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Article published In: Information Design Journal
Vol. 27:2 (2022) ► pp.191–212

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Effective colors for information design

A color-coding study of China’s high-speed railway map

ORCiD logo with link | University of Leeds
ORCiD logo with link | University of Leeds
ORCiD logo with link | University of Leeds
Published online: 2 January 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.21002.wan
Abstract
This study evaluated the effectiveness of China’s high-speed railway map’s color system based on color design principles in information design. Various design limitations of the color system were identified and analyzed. A new color system which enhanced the legibility of the map was re-coded and was considered satisfactory in the usability test. The research explores the effect of colors in map design and provides valuable color-coding guidance, which may be applied to map design and to the design of other information materials. The color evaluation, re-coding and usability test methods may bring practical insights for information designers and color design researchers.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Color design principles and color theories for map design
  • 3.Evaluation of the color system of China’s current high-speed railway map
    • 3.1Are the colors following map color-design principles?
    • 3.2Are the colors harmonious?
  • 4.Reconstruction of the color system of China’s high-speed railway map
  • 5.Usability test
    • 5.1Participants
    • 5.2Test environment, procedure, and materials
    • 5.3Test settings
  • 6.Results and analysis
    • 6.1Comparison of reading speeds between existing and new color system
    • 6.2Comparison of information-searching accuracies between existing and new color systems
  • 7.Discussion
    • 7.1The effect of colors on a transit map’s usability
    • 7.2Evaluation of the existing and redesigned color systems
    • 7.3Color coding for transit-maps
  • 8.Conclusions
  • References
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