Map for the Palm Beach International Boat Show - 2025
For all the latest event information and to be sure you are looking at the latest map revision please visit the official site of the boat show.
If you are interested in hiring me to create an original map or illustration for you please contact me.
Continuity and Precision, Year After Year
I designed the 2025 Palm Beach International Boat Show map as a direct evolution of the previous year's successful layout. Attendees and organizers have come to expect clear, refined wayfinding, and I meet that expectation by maintaining a consistent visual framework. The familiar aerial angle stays. So does the technique of fading areas outside the show borders. This approach provides immediate familiarity even as the event itself shifts around those fixed reference points.
The Real Work: Annual Revisons
The core challenge every year is accuracy. Floating docks get reconfigured. Exhibitor locations move. The Palm Beach waterfront never stays exactly the same from one show to the next. Consequently, I completely rework the keying system annually. Absolute precision is not optional here. Visitors need to find specific booths, and exhibitors need to know their spot is represented correctly.
A Streamlined, Color Coded System
This year's map uses a clean color coded numerical system. Show entrances appear as white digits on green fields. Key features are black digits on yellow fields. Exhibitor booths and displays carry white digits on blue fields. Access ramps use white letters on red fields. I made one critical design decision. I numbered all points of interest in a single continuous sequence across every category. This eliminates duplicate numbers entirely. Every reference on the map is unique. I also updated the border treatment for exhibitor areas. Previous years outlined them in red. Now I highlight them in blue, creating an intuitive visual link with their corresponding blue key symbol. It is a subtle change, but it makes the system feel cohesive.
Built on a Model I Have Maintained Since 2013
The illustration rests on a durable digital three dimensional model. I originally built this model for the 2013 show, and I have updated it meticulously every year since. I handle modeling and alterations in SketchUp Pro. Kerkythea does the rendering. From there I refine and prepare the scene in Adobe Photoshop. All final graphics, keying, and logo integration happen in Adobe Illustrator. Finally, I lay out the map for publication in the official show program using Adobe InDesign. This pipeline has served me well for over a decade.
Client and Sponsors
I completed this project for Informa Markets. Several sponsors supported the effort, including Palm Harbor Marina, which encompasses the northern section of the map. SYS Yacht Sales, ICON Electric Vehicles, and Summit Fire & Security also contributed. Their participation helps make the map possible year after year.
A Precise Tool for Thousands of Visitors
The 2025 map stands as a precise and polished navigational tool. Thousands of visitors rely on it to navigate one of Florida's premier marine industry events. I take that responsibility seriously, and I approach every annual update with the same level of attention I brought to the very first one.
Maps For Palm Beach International Boat Show:
- About The Palm Beach Boat Show
- Main Map: 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013| 2012 | 2011
- Transit & Parking Map: 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2016
- Program Layout: 2026 | 2025 | 2024
- Video: 2013
Palm Beach International Boat Show: A Premier Marine Event & Showcase for Custom Map Design:
The Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS) is one of the most prestigious and influential boat shows in the United States, attracting marine enthusiasts, yacht buyers, industry professionals, and visitors from around the world each year. Held along Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, this waterfront event features an extraordinary display of luxury vessels, marine accessories, and lifestyle experiences - all set against the scenic backdrop of the Intracoastal Waterway.
Since its inception in 1982, PBIBS has grown into a major economic and cultural driver for the region, with attendance regularly surpassing 55,000 visitors and contributing more than $1 billion in economic impact to Palm Beach County.
World Class Yachts and Marine Innovation
Each year the show presents an impressive lineup of more than 800 to 1,000 boats and vessels, ranging from nimble 8 foot inflatable boats to luxurious superyachts approaching 300 feet in length. With over 600 exhibiting brands and hundreds of boats on display, PBIBS is a premier destination for exploring the latest in marine technology, yacht design, and nautical accessories.
The event also includes specialty showcases such as the Superyacht Show at Palm Harbor, educational seminars on boating and ownership, live activations like the AquaZone, and family-friendly activities including kids’ fishing clinics.
Relaxed Luxury & Local Culture
Unlike some of the larger boat shows in South Florida—such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale—the Palm Beach International Boat Show offers a somewhat more relaxed and refined atmosphere, with easy access to parking, public transit, and downtown amenities. Attendees often combine their day at the show with visits to nearby restaurants, bars, galleries, and shopping districts like CityPlace (now known as Rosemary Square), making it an attractive cultural and social destination for locals and visitors alike.
Art, Innovation & VIP Experiences
PBIBS is not just about boats - it’s also increasingly about lifestyle, luxury, and cultural engagement. VIP ticket holders enjoy access to premium lounges, gourmet dining, and exclusive events that sometimes coincide with related cultural offerings like the Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary (PBM+C) Art Fair, blending the worlds of fine art and luxury yachting.
For art lovers and design conscious attendees, the visual identity of the show is critical - not only in exhibits and signage but in how visitors navigate the expansive layout of boats, exhibits, food and beverage zones, and educational activations.
Featured Map Illustrator: John Potter / Escape Key Graphics
For more than a decade - from 2011 to the present - I have served as the illustrator and designer for the official Palm Beach International Boat Show map. Over the years, I have collaborated closely with the show’s production team at Informa Markets to refine and evolve the show’s visual mapping system to meet the needs of attendees, exhibitors, and staff as the event continues to grow and change.
My contributions have included:
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Official show map illustration—updated annually to reflect layout changes and new technologies
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App and digital maps used on mobile platforms during the event
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Signage and wayfinding graphics throughout the show footprint
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Transit and foldable maps designed for easy distribution and practical use
Each year’s map reflects improvements in style, software, and usability, ensuring that visitors have a seamless visual experience while navigating the show’s dynamic waterfront layout.
CUSTOM BOAT SHOW MAPS:
