alt Hacker NewsIt’s not easy for sure and I’m not a designer or ui/ux expert - just been around maps for a while
I agree with you that the point itself could show that it’s special - or - rely on users tapping/clicking it and then show all the info
In a sense, maybe conveying that the point has more than one data point attached to it isn’t critical - as long as you can see everything inside when clicking it!
Feel free to email me, would love to jam/chat about this!
I think the reason I might like to have the dot be darker is also because even at closer zooms, it suggests "There's a high density of activity here," which could make it more obvious that a town or neighborhood is active in my app in a way that wouldn't be as obvious if there were just one regular dot on an area that might not have a lot of good places to meet, but does have lots of groups meeting at the one really great meeting place.
If I'm browsing the map trying to decide if it's worth joining the platform at all, I'm a lot more likely to stay and click around if I can tell my area has lots of options, not just one.
I can't sent it right now, but I can follow up with you too. My opinions here might very well be specific to my own project.