The Projection Flipbook

Let’s start at the beginning.

Every day we look at maps. The creation of every map involves choices. One of these choices is how to flatten the earth, how to project points from a round globe onto a flat plane. Every map projection—yes, every—map projection must distort one or more of direction, distance, area, or shape.

Remember the quotes at the beginning? Are they true? Technically, yes—every map must distort in some way or another. However, they suggest that map projections are purposefully misleading.

In The Projection Flipbook, each section of the map is a different map projection that distorts differently. Each map shows real-life data–in this case, COVID and access to abortion data, referenced in the titles at right. The circles that are overlaid on top of the maps are called Tissot’s indicatrices. These indicatrices show the distortion of the shape and area at that particular point. In The Projection Flipbook, the side-by-side placement of different projections with their indicatrices shows just how much variation there is between different map projections. By coupling outlandish maps with titles that claim accuracy, The Projection Flipbook pokes fun at the idea that there could be one way that would truly accurately portray said data.

Why is it important to be aware of these distortions? When aspects of a map are distorted, it can impact how we perceive the data they convey. For example, if a choropleth map—a map that assigns colors based on values of the data it is showing—uses a projection that distorts area, it could make it appear that a far greater area of the map is at risk.

Or consider the dot-density visualization used by some of the COVID-19 examples above. When the dots represent an absolute number, as they do here, the spacing of the dots looks like relative density. If a map projection distorts area, then two countries with the same value and same area could end up looking like they have different frequencies.

These are but a few of the examples of why it is important to be aware of map projections and to be a conscientious map reader. How can you view maps with a critical eye? If a map has grid lines, you can look at the spacing of the horizontal and vertical lines for clues; if the space between the lines is growing larger, the area would also be overrepresented on the map.

That a map projection distorts does not mean it deceives. For a map to exist at all it must ‘distort’ reality. All map projections have their strengths and weaknesses, and there is no ‘perfect projection.’ Remember, a projection is not inherently good or bad; it depends on the context. What is important is being aware of map projections and viewing maps with a critical, but open, eye.