A waveguide display includes a waveguide and a staircase structure coupled to the waveguide. The waveguide includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a holographic material layer between the first substrate and the second substrate. The holographic material layer includes a first grating and a second grating. The staircase structure is positioned on top of at least a portion of the first grating but not on top of the second grating. The staircase structure includes an input grating that is on top of the first grating and is configured to couple display light into the waveguide. The first grating is configured to redirect the display light coupled into the waveguide by the input grating towards the second grating.