2025 Newport International Boat Show Map

A new look for a longtime show map

Artist, Illustrator, Designer: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: Informa Markets

I'm the guy who makes these maps. If you plan on attending the show please visit the show's website to make sure you're getting all the latest information on The Newport International Boat Show at NewportBoatShow.com

About the Show

The Newport International Boat Show takes place along the historic waterfront in Newport, Rhode Island. It is one of the oldest and most respected shows on the East Coast, set in a dense area of small, charming buildings where the line between the show and the surrounding neighborhood is softer than at most venues.

I have been illustrating and designing the official map for this show since 2012. Over the years the show has changed ownership and management several times and is now operated by Informa Markets. The map has evolved along with it.

A Major Change This Year

This year marked a break from previous years in both the look and feel of the map and in my process of creating it.

Earlier versions were axonometric vector renderings made in Adobe Illustrator. The viewing angle changed over time but the method stayed the same. Now that the show has been under Informa's management for a full year without any issues, it felt like the right time to reimagine the map in a style more consistent with their other shows.

The look of Informa's boat show maps is largely a result of the process I have developed for creating and updating them. That process starts with a three dimensional model.

My Process

First I built a three dimensional model of the venue and the surrounding area. This is the heavy lifting part of the job and most of it only has to be done once. For Newport this step was especially labor intensive because the area is so dense and the edge of the show is less defined than at most of the other shows I work on.

Once the model was complete I added the floating docks and tents that are specific to the show. These are the elements that will need updating from year to year.

I then supplied the client with multiple angles to choose from. After they made their selection I rendered images from that angle. Those renders were then combined, retouched and refined in Photoshop. The resulting bitmap illustration became the foundation for the map I built in Illustrator, where I added the keying, labeling, and all the other elements that turn an illustration into a usable map.

What Changed Visually

This year's map kept the same inland at the bottom approach as recent years but used a steeper angle. The more realistic look of the 3D rendered illustration makes the map feel more relatable and less diagrammatical than before.

I also made a move toward more keying and less labeling to stay consistent with other Informa maps. The density of this map and the very square shape of the area are what set it apart most from the other shows I work on. The New England setting also called for a different color palette, more restrained and earthy, to fit the classic character of Newport.

A Few Small Notes

As a point of local interest, this map site sits directly across Newport Harbor from another longtime client of mine, Conanicut Marina in Jamestown.

And please do not confuse the Newport International Boat Show with the Newport Beach International Boat Show in California. I make that map too, but they are different shows on opposite coasts.

Your Map

If you need a custom map for a boat show, an event, or any other venue, contact me. Maps do double duty. They work for marketing before the show and for wayfinding once people arrive.