The first in a long series of maps for this historic show

Artist, Illustrator, Designer: John Potter - Escape Key Graphics
Client: The Newport Exhibition Group

Newport International Boat Show Map 2012

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. The venue is dense with small, charming buildings, and the line between the show and the surrounding neighborhood is softer than at most other shows I work on.

About This Map

This was my first year working on the map for the Newport International Boat Show. The client was The Newport Exhibition Group, and this project marked the beginning of a long relationship.

I created an axonometric map from a flat overhead drawing I made. This took many hours of meticulous work in Adobe Illustrator. I built the venue and surrounding area by hand, carefully placing each building and street.

That investment paid off in the years that followed. The resulting axonometric vector illustration became the foundation for future maps. From that point on, most years only required updating the show features like dock layouts and exhibitor tents, not rebuilding the whole thing from scratch.

Over time the map has evolved. Early versions like this one were oriented from Newport Harbor. Later the orientation shifted to a more inland viewpoint to improve clarity and wayfinding. In 2025 the map was fully rebuilt using a three dimensional model to align with other major shows while still keeping the character of the Newport waterfront. But it all started here in 2012.

Be sure to check out the video below.

What I Can Do For You

If you need a custom illustrated map for a boat show, an event, or any other venue, contact me. I can create something similar to this early Newport map, or I can provide a detail of an existing map for your specific marketing or wayfinding needs. I have been doing this work for over a decade and I would be glad to do it for you.

Maps For Newport International Boat Show:


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