While doing illustrative work for Roderick Peattie, from him I learned the value of the unorthodox. - Arthur H. Robinson

Maps enable man to rise, so to speak, above his immediate range of vision, and contemplate the salient features of larger areas.

I started with a kind of artistic approach... I visualized the best-looking shapes and sizes. I worked with the variables until it got to the point where, if I changed one of them, it didn't get any better... [only then I] figure out the mathematical formula to produce that effect.

The design process involves a series of operations. In map design, it is convenient to break this sequence into three stages. In the first stage, you draw heavily on imagination and creativity. You think of various graphic possibilities, consider alternative ways...