coordinate grid). Correcting this inncacuracy requires movement of many other elements on the map and even redesign of some areas. Let's keep it for the next edition!
In conclusion, I acknowledge that this project still demands significant refinement. I am open to suggestions and collaboration to enhance its overall quality. Thank you for your attention!
