New to the licensing market this year is Red Hot Rocket, designs by graphic artists Ryan Hungerford and Julian Koiles. Between them, the artists have 20 years in the graphic arts business under their belts, and they have decided to combine their ideas and take their original designs to market.

"This will be our first show," said Hungerford. "We have been showing our designs around and have had a strong response to our art and our characters. We're hoping to get ourselves out there and spark something." The team has developed style guides for its first three collections and will be featuring their designs at Licensing International Expo 2010.

The pair's art is edgy and fun and should resonate with younger consumers looking for irreverent designs for T-shirts and other licensed products.

Red Hot Rocket will debut with three collections at the show. Cryptozu is a series of monsters that includes Bigfoot, Yeti and the Loch Ness Monster. "The collection is very boy-oriented," said Hungerford. "We're pairing the illustrations with slogans—or cryptology—such as Sasquatch with the words 'big, hairy ape-like creature' written below."

Hungerford and Koiles have also developed Spunky Munky, a cute blue pop-illustrated monkey, and Razzle Dazzle Girls, a series of Burlesque-like girls that has a retro feel. Hungerford will be looking for licensing opportunities in T-shirts, handbags and makeup bags for this series.