"Because of the size I knew the design had to be very simple. There are so many iconic images on the Island - from the Aquinnah cliffs to the Campground Cottages - but I was looking for something that was representative of the Vineyard as a whole. The Steamship is a common denominator. It’s part of just about everyone’s Vineyard experience. Every car here came on the ferry at some point so I thought it was an appropriate symbol for a license plate. And, in my opinion, the Steamship is just as picturesque and emblematic as anything on the Island." Gwyn McAllister

Gwyn McAllister is a freelance journalist and copywriter who lives between Oak Bluffs and New York City.