After discovering success by way of the creation of progressive and inclusive graphic design instruments, Vegalia Jean-Pierre acquired greater than $50K from TikTok to create an upcoming app.
Jean-Pierre began constructing a robust following on the favored social networking platform by posting cartoons highlighting folks of shade, with braids and curls, Hometown Supply studies. When designing her cartoons, the Iowa State alum, who went to school on a full scholarship, realized how difficult and time-consuming it was to create the braided and curly hairstyles she and others who appear like her typically put on.
Because of this, the product design graduate created her personal set of digital brushes that simply replicate Black hairstyles, together with braids, curls, locks, twists, and extra. The progressive design turned an on the spot hit, garnering Jean-Pierre views and 1000’s of gross sales from everywhere in the world.
Her firm, by.Vegalia, affords over 50 digital brushes for pure hairstyles on Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, and Procreate, ranging in worth from $8 – $20. Due to her success on TikTok, the younger Minnesota-based designer was invited to take part in TikTok for Black Creatives incubator program.
The three-month program supplied Jean-Pierre with sources that helped her develop her following on the platform to over 500,000 followers.
“It was an excellent profit to me,” Jean-Pierre mentioned.
She additionally was supplied a $50K grant after pitching an concept for an app that she is at present creating.
“Our purpose is to make sure Black creatives and artists have the sources they should attain new heights of their careers and spearhead innovation of their respective industries,” mentioned Kudzi Chikumbu, director of the Creator Neighborhood at TikTok.
Along with her upcoming app that may present an area for various artists to really feel represented, Jean-Pierre additionally launched the Melanin Magic coloring guide that she created with 14 different Black artists and options 35 authentic magical characters of shade, together with mermaids, fairies, and magical ladies.
