Special Edition: Inside DesignerCon Las Vegas | Independent Artists, Collectibles & Creative Careers

Artists to Watch: Las Vegas goes beyond the music for a special edition exploring the artists, designers and creators shaping another side of Las Vegas culture.

Students from Rebel Media Group sit down with Kai (Kevin) Cao the COO of DesignerCon for a conversation about the world of independent art, designer toys, collectibles and creative entrepreneurship.

DesignerCon brings hundreds of independent and emerging artists and brands together, giving fans the opportunity to discover new work—and giving creators a place to get noticed. In this special episode, we explore how DesignerCon has grown over more than two decades, why Las Vegas has become part of its story, and how young artists can turn their creativity into a career.

The conversation covers the rise of designer toys and blind boxes, Labubu and Pop Mart, trading cards, graffiti and independent art, as well as upcoming DesignerCon collaborations and exclusives. Most importantly for aspiring creators, we hear how artists can build an audience, promote their work, find mentors and put themselves in position to be discovered by major brands.

DesignerCon returns to Las Vegas November 13–15, 2026.

Whether you're a musician, visual artist, designer, content creator, marketer or simply someone fascinated by creative culture, this special edition of Artists to Watch: Las Vegas is about what happens when creativity, community and opportunity come together.

Artists to Watch: Las Vegas spotlights the people, ideas and creative voices shaping Las Vegas and beyond.