do i use own name or create company name????
hels (10 points) | Wed, 2008-12-03 04:18Hello my name is helen thomas.
After over ten years of working for other people so I have decided to start freelance/graphic design company.
What i am proposing is doing design for small to medium size business including: logos, business cards, flyers, simple websites and freelance magazine design (which is where the majority of my working life as been)
Should I use my own name or create a business name?
What do you think?
Does it look better/more professional to have a business name instead of just using my name.
ideas so far:
Helen thomas - creative designer
HT | graphics
2am | design
UNITY design
creative unity
Upbeat design
one creative.
Feedback appreciated.
I use business name and "we". Everyone here disagrees.
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"Did I really try to find an "undo" button on a vending machine?"
Jack
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My name definitely isn't One Girl Creative...;)
I struggled with that same dilemma back in 2003 before I came up with my business name, and because I don't necessarily have an easy name to remember or pronounce, I chose to do something catchy instead.
The funny thing is, we moved into our loft 2.5 years ago (2006) and I literally live above a graphic design studio. Their name? Toolbox Creative. Oy!
You have to go with what works best for you. But honestly, if I did have a name that was easy to pronounce and spell, I probably would have done the name-thing, as well.
Keep us posted.
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
there is no right answer. in the end, it's your work that sells you, not your business name. if you pick something that isn't your name, just don't be lame about it. you can probably hurt yourself with a lame business name more than you can help yourself with a creative one.
...when I was shit faced in a pub on a hot summers night.
Just sayin'.
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We artists are indestructible, even in a prison cell or concentration camp I would be almighty in my own world of art. Even if I had to paint my pictures with my wet tongue on the dusty floor of my cell. - Pablo Picasso
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
I like HT Design.. nice ring to it. I don't think there is any right/wrong answer.
I'm actually in a very similar situation right now. I have a portfoio set up, but I'm in the process of changing it into a full-fledged business. The only thing that's stopping me is a name.
To answer your question about whether you should use your name or not, in my opinion it depends on what your planning in the future. If it is just going to be you, and only you -- for the lifetime of the company, then I would say using your name is a good idea. It seems more personal when working with just one person's name, and a lot of people really like that. And it sounds a bit more specific and memorable than "___ Creative" or similar.
However, if you are planning on hiring another person or people to work with or for you, I would advise against using your name. If you're a team, your clients should know that. Since it's unlikely your own name is renowned at this point, I think it would be better to come up with a business name that is more flexible for growth.
Good luck with this, I REALLY know the struggle. I personally would love to work with a developer/programmer in the future, so I'm trying to come up with a solid, flexible name. I'm totally stuck.
Another thing to think about is what domains are available. It's quite surprising (not to mention, frustrating) how many domains are taken. Before making your final decision, do a quick search on http://www.whois.net/ to see if it's available.
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www.perfectlylost.com
i disagree with that, stephanie. i know a number of top design firms in the DC area that have the name of the studio owner/art director (beth singer design, comella design, tom suzuki design). it's a positive for them because the company is associated with their names and their names carry cachet in the community.
again, it's all about the work. don't get too wrapped up in overthinking the name.
I can definitely see your point. That's why I mentioned the "renowned" part. Sure, if you have had quite a bit of business already and people know your name for what you do -- sure, use it. But not everyone has that recognition to start.
It's also about preference, I guess. Just thought I would share my opinion. :)
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www.perfectlylost.com
to be fair, most people aren't "renowned" when they start their own business. that generally comes later. but my point was that growing to be a bigger business with more employees doesn't mean using your own name turns into a bad thing or a restriction.
You are absolutely right. I never said it was a bad thing or a restriction. Sometimes people can become better known from working in another firm or company and branching off into their own business (hence having a little fame attached to their name), but it's also possible without, like you've mentioned -- building up from the ground on your own name. When it expands, you don't change it. I guess it's like every other market. :) My bad for not looking at the whole picture.
This is why I'm a designer and not a name creator. ;)
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www.perfectlylost.com
I actually agree with your first comment. I dont think I've seen a design firm that uses one person's name here. To me it would sound like the owner is a tad full of themselves.
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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"Did I really try to find an "undo" button on a vending machine?"
Jack
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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maybe people are different in england/europe. it's very common here in the states.
Look at Paula Scher? She is well-known because of her work, not because of the name of the agency she's associated with—which happens to be Pentagram, BTW.
Food for thought...
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"I am not sick. I am broken. But I am happy as long as I can paint." ~ Frida Kahlo
www.onegirlcreative.com
Maybe I've been playing a little too much word scramble lately, but try mixing the letters in your name too. You have some good ones to work with.
"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
Helen Thomas? The Man Holes?
Oh dear.
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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"Did I really try to find an "undo" button on a vending machine?"
Jack
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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LOL! That resurrected a memory. Man holes... My father calls sanitary napkins man hole covers.
Your mind is definitely scrambled, jhouse...and that's a good thing. ;)
"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
— Frank Zappa
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
OMG. I was just sick in my mouth.
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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"Did I really try to find an "undo" button on a vending machine?"
Jack
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BRANDING | PRINT | WEB
www.jhousedesign.com
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tee hee...
Whatever name you pick make sure it's not trademarked by someone else. And do make sure as your business gets larger you begin the process of separating your company from your personal assets so if you ever get sued you won't have to fork over your personal assets to defend yourself.
My one piece of advice against using your name for your business is if your buesiness fails, wouldn't you rather it be a fictitious name than your own?
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Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
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The Salon Design Tech
Whatever name you pick make sure it's not trademarked by someone else. And do make sure as your business gets larger you begin the process of separating your company from your personal assets so if you ever get sued you won't have to fork over your personal assets to defend yourself.
My one piece of advice against using your name for your business is if your business fails, wouldn't you rather it be a fictitious name than your own? It will be much easier to recover.
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Natobasso
dirtandrust.com
"Powerpoint is not a design application"
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The Salon Design Tech
Nato has some good advice, the other side to that coin is, if your company has the same name as you do you can accept personal checks and claim them for the business or vice-versa for tax reasons (not that I condone any financial report fudging, it's just some advice I was given once concerning this issue).
"...and mamma cried: Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow" - Frank Zappa
Personally, I went with the ole' last name and what you do. Bennett Designs. Not groundbreaking, but it works for me. Most people call me by my last name anyhow, so it works for me.
Anyways, I would definately take the availability of a good url into account. For me, www.bennettdesigns.com was taken, but by a furniture maker. So I went with the next best option, www.bennettdesigns.net (don't bother clicking, I haven't done anything with it yet other than using it for email).
I think the .net is ok for a designer. I just don't want to be confused with www.bennett-designs.net. ugh.
Anyhow, I briefly toyed with Bennett Design Group, but since this business is just me, I didn't find it appropriate.
HT, graphics. You could do a wordplay to make it "HIT" graphics.
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