Thematic maps are specialized tools that visually represent a single dataset or idea across geographic areas, highlighting how a variable changes from place to place, which helps in understanding spatial patterns and relationships not immediately obvious in tables or spreadsheets. Unlike reference maps that provide a broad overview of geography, thematic maps focus on specific themes such as population density, income levels, or literacy rates, and they can effectively tell data-driven stories to inform decisions or shape public understanding. There are various types of thematic maps, including choropleth maps that use color gradients to show variations across regions, proportional symbol maps that use symbol sizes to indicate data magnitude, dot density maps that represent quantities with dots, isoline maps that connect points of equal value, categorical maps that show different categories with distinct colors, and flow maps that depict movements between locations. Effective thematic maps require careful design choices such as selecting appropriate color palettes, normalizing and classifying data, providing clear legends, and considering accessibility to ensure they are easy to read and understand for diverse audiences. Tools like Felt AI enhance the creation process by enabling teams to collaboratively design thematic maps that highlight geographic patterns, making complex data more accessible and interpretable.