It’s that time of year again, so we’re looking for new designs for both of Ai-Kon’s mascots: Aiko and Doug! Aiko and Doug appear on a variety of Ai-Kon promotional materials, including t-shirts, posters, flyers, badges, programs, and the Ai-Kon website. Their designs can be created by you!
Please make sure to read the Rules and Requirements before submitting your entry, as they may have changed from last year! Failure to follow requirements may result in your entry being disqualified.
All entries to past years’ Mascot Contests can be found here.
Ai-Kon 2025 Mascot Contest
A visit to a cafe is a must for any group. Sweet desserts paired with tea and coffee are the perfect combination for conversations or a good book. This year, we are looking for a Cafe themed Aiko and Doug for Ai-Kon 2025.
Aiko is a cheerful, stylish, energetic anime girl with pink hair and blue eyes. Her age should be late teens to early twenties. (approx 16-23 years of age)
Doug is a young, lovable, yet mischievous boy known by our community as a scamp with white hair and blue eyes. His age should be mid to late teens (approx 12-18 years of age)
Entries to the 2025 Ai-Kon Mascot Contest (Aiko and/or Doug) are due 11:59 PM CST, Friday, December 6th. Artists may submit a maximum of FOUR entries (TWO max per mascot) for the Ai-Kon Mascot Contest
[Click here to submit your entry]
Rules and Requirements
Entry Specifications:
- Full Colour with a transparent background
- Please do not include any background elements
- Canvas size should be (minimum) 11×17 inches
- 300 DPI resolution or higher (600 DPI is ideal!)
- PNG format to ensure background is transparent.
- Entries MUST keep eye and hair colours for both mascots.
*A smaller version of your entry may be submitted for judging as long as a higher resolution version is available. Please note this in the comments section of your submission.
Naming Format:
FirstNameLastName-ArtistAlias-Doug01.png
- Example: JaneDoe-JaneDraws-Doug01.png
FirstNameLastName-ArtistAlias-Aiko01.png
- Example: JaneDoe-JaneDraws-Aiko01.png
Additional Rules and Agreement:
- No entries featuring symbols, logos, poses, outfits and/or hair styles of copyrighted characters, or copyrighted characters themselves. Any entries featuring copyrighted material will not be accepted.
- This includes any trademark/copyright logos and emblems
- No adult-themed entries will be accepted. This will be at the discretion of Ai-Kon executives.
- Please ensure entries are suitable for all ages.
- Do not use a watermark or a signature on your submission.
- All entries and rights to the images become property of Ai-Kon.
- The same artist cannot be selected as first place winner for both 2025 art contests.
- Ai-Kon will request an additional chibi version of the winning designs. The winning artists will have until January 31st 2025 to complete this artwork for merchandise and/or promotional purposes. Additional alternative designs will be requested if needed and compensated. Ai-Kon respects the artist’s right to refuse both these requests.
- No AI generated artwork will be considered.
- Please do not share entries on social media until after the winner has been announced.
What the Ai-Kon Committee looks for in a mascot:
- The specified theme is apparent.
- Pose is energetic and lively. (TIP: Static standing poses aren’t generally chosen!)
- Style is “anime” inspired. We are an anime convention after all!
- Aiko and Doug are represented accurately (age, physical attributes, and personality)
- Facial expressions are inviting and open.
- No or small presents of names or text used on clothing.
- The design’s ability to be placed on promotional media (badges, lanyards, posters, t-shirts, etc)
- This generally means no tiny details, no soft shading where the colours blend together, and using distinct colours in your palette. Of course, there are exceptions, so please use your best judgement.
Prizes
Ai-Kon 2025 Mascot Contest:
The winners will receive: a free art table, one (1) artist weekend admission to our next physical event, and the current year’s merch bundle free of cost. The winning entry will be used for Ai-Kon 2025 promotional materials and merchandise.
There are two runners-up for the Ai-Kon Mascot Contest.
The two runners-up will receive: A free half art table and an artist weekend admission to our next physical event!