“It’s about branding consistently”

Creative Career Conundrums is a weekly advice column from If You Could Jobs. Each week their selected panel of professionals from the creative industry answers your burning career questions to help you navigate the creative journey.

This week’s question: 

“Do I need a creative/artistic name or nickname?

I’m a 25 year old graphic designer. I like my first name because it is uncommon and has a special meaning for my family. On the other hand my last name is too common and has nothing special. I have considered changing my legal name so that it becomes my unique creative name in the industry because I don’t like nicknames. Do I need to go through the trouble or should I just pick a nickname. Why does it seem that your name is such a big deal in the creative world?”

Kat Wong, founder of career change platform Oh Yeah:

Congratulations on liking your uncommon name! Let’s thank your parents for giving you this gift, which some others may not quite share the same sentiment. Shout out to the crew who’ve had a lifetime of repeating and spelling out their names. (And please, if you don’t know how to pronounce a name properly, just ask – the effort does matter).

I hear you on the very common surname; there are way too many (Kat) Wongs out there. I nearly screamed with delight when one company misheard my last name, posting an item addressed to a ‘Kat Wrong’. I’ve long waited for the right moment to use it as an anecdote. 

The short answer to your question: you do not need to change your name legally. And you can use your unique first name and build the portfolio and memorability around it, without all the admin trouble you already know about. Remember, changing it legally is the least-reversible option. The finality of it will be felt, especially if the relationship with your name changes. But plenty of artists and professional creatives go by their first name – while their legal name stays exactly as is on contracts and invoices. And this costs nothing.

In any case, I don’t think many people feel compelled to use their full legal name for their career for various reasons: the most common being not adapting their legal married name at work and sticking with the name on which their reputation (and searchability) has been built.

I love the fact that your first name brings such special meaning to your family – I’m sure it will create even more connection with your work as your career develops. And as to your question on why names feel like a big deal in creative fields. Well, alongside the memorability of a distinctive name (also easier to retain), it’s about branding consistently, plus building recognition at all touch points. It’s a logo at the end of the day. So people, quite understandably, get obsessed with getting it ‘right’ early on with their visual identity or handle.  

So go for it.  And here’s to being unique, running with it, and owning your own narrative. 

In answering your creative career conundrums we realise that some issues need expert support, so we’ve collated a list of additional resources that can support you across things that might arise at work.

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