Universal Principles of Design, Updated and Expanded Third Edition

113 Mapping

A correspondence in layout and movement between controls and the things they control.

Swipe a touchscreen, flip a switch, or push a button and you expect some kind of effect. When the effect corresponds to expectation, the mapping is considered to be good or natural. When the effect does not correspond to expectation, the mapping is considered to be poor. For example, an electric window control on a car door can be oriented so that raising the control switch corresponds to raising the window and lowering the control switch lowers the window — good mapping. Compare this to an orientation of the control switch on the surface of an armrest, such that the control motion is forward and backward. The relationship between the control and ...