Anyone interested in creating maps or working with spatial data in design and research should take this course. It introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS) through hands-on work with open-source tools, such as QGIS and GeoPandas. Students learn how spatial data is structured, cleaned, joined, analyzed, and visualized, while practicing key concepts such as coordinate reference systems, projections, classification, data processing, spatial analysis, and cartographic design for public communication, with critical framing of what maps claim, what they leave out, and how they influence decisions. The semester culminates in an independent project in which students define a question, assemble a dataset, and produce a final map or atlas with documented methods. While no previous coding experience is required, this is a technical course that strengthens data literacy, basic statistics, and visual communication skills. We welcome students with varied technical backgrounds.