Transforming Texas maritime complexity into visual clarity that drives action
Texas commands one of America's most critical maritime networks—23 seaports moving $400+ billion in cargo annually, the 379-mile Gulf Intracoastal Waterway-Texas (GIWW-T), and over 1,000 miles of navigation channels. But translating this vast system's interconnected data into compelling stories that resonate with legislators, stakeholders, and communities? That's where strategic design functions as critical infrastructure communication. essential infrastructure.
At this year's TxDOT Environmental Conference, we're presenting a poster titled "Creating a Common Vision for Texas Ports Through Strategic & Creative Design"—a deep dive into how Hollaway partnered with TxDOT's Maritime Division and the Port Authority Advisory Committee to transform dense planning documents into visual narratives that build consensus and drive investment.
The challenge: Making maritime complexity accessible
When you're advocating for critical port infrastructure investments—from deepening ship channels to expanding cargo capacity—your audience spans from coastal community members to state legislators to federal transportation officials. Each group needs to quickly grasp not just what you're proposing, but why Texas's maritime future depends on it.
The challenge? Traditional planning documents often bury crucial insights in walls of text and complex data tables. Decision-makers need to see the big picture, understand port interconnections, and grasp economic impacts—all within the time constraints of packed meeting agendas and legislative sessions.
Our approach: Design as strategic infrastructure
Working alongside TxDOT's Maritime Division, we developed a comprehensive visual system that treats design not as decoration, but as essential infrastructure for communication and consensus-building. Our poster showcases three key innovations:
From the Port Mission Plan to the Executive Summary to the GIWW-T Legislative Report, we created a cohesive design language that works seamlessly across print, digital, and presentation formats. Notice how the red, white, and blue maritime theme creates immediate recognition while maintaining professional authority—crucial when materials move from community meetings to Capitol Hill.
Complex port connectivity, cargo flows, and infrastructure priorities become immediately graspable through custom iconography and layered infographics. Our waterway visualization doesn't just map Texas ports—it shows how recreational users, private industry, government operations, and shipping channels interconnect in one comprehensive ecosystem.
A standout example: our isometric illustration of the innovative "corkscrew" bridge in Sargent, Texas. This award-winning structure (ENR Texas-Louisiana Region's 2021 Best Projects Award of Merit) replaced an outdated swing bridge that created costly delays for GIWW-T vessel traffic. The corkscrew design's elegant engineering solution—providing continuous roadway access between barrier island and mainland while maintaining adequate clearance for maritime traffic—exemplifies the kind of infrastructure innovation that requires visual storytelling to fully appreciate. Our representational approach helps stakeholders immediately grasp how smart engineering solves multiple transportation challenges simultaneously.
Every element meets WCAG contrast standards and maintains readability from conference room presentations to large-format displays. When stakeholders can quickly scan and absorb key information, meetings move faster and consensus builds more effectively.
Impact: From better meetings to stronger advocacy
The results speak to design's strategic value. Legislative briefings now open with clear visual frameworks instead of dense data dumps. Community engagement sessions see increased participation when residents can easily understand how port investments affect their local economy. And advocacy efforts gain traction when the story of Texas maritime infrastructure becomes as compelling visually as it is economically.
The corkscrew bridge illustration exemplifies this impact—what could have been a technical engineering discussion becomes an immediately understandable success story about solving transportation bottlenecks while supporting maritime commerce. When stakeholders can visualize how infrastructure innovations like this create win-win solutions, support for similar projects accelerates.
Most importantly, we've created a scalable system. Templates, icon libraries, and brand standards ensure consistency as new projects emerge—reducing production time while maintaining the professional credibility essential for multi-million-dollar infrastructure discussions.
See it in action
Poster Session Details:
Stop by to explore our design process, and tell us what visual challenges your team faces. Whether you're working on transportation planning, environmental projects, or community engagement, we'd love to discuss how strategic design can accelerate your most important work.