Thematic Maps Visualizing Primary Energy Consumption in Europe
These designs were developed as proposals for updating the Swiss World Atlas, aiming to create a more modern and user-friendly representation of economic maps. The maps visualize primary energy consumption in Europe, with a focus on highlighting the share of renewable energy.
Data Source: Eurostat
The challenge of economic maps in an atlas lies in presenting a high density of information clearly and comprehensibly within a limited space. These designs address weaknesses in existing visualizations, such as overly arbitrary color schemes, lack of clarity, and difficulties in comparing countries. The maps omit thematically irrelevant elements (such as rivers or coordinate grids) and apply inclusive design principles to ensure readability for colorblind users. The new color scheme places renewable energy (green) in clear visual contrast to non-renewable sources (purple tones). This distinction simplifies interpretation and makes the visualization more intuitive. In the condensed thematic map, which shows the composition of energy sources directly within the circles, smaller countries with lower energy consumption are highlighted through enlarged diagrams. This ensures comparability with larger countries.