Once again it’s time for The Miami Boat Show (February 16th-20th, 2012), and I’ve been busy revising maps and making some new ones.

As you may not realize The Miami Boat Show actually consists of three boat shows. The Yacht and Brokerage Show is managed by Show Management, and The Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail Miami are both managed by The National Marine Manufacturers Association (informally known as NMMA).

Miami Beach Convention Center Parking Map

Last year I designed the Collins Avenue venue map for Show Management and The Miami Beach Convention Center, Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center and Miamarina at Bayside venue maps for NMMA. This year I revised all four of those maps (and NMMA’s transit map) and also designed a parking map for The Miami Beach Convention Center venue for NMMA and a parking map for the Collins Avenue venue for Show Management. Here are dedicated links to the The Miami Beach Convention Center (zoomable or flat image), Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center (zoomable or flat image), Miamarina at Bayside (zoomable or flat image) and Collins Avenue (zoomable or flat image) venue maps.

If you haven’t seen last year’s videos of the process of creation of the Collins Avenue map and the Sea Isle and Bayside maps please have a look.

I hope you enjoy the new maps as well as the updates.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

This is my first year of designing and illustrating the map for the The St. Petersburg Power & Sailboat Show in Saint Petersburg, Florida for Show Management. As usual I used Adobe Illustrator and worked from CAD drawings supplied by Show Management. I didn’t make one of my videos of the work in progress as I have in the past, but you can view previous ones here if you like. I hope you enjoy the map.

The boat show will be Dec. 1 through Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011. If you need additional information about the boat show visit www.ShowManagement.com.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

2011 Fold Out Map in the phone app as “you are here” signs in Yachts International Magazine in the boat show program

If you need additional information about the boat show visit www.ShowManagement.com. For more information on my work on this and previous boat shows click here, and for more information on my maps in general see my maps page.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

I just finished a little project for Flamingo Gardens here in Davie, Florida that I would like to share. It wasn’t a big or complicated project, but sometimes potential is where you make it and I did my best to make this rack card something special.

The folks at Flamingo Gardens approached me with a request to update their children’s parties rack card. The one they had was very straight forward. It had some stock photography laid out nicely and a party hat had been photoshopped onto a parrot and flamingo’s heads. It was nicely done, but reserved and it seemed to appeal to parents wanting a quiet and orderly event rather than kids wanting to have fun.

I came up with a fairly nutty illustration concept and began moving toward something that looked pretty finished to show them right away. Although my early sketchs showed potential to me, I think they would have looked kind of crazy to anyone else. I didn’t think a written description of the illustration could possibly sell them on the idea either. I was convinced that if they saw it they would like it. Although I had risked wasting some time, they did like the concept when they saw it and everything went smoothly. Now Flamingo Gardens has a nice new rack card to advertise their birthday party package and I have a nice illustration I am happy to add to my portfolio.

Once again it’s time for the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. This time it’s the 52nd Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and I have been contracted by Show Management to update and upgrade the maps they used last year as well as make some new maps and uses for the maps.

In addition to the large map that features the Bahia Mar venue and the map of the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center I have created maps for the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina, Sails Marina, six details of the main map for use in the boat show program and the transit map I featured on my blog back in June.

Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina Map

Sails Marina Map

Entrance Tent Detail

Engine Tent Detail

Some of the changes to the main map include larger, more colorful icons and building identification like I used on the Palm Beach Boat Show map. Those concepts as well as color coding the key came from consultation with the insightful staff at Show Management.

For the six double page map detail spreads in the program I chose to highlight the buildings or tents in question by fading out the rest of the map. I also included a thumbnail of the large map to help orient the location of the detail. These layouts were provided to Show Management as kind of templates, allowing them to update the list of exhibitors themselves as preparations for the show proceed.

Some large, sign sized versions of the map are also in going to be displayed at strategic points around the show to help guests find their way. Maybe I can post some photos of those later.

If you didn’t see the video I made last year of the initial creation of the main map you please have a look. It’s pretty entertaining.

The next issue of Yachts International Magazine will feature a light version of the map, so please have a look.

If you need additional information about the boat show visit www.ShowManagement.com, and I have also posted a Google Map of the boat show venues.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

You may recall that I designed Dinosaur World in Plant City, Florida’s visitor map back in March 2010. I made a video of the design process at the time. You can see it on my March 26th 2010 post.

Dinosaur World in Plant City has now expanded and thus needed some revisions to their existing map. The park is a lot bigger, so be sure and drop by Dinosaur World and check it out, and when you are ready for your next map be sure and contact me.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

I was recently subcontracted by City Streetz, a full service graphics shop here in Fort Lauderdale, to create a map for The Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum highlighting some of Florida’s Seminole Indian heritage. City Streetz frequently calls upon me for illustration projects and, of course, maps.

Map Cover (and back cover on left)

The Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum had an existing map, but it was very dated, so my task was to bring it up to date. The map was to be in a poster format (34′X22") that folded down to 8.5"X11". For the map itself, this meant completely recreating it and for the rest of the panels on the map the previous design could serve as a rough guide. I screen captured some of the highlights of the project in time lapse video. I hope you enjoy it.

To learn more about City Streetz visit CityStreetz.net and for more information on the Ah Tah Thi Ki Museum visit ahtahthiki.com. To see a zoomable map (if you don’t already) click the “more” link below.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

One of my recent projects has been an overview map of the separate venues that constitute the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Although it isn’t isometric, I used a lot of the same techniques I normally use in Adobe Illustrator to achieve the look they wanted. I look forward to seeing the 2011 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show transit map in use.

If you need additional information about the boat show visit www.ShowManagement.com/, and I have also posted a Google Map of the boat show venues.

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image

I was recently cleaning up around the studio and came across a tube of these old posters I illustrated back in 1995 for Florida Sea Grant. I drew the illustration with pen and ink, had it commercially scanned, and then introduced spot color using QuarkXpress. I would have killed to have a computer as fast as I have now and a copy of CS4 or 5, but things were more limited back then. Windows 95 came out in August of ’95, so although I don’t recall, I may have done this in DOS based programs. I did have a new Packard Bell PC with the new Pentium 100MHz CPU, and I think 8MB RAM and a 1GB hard drive. I was still using DX4-100s at the office I worked at at the time. The work was stored on Magneto-Optical Drives since writable CDs and DVDs were not yet available.

The poster was intended to educate the public about the fragile ecosystems known as Estuarine Tidal Marsh. An estuary is where a freshwater outlet meets the saltwater of the sea. These environments serve as fish breeding grounds, important ecological habitat, and a natural defense against storm surge. Sadly, they are all too frequently destroyed for development since this doesn’t fit the stereotype of Florida living new residents expect. If you want to learn more about estuaries Florida Sea Grant has some good links. I am proud to have helped Florida Sea Grant, and I hope this poster reached some folks and made an impression on them.

In retrospect I guess there was some foreshadowing of the map work I am doing now in this old project, but I would not have guessed at the time. It was hard to imagine access to the software and processor speeds we have now. Anyhow…I hope you enjoy it.

Printed Palm Beach International Boat Show Map

Palm Beach International Boat Show Map as signage

I have just completed the map for the 2011 Palm Beach International Boat Show under contract of Show Management. It was a great, fun project. I screen captured the process of the map’s construction and created a video from it. I hope you enjoy it.

the 26th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show is on March 24 – 27, 2011. Parking and transportation information can be found on Show Management’s website.

The video is also available on YouTube.

For more about my map designs visit my site…attractionmaps.net

Visit Show Management and learn more about the 26th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show at http://www.showmanagement.com

Addendum:
I have just posted some panoramic photos I shot at the boat show: Ramp E, Meyer Amphitheatre, the Sky Limo barge and The Yachts International Pavilion

Miniature Golf Map Zoomable Map Map Image Kimball Farm Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Boat Show Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image Miami Conv. Ctr. Parking (Adobe Illustrator) Map Image St. Pete Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Palm Beach International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Flamingo Gardens Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Yacht and Brokerage Show Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Miami Strictly Sail Map Zoomable Map Map Image Miami Boat Show Sea Isle Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Fort Lauderdale Convention Center Map Zoomable Map Map Image Dinosaur World FL Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World KY Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video Dinosaur World TX Map Zoomable Map Map Image Florida Seminole Heritage Map Zoomable Map Map Image Creation Video British Virgin Islands Map Map Image Ft Lauderdale Boat Show Transit Map Zoomable Map Map Image