Kat Wong: Experience, Skills and Self-Study Drive Creative Careers, Not Degrees

In the Creative Career Conundrums column from If You Could Jobs, Kat Wong responded to a reader who questioned whether a design degree is essential for a creative profession. The reader, currently in a leadership position but lacking formal qualifications, expressed uncertainty about their next steps. Wong, the founder of Oh Yeah, highlighted that success in creative fields is largely dependent on experience, skills, and self-directed learning, citing the 70-20-10 learning framework. She pointed out that numerous degree holders encounter job application rejections and urged the reader to investigate the roots of their insecurities. Wong recommended exploring structured design courses, possibly funded by employers. Her extensive career includes producing documentaries on apartheid, leading teams at Apple, and working at BBC Radio; she departed Apple in 2025 to create Oh Yeah.