Ayleen Gaspar Breaks Down Details on Designer Con

Big thanks to Shawn Marshall @the_con_fluence for another great article!

One of the highlights of the Californiaconvention scene is definitely Pasadena’s annual Designer Con.  This year the show is taking over the PasadenaConvention Centeron November 5^th, as artist and toy aficionados from all over the globe converge and make it the epicenter of artistic spirit.  This is a definite “must stop” on my yearly con circuit, so I was very interested in hearing some of the background of the event.  In anticipation of the show, I requested an interview to discuss the plans for this year and was extremely excited that Ayleen Gaspar, co-founder of Designer Con and wonderful host of October Toy’s Toy Break podcast, was able to take the time to fill me in on some of the exciting details.

 SM: Being a big fan of your show, my first question relates to its history. How was Designer Con born? What was the process of going from vision to reality and how has it lived up to your expectations?

“Designer Con grew out of what used to be the Vinyl Toy Network. The show originally focused on designer toys, but quickly grew to encompass the surrounding design aspects of art, apparel, and more. In order to open the show up to a wider audience and more accurately reflect the wider variety of vendors we had, we changed the name to Designer Con.

As far as expectations go, I’m very pleased with the continued growth of the show every year. I started as a humble vendor with my company October Toys at the first Vinyl Toy Network and have since moved into helping coordinate the show with Ben Goretsky for the past three years. Every year we are pleased to add more vendors and events and welcome more attendees through the doors!”

SM: One of the most impressive things about Designer Con is the way that it takes a niche hobby like toy collecting and makes it accessible to a larger community. Last year I brought a friend who’d never purchased a toy in his adult life and he had an absolute blast. What do you think it is about Designer Con that makes it such an accessible experience?

“We love hearing that! So glad you and your friend enjoyed the show. While collecting designer toys is a bit of a niche community, I think the diversity of vendors Designer Con offers coupled with the relaxed atmosphere make it accessible to far more than just collectors. There is a little something for everyone as well as events, activities, and artists!”

SM: With the success of last year’s event, I’m wondering how it influenced your preparation for this year’s show. Do you feel any pressure, because of last year? How do you feel about this year’s show relative to your feelings this time last year?

“Again, thank you for the compliment regarding Designer Con’s success! Ben and I spend a lot of time throughout the year preparing for each show and although it is a lot of work, it’s fun. I don’t really feel any pressure because we make a great team in terms of show production and we have enough experience to handle any little surprises the pop up along the way. Every year we get a little bigger and a little better, so at this point before the show, I’m more excited for all the fun and festivities instead of stressed!”

SM: Having attended nearly every minute of last year’s show, I know there is a lot to be excited about this November. That being said, what message can you pass onto our readers that have not yet attended your show? What makes Designer Con unique and awesome?

“Designer Con is unique and awesome because it is truly a labor of love for Ben and I. We are fans and collectors just like everyone else and I think that comes though in the show. We do our best to provide a relaxed atmosphere where people can check out the latest toys and apparel, chat with their favorite artists, and maybe find a new treasure or two in the mix. Being at a great venue in Pasadena doesn’t hurt either.”

SM: Finally, is there anything else we haven’t covered here that you’d like passed on to our readers?

“Just to keep an eye on our site, DesignerCon.com, for updates on exclusives, artists, and events. We have so many amazing things happening this year including an art show by Scott Wilkowski, the first annual Suckathon with The Sucklord, a Lego art show, Dr. Sketchy’s models, the World’s Biggest Blindbox Time with Toy Break, and tons more! We look forward to seeing everyone at the show and remember to save a couple dollars by buying your tickets online ahead of time!”

I cannot thank Ayleen enough for taking the time to talk with us.  If you are a fan of anything creative, you have to make sure to get by Designer Con this year.  It is one of the most unique shows in all of the convention world.  Personally, I’ll be working overtime to get back and forth from Comikze Expo and Designer Con that Saturday, but I couldn’t be more excited.  I suggest you visit www.designercon.com now, so that you can pick-up some discounted tickets and avoid the long line at the door. See you there!