Joan Charysyn (July 4, 1946 - present) is a graphic artist who worked with Italian designer Massimo Vignelli and the American firm he co-founded, Unimark International. Though Vignelli's name has become synonymous with the New York City Subway map his firm produced in 1972, the work was in fact the result of the collaboration of several individuals, including Bob Noorda, Raleigh D'Adamo, and Charysyn, with the latter working on elements of the basic scheme and artwork and overseeing the printing of the map, despite receiving little credit for it until recently. Though Charysyn's contributions to Vignelli's maps have historically been obscured, she has recently received some recognition, and was the subject of a tribute at the New York City Transit Museum in 2024.

Although disparaged by some for its aesthetics, the 'Vignelli map' was a masterpiece of graphic design and infographics, akin to Harry Beck's 1933 map of the London Underground, which similarly prioritized simplicity and usability over comprehensiveness or aesthetics. Both iconic maps understood the basic principle that the vast majority of users simply needed to know how to get from one station to another and where to transfer, if necessary; proper geographic scale, the actual route of lines (which Beck and Vignelli et al simplified to 45 and 90 degree angles), and additional information such as landmarks and street-level features were unnecessary, especially as most if not all of the travel would occur underground. Thus, Vignelli's (or perhaps rather Charysyn's) map retains an influence on today's New York City subway map, though, as with Beck's map, later mapmakers have been unable to refuse the urge to add more detail and geographic 'accuracy,' reducing the map's minimalistic appeal and usability. After releasing the subway map, Charysyn designed a similar but less well-known representation of the New York City commuter rail network.