Branding and design can be overwhelming when it comes to creating Dashboards and StoryMaps in ArcGIS but it’s actually better to keep things simple! Here are a few tips from Cadasta that can make your branding easy and effective so you can focus on the data and the impact of your work.
Grey is the New Black:
Throughout materials, try using dark grey or black templates as the base for your layouts. Darker backgrounds make content easier to read on digital platforms and helps graphics and maps stand out. Using the dark background will allow you to incorporate your own colors and branding. Below is a sample of applying your organization’s branding to the grey base color. Apply your branding as needed and use your own judgement on what is most legible and clean to the eye.
For example, here is a dark grey dashboard where we incorporated Cadasta’s branding to make it more dynamic while also appearing clean and clear. Replacing the teal and blue with your organization’s colors can create the same effect.
The Adobe Color Wheel can be helpful in selecting analogous or complementary colors that go together.
And the Ramp Generator helps you create custom color-ramp lists for your data and maps.
Fonts!
Use easy-to-read text throughout. San Serif fonts such as Arial and Roboto typically work best for digital mediums. Avoid overly decorative fonts that may be hard to read. Also create contrast by choosing a color that stands out against the background (for dark backgrounds, you should use white text). Type is an area where simple is better! Always go with what is most legible because your content doesn’t mean anything if people can’t read it.
Photographs & Videos:
Strong photos and videos are ones that tell a story and create an emotional connection with the viewer. Ideal content includes:
- Staff and data collectors working in communities;
- Data collectors and community members working together;
- Community members on their land or in the community;
- Community members going about their daily live (such as farming activities, children playing, or families talking);
- Community members participating in the project;
- Project beneficiaries and stakeholders discussing the significance of the project and/or its impact on their lives and community; and
- General photographs of the community or surrounding landscape.
Putting it into Action
Check out Cadasta’s pre-made templates to make StoryMap and Dashboard creation easier!
Story Map Template | New Version
StoryMap Template | Classic Version
