Survey

Metro Map Maker Survey Reportback

Shannon Turner

Shannon Turner

— 4 min read
Metro Map Maker Survey Reportback
Which one are you?

Thank you to everyone who took the Metro Map Maker v7.1 Feedback Survey! There were 70 responses, and I think the results are fascinating! This will really help me to plan out future versions, so thank you again to everyone who participated.

Here's what I asked, and what you responded:

Forms response chart. Question title: When did you first start using Metro Map Maker?. Number of responses: 70 responses.
41% have been using MMM for a year or more; welcome to the newcomers!
Forms response chart. Question title: How many maps have you made or remixed with Metro Map Maker?. Number of responses: 69 responses.
26% have made 10 or more maps
Forms response chart. Question title: Which of the following have you done in Metro Map Maker?. Number of responses: 70 responses.
Making maps is most popular, followed by searching for a map in your city
Forms response chart. Question title: What kinds of maps do you like to make?. Number of responses: 68 responses.
Fantasy maps of real places are the most popular, but real transit systems and imaginary places are tied for second
Forms response chart. Question title: How do you spend most of your time on Metro Map Maker?. Number of responses: 69 responses.
Almost everyone starts fresh from a blank canvas rather than remixing maps someone else has made.
Forms response chart. Question title: How often do you visit Metro Map Maker?. Number of responses: 67 responses.
More than half of MMM visitors are here at least once a week
Forms response chart. Question title: How easy do you think Metro Map Maker is to use?. Number of responses: 70 responses.
Generally pretty easy to use, but there's room for improvement
Forms response chart. Question title: How likely are you recommend Metro Map Maker to a friend who is interested in making maps?. Number of responses: 70 responses.
Most would recommend MMM, and if you have, thank you!
Forms response chart. Question title: What features released in version 7.1 do you like or look forward to using?. Number of responses: 66 responses.
Move station is the most popular, and I wish I added it years ago

What do you like about Metro Map Maker?

Some of the questions were open ended. There were 48 responses to this question. Here's a sampling of your answers:

  • I really like how simple it is to use! Since it just uses a grid and allows you to place lines and stations wherever you like it ends up giving you much more freedom than other metro map creators which force you to use stations as nodes and lines can only go between them.
  • The tool sidebar is also really convenient to use. Not needing an account and being able to share maps as links is great! Much less hassle with logins.
  • It's fairly easy to use, controls are easy to understand, easy to modify existing maps
  • It is easy to use and draw maps (even drawings are possible). When typing station names, I can also type German umlauts for stops like "Köln Hbf" and the sharp S 'ß' - which means that I can make maps for German places with ease (requires a German keyboard or the right combinations on other keyboards).
  • After several updates, connected stations (for interchanges) and other design options are useable too, and I enjoy using them. Before that update, no stations were connected but close to each other.

What can Metro Map Maker do better?

There were 45 responses to this question, and lots of great feedback here for me to consider for future versions! Here are a few replies:

  • I think the interface in the sidebar is starting to get very crowded, especially since I end up scrolling up and down a lot - an icon-based "floating bar" at the bottom or top could work better as MMM gets more complex
  • Be able to change the size of the words so they can all fit without going into other lines or names, I would also like if two lines can go over or under each other without cutting the other one
  • Make lines be able to cross over/under each other- this will make maps much better as lines will not be interrupted by other lines + Fare Zones.

Is there anything you wish you could do in Metro Map Maker that you can't do right now?

This had 52 responses, also with lots of great suggestions for future versions. Here are a few replies:

  • Being able to select an area of the map and then move it
  • Be able to have your own accounts in MMM, where your maps go to and you can browse YOUR maps easily
  • I think that you should be able have lines overlap and there should be signs for transfers at stations

Thanks again to everyone who took the survey! Your responses are all really helpful, and I so appreciate you taking the time to answer. This will help me make Metro Map Maker even better in the future :)

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