Technology and cartography are very interlinked and in constant development. In the last three decades the main focus was mostly on bridging the technological gaps, while focus on user experience was neglected. The thesis consists of an overview that looks over available research in designing cartographic representations from the view of visual perception of a user and also looks over on transmission path of visible information from eye to brain and the creation of mental images or cartographic communication. Main focus is on characteristics and differences in the perception of symbolic and photorealistic cartographic representations with emphasis on the factors which can be used to improve transmission of information.