Figure-ground in map design

Figure-ground in map design is all about what parts of the map stand out, like a figure, and which ones stay in the background, like the ground. Let's say you were looking at a map of a city. You would be able to find your house right away because it is the figure - it stands out against the ground, which is the streets and buildings around it. The mapmaker can use figure-ground by adding different colors, shapes and lines to make the important parts of the map stand out more than the other parts. Figure-ground makes it easier to find your way around a map.