chartmakers

Chartmakers are professionals who design and produce charts—graphic representations of data or geographic information—used for navigation, planning, and analysis. In cartography, chartmakers specialize in charts such as nautical charts, aeronautical charts, topographic maps, and thematic representations. The term may also refer to designers of data visualizations and infographics.

Historically, chartmaking evolved from early navigational charts drawn by mariners to modern digital cartography. Nautical chartmakers compiled hydrographic surveys, determined scale and datum, selected projections, and produced printed or engraved charts for shipboard use. The field developed alongside surveying techniques, depth sounding, and uniform standards, with later influence from hydrographic offices and international bodies that standardize chart symbols and accuracy.

The practice combines data collection, map projection, symbolization, and quality control. Traditional chartmaking involved field surveys, depth measurements, triangulation, and copperplate engraving or lithographic reproduction. Today, chartmakers rely on geographic information systems, digital cartography, satellite imagery, and automated plotting, while adhering to international standards for accuracy and legibility. In data visualization, chartmakers select appropriate chart types, scales, and color schemes to convey insight clearly.

Common chart types include nautical charts, aeronautical charts, topographic and thematic maps, weather and seismic charts, and various data-visualization charts. The profession intersects with related fields such as geography, surveying, graphic design, and information visualization, and continues to adapt as new data sources and rendering technologies emerge.