wemakedotcoms

In this post I wanted to explore the evolution of the network and services maps I created for VSNL International and Tata Communications (TCL) over the years. I covered the interactive version in a previous post. The static maps were a huge undertaking. Up to the beginning of 2008, I was more or less designing and maintaining all these maps for the client.

The creation of the maps was a tedious but challenging task. It first required a lot of research to gather the core data. Then started the process of designing all the elements that would make up the map (icons, line styles, colors, fonts, architecture of data, etc…) Putting it all together in Illustrator required a few hundred hours.

The first version of the network map reflected the concept of Global Business Pathway. Used in the branding of VSNL International. The Pathway sphere was a container for the services icons for a location (see Tokyo in the illustration below.)

VSNL International re-branded in 2006, the Global business Pathway was dropped. I designed a new visual style for most of the elements. More modern and streamlined. The network and services had expanded following the acquisition of Teleglobe. The new visual style needed to account for the increase in complexity.

I also experimented with completely different renderings. First was a connectivity view of the network. It illustrated the major undersea cables and the cities where they interconnect. But did not show geography. This map was dubbed the Schematic Network Map.

Rendering the undersea cable routes as subway lines are shown on maps from the Paris or London Subway. The routes would run along each other and follow angular turns to clean up the busy areas. Although the line style wasn’t used, the concept of Hubs and other new visual treatments would be use in later versions of the map.

Due to issues with the world map used (distorted projection, inaccurate data and no country polygons) it was time to re-create the maps on a new template. A new stock world map was used as a base for all the maps. It showed a less distorted view of the world and allowed for more accurate geodata. It also meant a complete re-creation of all the maps in a short time. I setup a system of includes, symbols and other modular elements to speed up production. This made revisions and updates much less disruptive.

The new template also allowed for new country by country coverage maps.

The key for me (and STC) was to deliver meaningful maps that would also be visually pleasing. Creating vector based maps allowed us to use them from print to online interactive. As interactive PDFs to email (where layers of data could be turned on and off).

The latest Global Footprint map has over 30 undersea cables, a complex IP terrestrial network, hundreds of landings and service locations. It manages to represent a bird’s eye view of TCL’s network and services. This has been one of my most challenging and most rewarding project.

As STC’s design department grew, I was able to spread the wealth to the other designers… Although one of them quit after working on a map update for a week. Like I said: tedious work.

Read on: The interactive version.