Support the "lives" of artists through customer support

Alex Duffey from our Americas Support team established a new program to support artists. We asked him about a story with Ms. Devon Bragg, the artist who inspired him to establish this program.

 

Please tell us about the encounter with Devon Bragg.

 

The first encounter with her was when I found her Instagram in May 2018. Devon had just under 1,000 followers at that time, however she was clearly someone who was a fan of our products and our values. I was impressed by Devon's work, then an idea to support her came to me. It was an idea that could also be spread out to support creative activities of artists by offering refurbished products. I immediately discussed it with my manager, offered a refurbished Wacom Cintiq Pro 16 to Devon. Needless to say, she was very happy to receive it.

What kind of supports did you continue to give her after that?

Devon's followers kept increasing for a few months after we offered the product, soon the number of followers quickly exceeded 10,000. Around that time, Devon told me that she was planning to visit Portland. I wondered if I could support her on that occasion and talked with Megan Davis Manager of the Wacom Experience Center. Megan also loved Devon's work, and asked her to hold a live demonstration in the Wacom Booth at the "Rose City Comic Con" held in Portland. Devon kept working more actively online and eventually was hired as a background artist by a major cartoon cable network.

Please tell us about your future initiatives to support artists.

Our customer operations team will continue to support up-and-coming artists like Devon, who one day could be an influencer and would then already be an advocate for Wacom. Artists that Wacom can help grow, and in turn, make them lifelong users and advocates for Wacom. Our continued plan is to find artists that we encounter through our everyday customer support activities and events. We would then reach out and support their activities making full use of Wacom products.

Finally, we introduce a message
from the artist Devon Bragg.

"It was my dream to work in the field of art, but I had no idea where to start. I was disappointed with myself, and at a loss every day. In the form of comics, I was able to express my frustrations in my everyday life. Alex was the first person who shed light on me when I was like that. He said that my works spoke to him, and that he believed in me enough to send me a Wacom Cintiq Pro. More than that he offered me the wonderful tool, that alone was incredible.

Without his help, I believe I wouldn't be where I am today. That gesture lit a fire under me to push harder, faster and stronger towards my goal. One day I hope I can do something like what Alex did for me. It all starts with someone believing in you. I was given that - and it changed my life. Nothing beats that."
(Devon Bragg)

 

s

Ms. Devon Bragg's profile

Devon Bragg is a jack-of-all-trades artist originally from Columbia, Maryland who moved out to California to pursue her dream just under two years ago. Coming from a horse-girl life and an editorial illustration background, Devon had no idea if her dream to change everything about her life made any sort of sense - but she did it anyway because art is her oxygen. With a lot of french fries in her system and enough diet coke to fill a truck, she scrapped everything to pursue her love for the animation industry which had been so influential in her youth. She has spent her time being a character designer for Disney and a background painter, vis-dev and generalist artist at Nickelodeon where her work family, who she owes everything too, resides. When she isn't drawing or painting, she's hiking so she can pretend to be Link from Breath of the Wild.

Instagram: @devonbraggart

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