Cognition, Metacognition, and the Design of Maps

With advances in information technologies, graphical displays are becoming increasingly complex and interactive, giving users flexibility to choose and design their own displays. But most people are not trained in graphic design. Do people intuitively choose or create the most effective displays for particular tasks? More generally, what defines an effective graphic? Recent research on cognition of geospatial displays (i.e., maps) has provided empirical validation of cartographic design principles. At the same time, research on metacognition has indicated that people’s preferences for displays do not always conform to the effectiveness of these displays for the task at hand. In this article, I highlight the importance of empirically testing principles of visual-display design and argue for broader education in visual literacy, including principles of graphic design.