Graphic Design Resume Best Practices and 51 Examples

Do you have a graphic design resume that is hard to reject?

You should.

In this article you’ll find resources and tips to create a designer resume that kicks ass.

A graphic designer resume is more complicated to create than a regular creative resume, as the first thing someone would be interested in is to have a look at your previous work.

This is the reason why designers are always looking to build a well-designed resume, with captivating and beautiful graphics content for their potential clients.

The graphic design resumes display both the talents and the nature of the author, helping to build a brand even when working independently. As simple as that – resumes make you unique.

This article’s table of contents

• Graphic designer resume format
  • Graphic design resume structure
  • Graphic design resume format (text)
  • Graphic designer skills
  • Graphic design portfolio
• Graphic designer cover letter
• Graphic designer resume templates
• Creative resume design tips, examples and inspiration

Graphic designer resume format

The cool resumes are, in fact, the result of a long research of graphic design resume examples in order to find similarities with your professional story and outline your special skills and experience.

Treat the resume as you treat yourself before going to an interview – polish it, present it, and let it speak for you.

When creating a graphic design resume, originality will be appreciated. However, remember not to make your designer resume too way out. If you aren’t confident in your own ability or you don’t have enough time you can easily order your resume here.

You have only 6 seconds for your graphic resume to strike a chord with the art director.

As a result, your designer CV should be clear and easy to understand. You don’t want to bury vital information beneath a creative resume design.

Instead, you want your design resume to show your talent, creativity, and experience.

Graphic design resume structure

When creating an impact, it often helps to give your resume designs a predictable formula so that an art director knows what to expect.

Reverse Chronological

A reverse chronological graphic designer CV lists your recent work experience first.  Your reader is then able to go back in time. This shows how you have progressed, but emphasizes your recent path as a graphic designer.

Functional

This resume format focuses on your graphic designer skills instead of your work history. This is the best resume design for focusing on your talents or strengths rather than your work history.

Combination

This resume for designers draws on the best of both worlds, emphasizing your work history along with your skills and talents.

Remember that your graphical resume provides an art director with an example of your design.  Ensure that your resume uses effective typography.  Pay close attention to your layout, balancing creativity with function.

Save your resume as a Pdf. file so that your formatting remains consistent.

Graphic design resume format (text)

Share your name, email address, contact number and website at the top of the page.

(John Doe, johndoe@gmail.com, 555-987-6543, johndoe.com

Professional Profile

Share your position and the work direction you have taken.  For example, senior graphic designer for a digital web design company.  Highlight any achievements you have made.

(Senior graphic designer – digital design, mobile applications, branding, and animation – for a medium-sized digital design company.  Increased client base by 20%).

Professional Experience

Senior Graphic Designer
New York Motion Graphics

• Worked with the design team on innovative solutions to client problems
• Expanded E-Commerce division
• Facilitated the move into mobile application designs
• Worked with a team to ensure effective typography, logo design, branding and copy for website design.

Graphic Designer
G&H Marketing and Graphics Agency

• Created websites, logos, and E-commerce sites.
• Contributed to the award-winning ACME Inc.
• Worked on multiple accounts while meeting deadlines.
• Consulted on client goals and needs and discussed the best design strategies.
• Created proposals and storyboards for clients.

Education

• BA in Visual Arts
• Cal Tech
• January 2008 – December 2010
• Awarded a BAFA scholarship to study.
• Graduated with distinction.
• Class medal for the most memorable student.
• Arranged talks for the design society while studying.
• Favorite area of study:  digital design.

Additional skills

• Photography and Photoshop Skills
• Digital illustrator skills – proficient in Adobe Illustrator
• Animation skills
• Certified team facilitator

Awards and Certifications

• Adobe Certified Designer
• BAFA award for ACME Ad 2015
• Runner-up for GDEA for Jimmy’s Print design

Portfolio

(View online at johndoe.com)

• Mackles’ poster series are both intuitive and beautifully The typography is designed to get the idea quickly.  Aesthetically, it reflects the thoughtful message behind the brand.
• Jake’s Indigenous Garden Book offers a clean and legible layout with illustrations and photographs of local plants.
• Packaging design: created packaging for the organic garden range for Jen’s Gardening Solutions.

You can also get a creative resume for Mac directly and edit it in Word or Apple Pages.

Graphic designer skills

As a graphic designer, your unique skill set will enable you to stand out.  The more you align your individual skills to a particular job, the better your chance.  List your unique skills in your graphic design CV and emphasize them in your cover letter and during your interview.

If you are creating a student graphic designer resume, focus on the skills you have acquired during your internships, student jobs or extracurricular activities.  The more you hone in on your unique skills and develop them, the better your designer’s resume will be.  This will increase your chance of being hired for a job.

• Ability to learn digital design platforms
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Photoshop
• Applying digital resources to design projects
• Assertiveness
• Attention to detail
• Balancing artistic integrity with audience appeal
• Choosing most effective typography for graphic design projects
• Color sense
• Color theory
• Communication
• Composition
• Creating Logos
• Creating models for three-dimensional forms
• Creative thinking
• Critical thinking
• Deadline management
• Decision making
• Digital print
• Estimating costs
• Flexibility
• Illustration
• Initiative
• Integrating visual messages within social media platforms
• Interpersonal
• Interviewing clients about their artistic preferences
• iWork Keynote
• Modifying designs based on feedback from client
• Patience with customers and staff
• Perceptive about client needs
• Print design
• Printing
• Prioritizing
• Problem-solving
• Project management
• Quark
• QuarkXpress
• Receiving constructive criticism about artwork
• Representing figures in space with a balanced perspective
• Representing ideas visually
• Sketching
• Storyboard creation
• Strategic thinking
• Taking and modifying photographs
• Targeting visual communications to demographic groups
• Teamwork
• Time management
• Typography
• Verbal communications
• Visual communications
• Visual problem solving
• Working collaboratively
• Working independently
• Written communications

Graphic design portfolio

Your graphic design portfolio is essential.  This is because it provides a graphic design sample, showing you at your very best.  Select your work carefully when creating your portfolio.  Show your very best work.  Your portfolio should also reflect the direction you are taking as a designer.  Searching online for well-known design portfolios will leave you to feel inspired.

Some tips for developing your portfolio:

• Give information on your graphic designer background (such as interests and education). This will add a personal touch.
• Include work which shows your talents and interests at their best.
• Include non-paid work which shows your passions.
• Give some information on your design brief and process.
• Make your graphic designer profile personal. Share who you are, what interests you and the work you most enjoy doing.
• Make your site easy to navigate so that potential clients can hone in on work which interests them.
• Publish any client testimonials. This will help you to build trust.

Graphic designer cover letter

As a graphic designer, your cover letter needs to show your professional identity.  However, it also provides an example of your creativity.  This makes it a challenging aspect of your graphic designer resume.

Graphic designer cover letter example

[Today’s Date]

[341 Company Address

Company City, State, xxxxx

(xxx)xxx-xxxx

hiring.manager@gmail.com]

Dear Mr. /Mrs. /Ms. (Manager’s Name),

I am writing this letter to express my interest in the graphic designer opening as advertised on [Website’s Name].

From day one, I believe that I can begin making valuable contributions to the design team at [Company Name]. I possess a wide range of abilities that combine innovative art and design principles. Furthermore, my expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite will allow me to play a crucial role in the implementation of your design initiatives.

The following are highlights of my skills and accomplishments:

• Lead a team of five designers to develop and implement the graphic, layout, and production communication materials while helping clients cut their costs by an average of 12%.
• Oversaw the efficient use of production project budgets ranging from $3,000 – $35,000
• Developed numerous marketing programs (logos, brochures, newsletters, infographics, presentations, and advertisements) that have improved client transactions by an average of 45%
• Time Management Skills: Manage up to 5 projects or tasks at a given time while under pressure to meet strict weekly deadlines

Enclosed is my resume for your review. I welcome the opportunity to discuss with you personally how my skills and strengths can best serve your company. I appreciate your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Graphic Designer Cover Letter Tips

Share your prestigious clients

Potential employers will be impressed by any prestigious brands you have worked for.

This is because clients with a large marketing budget are very specific about their branding, goals and marketing message.

If you have done work for high profile clients, or better yet, worked on a well-recognized campaign, highlight this.  It will give your future employers faith in your design abilities.

Show a range of talents

Your potential employers will be looking for a specific skill set (such as web design) and you’ll want to show how well suited you are for the job.

However, it will help you to show a range of skills.

As an all-rounder, you will have more to add to a team.

If you’re great at logo design and branding but have worked with typography, have some experience at photography and have planned a website from scratch, share this information.

The more skills you offer the better.

Show how you have grown as a designer

As a graphic designer, you are constantly learning new skills.  Showing how dynamic you are lets your employer know you’re willing to learn.

Treat your cover letter as a story which shares where you have come from and how you have grown.  Share any new design skills you have acquired as well as promotions or leadership roles you have taken on.  This will show you as an inspired and motivated professional who is interested in learning.

Graphic designer resume templates

Resume templates can save you a lot of time, especially if they look really good.

A regular and plain resume is good if you want to work in a multinational company, but you need one that shows creativity if you are a designer or artist.

You need one that shows that you have a lot more than just analytical thinking, one that shows you are creative, modern, and you pay attention to details.

You may have seen resumes of various designers that look absolutely astonishing and you wanted a similar one for yourself. If you can’t create one for yourself or you like these CV templates more, then you are free to download and edit them.

The resume templates that are in this article have various styles, from minimalist to creative. You will surely find one that looks like it was specially made for you.

Now don’t just stand there and read this text, download a Curriculum Vitae template for free and make yourself look better in the eyes of your future employer.

Free Resume Template

Resume Template

Vertical Resume Template

Free Resume Template

Resume cv template free download

Free resume template / CV

Free Resume Template

Creative Resume Template Vol 1

Free Resume Template Download

FREE Resume + Cover Letter

Infographic resume .PSD

Free Resume

Resume Template | PSD | Version 2

Free resume template (mint design)

Career Timeline – Free PSD Template

Self Promotion // Free CV

Free Minimal Cv Template

Vita / Resume / CV InDesign Template

FREE Simple Resume

Free Flat Resume Template

Free 2 page Resume Template

FREE Resume Template

Freebie – 2015 Resume Template

FREE Resume Template | Print ready

FREE Resume Template (3 page)

CV Resume Template | Din A4 | Free PSD

Ultra Minimal Resume

Free Resume template + cover letter template [3 colors]

CV Resume Template FREE

Creative resume design examples and inspiration

You should start by writing your contact details first, including name, phone number(s), valid email address and relevant URLs (to your website or online portfolio).

Make your resume ideas brief and clear

We all have an array of personal and professional achievements we would like to share with our employers, but that doesn’t mean we should include all of them at once.

The cool resume templates include only what is important for the specific job or project you apply, allowing recruiters to devote an equal amount of time to other resumes as well. If they come across a dense or endless resume, the impression will not be exactly positive and may lead most possibly to a rejection.

Some resume designs operate like a snapshot – it tells the readers a vivid and detailed story without paying attention to details. This is exactly what awesome resumes are supposed to do.

All information may be organized on a single page (or two tops) unless the employer requires a different graphic designer resume template.

Make your graphic designer bio personal

Where would you speak of who you genuinely are if not in your graphic designer resumes?

Both employers and clients want to meet you personally and professionally, so make sure you reveal the details they need to be sure you belong to their culture.

Obviously, this process is not risk-free and doesn’t have to do only with great resume designs. It may happen you don’t meet their criteria for an ideal employee, but that’s only one of the many shots you’ll have in future. You can use this graphic resume application to learn more about your limits. The next time, you can make your design resumes even better.

Such a professional strategy will help you discover people you would definitely work with. The creative resume design application can help you realize which people and projects suit you and which one not, although the apparent financial and glamour offer.

Although personalized, a good graphic design resume should be professional enough to convince recruiters that your style matches their brand. Through your unique resume, you are selling skills as you sell products, so you need to focus on finding strategies that work, and start applying them.

Share your resume portfolio

The lengthiest and most detailed part of each graphic designer resume sample is work experience. In this section is as important as about me resume section, as you need to showcase samples of your work and your experiences with previous clients.

Instead of simply adding random tasks you fulfilled here and there, add to your resume design a list outlining your full effort in achieving projects.

Remember: Mentioning you helped or assisted a designer will not leave recruiters jaw-dropped. However, by explaining exactly how you helped a small print business drive up conversions will certainly push a button.

In the ideal scenario of the best resume design, you will back up this information with numbers and statistics. No employer won’t be impressed by it.

The importance of your layer structure

A successful resume doesn’t own that success only to the content, but also the way that content has been displayed and organized. Therefore, plan the layout in advance, and leave no room for confusion when creating your cv design.

In most professional resume examples, the content is limited to one page, divided into small parts that will keep readers interested. Put yourself in the recruiter’s shoes: what type of resumes you’d like to look at? Is it the organized one outlining an entire successful career on one page, or the one that explains an internship on three pages?

In order to create best-looking resumes, adopt a grid layer structure including rows and columns, and even add customizable visual dividers to let the reader know what each section is about. Some may also add some resume background on a topic related to the professional achievements.

In this way, you also allow recruiting teams exchange your information, and make a common decision, based on your creative resume ideas. Write in a reader-friendly yet professional manner, and convince them you’re perfect for the position you apply for.

Choose colors well

Graphic designers tend to get over-creative and all personal about their resumes.

This often affects their color choices for the good-looking resume, which both emotionally and practically, may not have the same effect on every person coming across them.

There is a lot to learn from color psychology choices among recruiters. The color schemes of the graphic design cv may have a different influence for an eventual interview decision. For example, blue is calm and stable and automatically puts them on top of the list that may influence a positive decision.

This, however, doesn’t mean you should exaggerate with shades for creating a good-looking resume, as it may affect its professional approach. As we already mentioned, you’re building yourself a brand, and brands don’t use that many colors in a professional resume design to impress.

Another complication brought up by this scheme is the limited printing options (check PMS and CMYK), and the senseless look your resume would have when printed black and white. So much effort to have a cool resume in vain!

Make use of whitespace

What recruiters also like about professional beautiful resumes is the ample use of whitespace, which also applies to cover letters and other application documents.

Why is whitespace so important? Because allowing the reader to scan for information they need in your creative immediately, finding the relevant elements right away.

It is a guarantee no important information will be missed. Therefore in your beautiful resume use paragraphs to break up your data. With a single wall of text, the recruiter won’t have a clue what is genuinely important about you. In addition to resume colors this aspect of style is also important for a successful application.

Bring creativity and professionalism together

More than anything else make sure professionalism and creativity are well balanced in your nice resume. Posters and flyers, for instance, may benefit from completely casual and artistic details, but that’s not the case with well-designed resumes.

For better understanding, this aspect, think on how the employer would judge your personality and skills based on your information showcased in the resume. First impressions are very important, and the better they are, the more likely you will be to get an interview date.

Speaking of sophisticated creative resume design, we recommend an easily readable yet elegant resume font, as novelty fonts, uncommon color combinations are a no-go in this field. Sneak creativity here and there, letting the employer see that you know how to experiment, but without charging too much your document.

There is no such thing as a final resume

After putting all things into perspective and empowered to send your amazing resume for the job of your dream, it is about time for you to roll up your sleeves, and start creating your best resume around. As simple as that?

Time will show that even an awesome resume will need once in a while a bit of edit, some additional content or to keep it fresh for new opportunities. This is your key to success in competitive industries where most jobs are assigned mostly based on the first impressions.

If you’re satisfied happy with your graphic design skills resume, don’t change the layout or the color. Rather, update the information about the latest development in your career, as you already listed all the previous important accomplishments.

If you are creative and have enough time, on the other hand, you can always update the design to consider all details of a new job assignment and change the resume accent accordingly. It may take a while to finish this creative professional resume, but it will certainly impress recruiters and potential employers.

Graphic design resume design inspiration

An updated graphic designer cv is a must in such a competitive industry.

Together with your portfolio resume, your graphic artist resume shows your creative side, with wonderful ideas and so much imagination.

While these awesome resume templates won’t work for a lawyer, an economist or anything in that job spectrum, for designers they are perfect simple resume samples for boosting your career.

This article includes over 50 examples of resume design templates for graphic designers created in Photoshop or Illustrator, but the idea can be easily adapted to other types of design professionals too.

For example, a web designer can create his CV with the help of CSS, HTML and some jQuery for adding more dynamism to the designed resumes, whereas a graphic designer could use… well, graphic design unique resumes.

Errol Veloso graphic design resume

Sid Santos

Soy Han

Riccardo Sabatini

Michael Anderson

Jeremey Fleischer graphic design resume

Gloria Edith Escalera Manzano

Mohammed Mahgoub – graphic artist resume

Liagi Ann Jezreel

Brandon Derck

Ermin Jay Fermin graphic design resume

Ven Klement

Francis Homo – graphic designer resume example

Shanning Wan

Adam Balazy

Sujoy.J

Stuart Mayhew

Chuck D Lay – professional resume design

Loyez Geoffrey

Maria Rybak graphic design resume

Eva Markova resume design

Shahien-Gabriel Prince – graphic designer resume example

Thanan graphic resume

Imran

Marissa Louie

Mayra Ornelas graphic design resume

Gabriel Ghnassia graphic resume

Deborah Green resume design

Alexis Petitprez graphic design resume

Ong Xi Ru design resume

Joe Kelso resume design

Ariane Denise Lunod

Anggi W. Bawono

Magdalena Cyrczak design resume

Steven Duncan

Michael Ptak resume design

Eiric Shriner graphic resume

Muhammad Rashid Ali – professional resume design

Suhib Mohammed graphic design resume

Niel Bhalshankar graphic resume

Robert K Blankenship

Mohd Syukri design resume

Ryan Green graphic design resume

FAQ on graphic designer resumes

What should I include in my graphic design resume?

Your graphic design resume should showcase your skills, experience, and achievements. Be sure to include your contact information, a summary or objective statement, work experience, education, and a list of relevant skills. Don’t forget to mention any awards, certifications, or professional memberships you have. And of course, a link to your online portfolio is a must – it’s your chance to dazzle potential employers with your creative work.

How should I format my graphic design resume?

When formatting your graphic design resume, aim for a clean, organized layout that reflects your design style. Use a consistent font and font size throughout, and consider using headings and bullet points to break up the text. Incorporate some color or graphic elements, but don’t go overboard – you want it to be visually appealing but still easy to read. Save your resume as a PDF to ensure it looks the same across different devices and platforms.

What skills should I highlight on my graphic design resume?

Highlight a mix of technical and soft skills on your graphic design resume. For technical skills, mention your proficiency in design software like Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, or Figma, as well as your knowledge of typography, color theory, and layout principles. Soft skills, such as communication, time management, and problem-solving, are also important to showcase. Make sure to tailor your skills to the specific job description and requirements.

How can I make my graphic design resume stand out?

To make your graphic design resume stand out, focus on showcasing your unique strengths and accomplishments. Use strong, action-oriented verbs to describe your experience and achievements. Include metrics, such as the number of projects completed or the revenue generated by your designs, to demonstrate your impact. Don’t forget to show off your personal design style with a visually appealing layout, and tailor your resume to each job application for the best results.

Should I include a cover letter with my graphic design resume?

Absolutely! A well-crafted cover letter is a chance to tell your story and explain why you’re the right fit for the position. Use your cover letter to provide more context about your experience, skills, and passion for design. Keep it concise, engaging, and tailored to the specific job and company. Remember, your cover letter should complement your resume, not simply repeat the same information.

How do I showcase my design work on my resume?

The best way to showcase your design work on your resume is by including a link to your online portfolio. This allows potential employers to easily view your work and assess your skills. Make sure your portfolio is well-organized, up-to-date, and includes a variety of projects that demonstrate your range and versatility as a designer. Consider including a brief description of each project, highlighting your role and any notable achievements.

What if I don’t have much work experience?

If you’re lacking work experience, focus on highlighting your skills, education, and personal projects. Include any internships, freelance work, or collaborative projects you’ve been part of. Showcase your passion for design through personal projects, even if they weren’t paid or commissioned. You can also emphasize any relevant coursework, workshops, or certifications you’ve completed to demonstrate your commitment to learning and growing as a designer.

How should I handle gaps in my work history?

If you have gaps in your work history, consider using a functional or hybrid resume format. This focuses more on your skills and accomplishments, rather than a chronological work history. In your cover letter, briefly explain any gaps and emphasize what you learned or accomplished during that time, such as volunteering, freelancing, or pursuing further education. Remember, honesty is the best policy, and potential employers will appreciate your transparency.

If the gap was used for personal growth, skill development, or creative exploration, make sure to mention that as well. Showcasing how you turned a potential negative into a positive can demonstrate your resilience and adaptability to potential employers. The key is to address any gaps in a proactive and confident manner, without letting them overshadow your qualifications and achievements as a graphic designer.

Ending thoughts on graphic design resumes

We’ve made it to the end of our deep dive into graphic design resumes. I gotta say, it’s been a wild ride, and I hope you’ve picked up some invaluable tips along the way. Let’s do a quick recap before we say our goodbyes:

• We’ve looked at some standout graphic design resumes that can really help you shine in the job market.
• We’ve discussed the importance of visual storytelling and how to let your unique style shine through.
• We’ve talked about optimizing your resume for both humans and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems).

But what’s next? Well, that’s up to you, my friend. It’s time to take everything we’ve learned and create your very own jaw-dropping graphic design resume. Remember, this is your chance to showcase your skills, personality, and creativity.

Here’s my advice: be bold, be original, and don’t be afraid to take risks. After all, the best graphic design resumes are the ones that truly stand out from the pack. So, gather your ideas, fire up your design software, and let your imagination run wild.

Now, go on and make your resume the masterpiece it deserves to be. Good luck out there – I know you’re gonna crush it!

If you enjoyed reading this article about graphic design resumes, you should check out these articles with fonts similar to Bodoni, Comic Sans, Avenir, Lato, Papyrus, Old English, Century Gothic, Minion Pro, Gill Sans, and Eurostile.

• Author
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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.

Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.

His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.

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