designer resume

• • Led the redesign of Adobe's main product page, increasing user engagement by 30% through improved UX and clearer CTA placements.
• • Conducted over 50 user interviews and 10 usability tests to gather insights, leading to a 25% decrease in bounce rates.
• • Implemented a new design system using Figma, enhancing brand consistency across all web platforms.
• • Collaborated with product managers to refine user personas, resulting in a more targeted and effective product development strategy.
• • Initiated and led a cross-functional team to integrate accessibility features, making the website fully compliant with WCAG 2.1.
• • Spearheaded a project to utilize atomic design principles, shortening the development cycle for new features by 20%.
• • Redesigned the checkout process, resulting in a 15% increase in conversion rates.
• • Developed comprehensive user flows and wireframes to streamline navigation, reducing user frustration and support tickets by 40%.
• • Conducted A/B testing on various design elements, which informed the final design decisions and improved user satisfaction scores by 20%.
• • Created and maintained a UI library in Figma to accelerate the design process and ensure consistency across teams.
• • Facilitated user research sessions to understand pain points in the shopping experience, leading to significant UI improvements.
• • Implemented a new user research framework that increased the efficiency of user studies by 25%.
• • Analyzed user behavior data to inform the design team, resulting in a 10% increase in user retention.
• • Collaborated with the UX design team to translate research findings into actionable design improvements.
• • Led usability testing sessions that informed the iteration of key product features.
• • Achieved a 40% increase in daily active users and a 25% improvement in user retention within the first three months post-launch.

13 Graphic Designer Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Designers play a crucial role in creating visually appealing and functional products that meet user needs. On your resume, consider highlighting your experience with design tools, your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams, and any successful projects that demonstrate your impact. Be sure to incorporate relevant software proficiencies, a strong understanding of design principles, and effective communication skills. Additionally, mentioning quantifiable results from your work and any awards or recognitions received can significantly enhance your appeal to potential employers.

All resume examples in this guide

Junior Graphic Designer

Senior Graphic Designer

Graphic Design Student

Design Intern

App Designer

Design Manager

Digital Designer

Freelance Designer

Multimedia Designer

Visual Designer

Web Designer

Creative Graphic Designer

Resume guide.

Resume format

Resume experience

Hard & soft skills

Certifications and education

Resume summary/Objective

Additional sections

Key takeaways

By Experience

The job outlook for designers is always improving. It doesn’t matter if business es realize it or not—there's a place for designers in any field. Whether it’s making a new product, launching a new service, or starting a new advertising campaign—there's design work associated with it.

In today’s marketing world, design makes the most impact when it comes to creating interest and attracting leads. A design concept  can make or break a potential customer's decision within the very first seconds of interacting with it.

Graphic designers have a deep understanding of how human beings perceive and communicate with their outside world. The best of them know how to grab customers’ attention and keep them interested. That’s what keeps creative directors and lead designers constantly on the lookout for talented designers.

If you’re serious about landing the job, your resume needs to show that you can:

• Use a large range of tools and techniques to create high-quality deliverables including logos, flyers, business cards, brochures, magazines, etc.
• Meet clients’ needs by developing design concepts and layouts that are uniquely tailored to each client's distinct preferences.
• Communicate with team members, print ing houses, and outside agencies to ensure a smooth design process.
• Prove you deliver your work on time to guarantee client satisfaction.

Before we dive in, why don’t you browse through our database of design-related resume guides?

• Brand designer resume
• Digital designer resume
• UX/UI designer resume
• Junior UX designer
• Creative director resume
• Designer cover letter

How to format a graphic designer  resume

Crafting a designer’s resume is very similar to design work. You start with an idea that you want to communicate through your work. Then, you turn that idea into a visual message that the viewer can understand.

You convey that message by creating a unique concept that captures their  interest and makes an impact.

Those are the same steps you follow when creating your resume. The idea you start with is that you’re the perfect candidate and deserve the job. You have to illustrate that in your message and do so by creating a flawless resume .

While you may be a pro at communicating visually, a resume demands paying attention to some very specific details like ATS-friendly  fonts and acceptable file formats. Below, we break down   the formatting principles   you should follow when building this type of professional document.

The resume header  is the ideal spot to highlight your creative side. This section not only features your portfolio link but also allows you to personalize it to an extent that truly captures your authentic self.

Fonts : While you may want to choose a unique typeface that shows your creative side, be mindful of applicant tracking systems that may not recognize it. Instead, go with a professional font like  Lato, Arial, Rubik, Calibri, Bitter, or PT Serif , sized 10-12 pt.

Margins : This part of your resume should comply with industry standards and shouldn’t be less than 1-inch wide. Margins provide white space   on a resume and make it easily readable.

Layout : Go for a clean layout (a single- or double-column resume) to avoid overwhelming the reader with too many graphic elements. The best advice here is to keep your  resume length no more than 1 page long.

Language : Proofread your resume  for typos and grammar mistakes. Some designers tend to neglect spelling for the sake of visual impact. If you’re not confident in that, use our resume checker  which will do the optimization for you.

PDF format : Many people have expressed frustration with their resumes failing to pass the ATS assessment. In many of those cases, the file format is the reason. So, make sure you save your resume as a PDF  file to preserve the layout across all devices and platforms.

Which resume format is the best for graphic designers?

Usually, we talk about three main types of resume layouts:

The reverse chronological resume   listing employment history starting with the most recent positions first, is best suited for experts with extensive experience. On the other hand, the functional resume , which emphasizes skills over chronological work history, is ideal for entry-level candidates or those with career gaps.

In your case, however, the decision depends not only on how experienced you are but also on your craft. A designer’s job requires a strong set of creative skills, so you need a structure that emphasizes that, without losing the importance of your previous experience.

Thus, the hybrid, or combination format  is your best bet. It allows you to showcase both your skills and employment history in reverse chronological order. This resume format  is also great for those who have done a lot of freelance work, which is often the case with people in the creative industry.

If you already have a resume built, chances are it might not be ATS-friendly. Click the button below to see if it passes the test or not.

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Now that we’ve touched on the most important formatting steps, check out the sections you should  include in your resume.

The top sections on a designer’s resume

• Professional summary : Showcases your design philosophy and career goals, making a strong first impression.
• Design skills : Highlights your proficiency in design software and artistic techniques, essential for the role.
• Portfolio link : Directs recruiters to your online portfolio, demonstrating your work quality and style.
• Work experience : Details your previous design roles and projects, showing your practical expertise.
• Education and training : Lists your formal education and any design-specific courses, proving your foundational knowledge.

Hiring managers will pay special attention to these sections as they need to demonstrate the must-have skills for the position of a graphic designer. This is what they’ll gather from your resume:

What recruiters want to see on your resume

• Portfolio quality : Demonstrates your design skills, creativity, and ability to deliver professional work.
• Technical skills : Highlights proficiency in design software and tools crucial for creating and editing designs.
• Work experience : Shows practical application of skills in professional settings, including project and client diversity.
• Creativity and originality : Indicates the ability to produce innovative designs that stand out in a competitive market.
• Communication skills : Essential for understanding client needs, collaborating with teams, and presenting designs effectively.

Having clarified that, let's now delve into more detail for each of the above-mentioned resume sections.

How to feature your design experience in your resume

Design is a wide field with lots of different requirements and outcomes. Depending on the position and the industry, two designers can have entirely different skills, work on completely different projects, and produce different deliverables all the time.

So, recruiters often have a specific profile in mind for the designer they want to hire. They already know what they want. That’s why it’s crucial to display  in your experience section  that you’re the best designer they can hire.

How can you do that exactly? You tailor your resume  to each specific job description and mark down keywords  that you’ll include when writing your experience section .

Consider these two examples:

• • Developed creative concepts for website and print initiatives.
• • Created a wide range of deliverables.
• • Worked with outside agencies on managing supplemental design-related projects.

This experience section is far from convincing. It shows no evidence of the candidate’s skills and successes.

Recruiters want to know how your design work affected your former employer’s business positively. They need to be certain that you can do what the new designer position requires you to do.

They want answers for:

• What was the nature of the design concepts you created?
• What type of projects did you handle as a graphic designer in your previous job?
• Do you have experience working in teams and communicating with clients directly?
• Will your experience allow you to do your job at the new company better than any other candidate?

Below is the enhanced version.

• • Solved design challenges by reviewing clients’ existing work and providing advice for improvement.
• • Created wireframes and mockups for digital content that increased online engagement rates by 24%.
• • Worked with other designers and printing houses to ensure the delivery of print deliverables for 19 different projects.

Here’s why this version works better:

• Demonstration of problem-solving skills : The first bullet point highlights the designer's ability to assess and improve existing work, showcasing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Recruiters will spot the candidate’s ability to enhance visual communication and meet clients' needs and objectives.
• Quantified achievements : The second bullet point provides a specific, quantifiable achievement (increasing online engagement rates by 24% through wireframes and mockups). This not only shows the designer's skill in creating effective digital content but also provides a measurable impact of their work.
• Collaboration and project delivery : The third bullet point emphasizes the designer's ability to collaborate with other professionals and manage deliverables for multiple projects simultaneously. This showcases practical skills but also project management and teamwork abilities.

In the following passage, we’ll give you ideas about how you can measure your successes in the design field.

How to quantify impact on a design-related resume

Feel free to use any of the following tips to maximize your impact as a graphic designer.

• Include the percentage increase in user engagement  or customer conversions due to your design improvements to show your ability to create value through design.
• Mention the specific decrease in bounce rate on webpages  or apps you've designed, demonstrating your skill in retaining audience interest.
• Highlight the number of design iterations conducted before final approval , reflecting your persistence and dedication to perfection.
• Detail the reduction in load time for digital assets you've optimized , indicating your understanding of technical aspects that improve user experience.
• Specify the amount of revenue generated from campaigns or projects  you contributed to, showcasing your designs' direct impact on business success.
• Quantify the growth in social media followers or engagement rates  resulting from your graphic content. This emphasizes your role in boosting brand visibility.
• State the number of A/B tests you've conducted  for various design elements and the improvement metrics, highlighting your data-driven approach to design.
• Document the cost savings achieved by streamlining design processes  or utilizing more efficient tools and resources. This shows your contribution to operational efficiency.

But what happens if you have no professional accomplishments  yet? No worries, you can still create a resume that stands out.

How do I write a graphic designer resume with no experience

According to a Learn G2 article , “19% of businesses don’t use graphic designers, but 67% of those companies would if there were a quicker, less expensive way to create graphic design materials”. This means that the industry will continue to hire junior designers for their availability and lower rates.

Use this insight to create a resume that no recruiter can say no to. Here’s how:

• A portfolio  link is a must. Entry-level or not, this is the one element you can’t go without when applying for a designer role. Make sure it’s prominently featured in your resume header.
• Start strong with a sleek resume objective . These are the 3 sentences at the top of your resume, highlighting your skills and motivation to contribute to the company you’re applying to.
• Emphasize your education or certifications . Many job seekers in your field don’t have formal design education. However, it’s important to be familiar with design fundamentals and prove your knowledge through r elevant coursework or projects you’ve worked on.
• Dedicate a section to your self-improvement projects . Especially for those with limited work experience, specific projects such as classroom assignments, internships, or shadowing  work, can demonstrate your design skills and willingness to grow. Describe the project, your role in it, and any positive outcomes.
• Quantify your work experience , as limited as it may be. For entry-level candidates , this can include internships, part-time jobs, or freelance work. Focus on your responsibilities and achievements in each role, quantifying your impact whenever possible (e.g., "Designed a new logo that increased brand recognition by 20%").

Whatever you choose to feature in your resume, the key is to always adapt it to the requirements of the job you’re applying for.

Now, let’s focus on your strongest asset—your versatile skill set.

How to list your hard and soft skills on your resume

Clients always ask for different projects with different requirements. At the same time, they want the outcome to be unique to their brand. That's why the more relevant design skills you have, the better you are at your job.

Being a designer requires you to master a variety of design software programs as well as an ability to sketch concepts and layouts by hand. Below is a list of the most common practical skills  a designer should have.

Best hard skills for your graphic designer resume

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign
• UX/UI design
• Branding and identity
• Print design
• Motion graphics
• 3D modeling
• After Effects
• Graphic optimization for web
• Digital illustration
• Packaging design
• Color theory
• Prototyping
• Responsive design

You’ll likely be constantly working with other designers, outside agencies, printing houses, and clients. That’s why your resume needs to show that your teamwork and communication skills are on point. Avoid dedicating a separate section for soft skills on your resume  due to limited space. Instead, integrate them within other sections, allowing recruiters to discern these qualities on their own.

Best soft skills for a graphic designer resume

• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Problem-solving
• Adaptability
• Client management
• Feedback receptivity
• Project management
• Collaboration
• Stress tolerance
• Organization
• Visual storytelling
• Negotiation
• Continuous learning

Finally, let us remind you that the skills you pick need to be strictly linked to the keywords of the job posting . Before you start building your resume, make sure you make a list of all the skills highlighted in the job description, then put the ones you really do have in your document.

How to list your certifications and education on your resume

When it comes to creative fields like design, education shouldn’t be the most important section. Hiring managers won't rely on it to make their final hiring decision. Instead, they’re more into seeing your work samples and learning more about your experience.

A master’s degree in graphic design won’t get you hired if your work is of low quality. Yet, when there are hundreds of resumes stacking up in the recruiter’s inbox, education may come in handy . It’s especially true if it’s related to arts or graphic design or you graduated from a top-tier university.

Sure, you may have an amazing portfolio with many top-notch projects with your past employer, but so might another dozen candidates applying for the same position.

If your educational background is relevant to the job you're applying for, make sure to include it. Here's how to do it correctly:

• Begin with your degree and major.
• Mention the name of the educational institution.
• Include the duration of your studies along with the location.

A more important element in designers’ resumes is the certification section. Since people obtain certificates based on their interests and willingness to learn new things, this section will give recruiters a more accurate picture of your profile.

Check out this list of must-have certifications if you’re considering a career in graphic design.

Best certifications for a graphic designer resume

• Graphic Design Master
• Brand Identity Design
• Graphic and Digital Design Certificate
• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• International Society of Typographic designers (ISTD)

Now that we’ve covered the experience and certifications sections , it’s time to go back to the header because something’s still missing there—your resume summary.

How to write your graphic designer resume summary or objective

Summaries are typically written last, once you have a complete overview of your career. Your summary should be memorable to the recruiter, highlighting your value and experience. To achieve this, address the following areas in no more than five sentences:

• The technical skills and design tools you are proficient in;
• The impact of your design work on previous clients or employers;
• Specific design projects and deliverables you have managed;
• Your aspirations and what you look forward to achieving in the new role.

Let’s take a look at the two versions of the same resume summary , one that is effective, and one that falls short.

This summary (if it can be called one at all) lacks details and specificity. It doesn’t highlight the effect of the candidate’s design work—neither quantified achievements nor anything specific they’re proud of.

Now look at this:

Three major factors make the above a good summary:

• Comprehensive expertise : The summary showcases the candidate's experience and diverse skill set in graphic design, including proficiency in both digital tools like Adobe Creative Suite and traditional methods such as sketching and hand drawing.
• Quantified achievements : By highlighting specific achievements, such as supervising 23 print design projects that led to a 32% increase in savings and creating 18 brand identities, the summary provides concrete evidence of the candidate's success in previous roles.
• Targeted intent : The final sentence clearly states the candidate’s intent to apply their skills and experience to contribute to The Digital Hyve’s visual messaging. This shows that the candidate is not only aware of the employer's needs but is also eager to fulfill them.

Read the job description carefully and understand what exactly the hiring company is looking for. After that, write your summary accordingly while highlighting your potential and ability to be the best at that job.

Additional sections for a graphic designer resume

A graphic designer's resume often includes several key sections beyond the standard ones found in many professional resumes. They allow you to add some flair to the document and boost the qualities that make you stand out in the design world. These may include:

• Projects section —perfect for including prominent freelance work. Make sure you include the scope of the project, your specific contributions, and the final outcomes.
• Workshops and training courses : You can feature participation in workshops, seminars, and courses relevant to graphic design, as well as any certifications received from online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, Domestika, etc.
• Awards and recognitions : Have you received any industry awards and recognitions? Or won contests where your work was featured? Had speaking engagements or publications  in design magazines and websites? Any of these can add to the resume’s effectiveness.

Of course, it’s vital to include a link to your portfolio . We discuss that in the following section.

Where to put a portfolio link in a designer’s resume

This is arguably the most crucial addition to a graphic designer's resume. Having compiled the best samples of your work, the next step is determining where to feature the direct link (URL) to your online portfolio.

Placing it in the resume header, directly beneath your name and title, stands out as a logical choice. If your portfolio is on your own site, this spot is your best bet. It will make it easier for recruiters to draw a connection between your personal name and website. For portfolios hosted on platforms like Behance or Dribble, consider using a link shortener to ensure it fits neatly into the given space.

The other option is to place the link in your summary or objective statement.

Our resume-building  app  enables you to personalize your resume by rearranging sections, allowing you to place the portfolio link in a dedicated place, for example, right before the experience section. Regardless of where you choose to insert this crucial piece of information, ensure the link is clickable in the final PDF.

Wrapping this up, remember: crafting your graphic designer resume is a bit like designing a billboard for the world's pickiest client—yourself. It has to emphasize more than your design skills. Let’s go through the main things you should keep in mind when building your resume.

• Design is a very large field that requires lots of different skills, experiences, and expectations. Make sure you tailor your designer resume to match the job description.
• Your portfolio is your greatest asset as a designer. It has to be prominently displayed and easy to link with.
• The summary section is a great place to apply the famous “less is more” design principle. Keep it relevant to what the recruiter is expecting to know about you.
• When done correctly, education and certifications can increase your chances of getting hired.

I don't think it's an 'additional' which implies it's optional—which I do not think it is :) but I may be wrong

Designer resume examples

Explore additional designer resume samples and guides and see what works for your level of experience or role.

Looking to build your own Designer resume?

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7 Designer Resume Examples Created for 2024

Designer Resume

• Designer Resumes by Role
• Write Your Designer Resume

Design is all about creativity, innovation, and identifying how you can give your target audience what they need. You might create designs for print graphics, webpages, or even stunning new fashion pieces.

But how do you convey your specialties and skills in a compelling resume? What examples do you list to show that you’ve got what it takes to make each new design cutting-edge and engaging?

We’ve got this covered. After years of helping people like you land roles in everything from fashion to graphic design, we’ve put together seven designer resume examples and a free cover letter builder to inspire you!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Be innovative and turn such accomplishments to your advantage in your designer resume by emphasizing how your efforts increased organic website traffic and decreased bounce rate.

Game Designer Resume

• Scroll through Leocadia’s game designer resume and you’ll encounter gems like “elevating monthly in-game purchases by an average of $2,864″ and “increasing player base by 21%.” Right there is the kind of metrics that will the recruiter gleam with interest and get your phone buzzing with an interview call.

UI Designer  Resume

• Let’s say you’ve got a degree in graphic design from somewhere as illustrious as the Rhode Island School of Design. Now, that’s one badge of honor that will certainly not fly under the radar. Don’t forget the little details either, including the years you were there.

Product Designer Resume

• Just ensure that your previous roles have something to do with designing. For instance, check out how Kennedy uses their retail sales associate experience to show proficiency in using tools like Sketchfab and AutoCAD while they were still pursuing a degree!

Costume Designer  Resume

• You can take this approach one step further by including your education qualifications in the field. If you’ve got a bachelor’s in costume design or theater arts, then now’s the best time to reveal it. Prove your worth and credibility simultaneously with certificates and education.

Web Designer Resume

• Show the kind an asset you are to a potential employer by putting numbers to your mobile-eccentric designs to boost traffic and user engagement across platforms in your web designer resume .

Fashion Designer  Resume

• Such is a unique achievement that underscores your ability to be innovative to ensure business growth now and in the future.

Related resume examples

• Graphic Designer
• UX Designer
• Interior Design
• Web Developer

Tailor Your Designer Resume to the Job Ad

First, take a look at that job listing again. What specific skills do they ask for? What aspects of the job role do they emphasize the most? Does each team member strictly stick with one design area, or will you wear a few different hats?

Search for skills in the job ad that you already have. Maybe you’ve been stylizing your clothes with scissors and safety pins since you were a kid. Or maybe you have an unparalleled passion for packaging design!

Base which skills you choose to list on what the job requirements emphasize. Make them as relevant to the individual job as possible, and get super specific!

Need some ideas to start with?

15 best designer skills

• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe Photoshop
• 3D Modeling
• Fashion Tookbox
• Sublime Text
• Client Interviews

Your designer work experience bullet points

While the job description is certainly a great friend when building your designer resume, you don’t want to get too hung up on the job duties. While you want to include the right keywords to get past the ATS, your resume should focus on your design accomplishments instead of parroting job requirements.

Use active verbs in each experience point and enthusiasm in your writing tone. (Make sure you keep your tone pretty close to what you read in the job description , especially when it comes to formality.)

Pick your crowning achievements based on the job ad, but focus on conveying the impact you had in your field. Provide solid metrics for your success to elevate your credibility, too:

• Manual labor hour reductions showcase your efficiency and teamwork
• Dollar amounts help quantify budget savings thanks to your agility
• Feedback ratings attest to the effectiveness of your creations
• Customer satisfaction or retention rates in percentages show that your designs worked

See what we mean?

• Contributed to a 26% increase in conversion rates by designing persuasive ads for online campaigns using Canva
• Conducted A/B testing on landing page designs, resulting in a winning design that got a 4.8/5 star feedback rating
• Developed compelling Adobe Express social media graphics that led to 1.3K more followers and a 23% boost in overall engagement
• Received a 93/100 positive press rating and coverage from reputable fashion publications for designs showcased at New York Fashion Week
• Worked with cross-functional teams on Basecamp, employing strategic thinking to elevate satisfaction among colleagues and reduce their manual work hours by 11 hours weekly

9 active verbs to start your designer work experience bullet points

• Conceptualized
• Contributed

3 Tips for Writing a Designer Resume Without Much Experience

• If you feel like your designer resume looks a bit too “airy” for your taste, you can always turn to other projects you’ve completed. As long as it relates to design and can be quantified to make a good impression, use it!
• If you boast a superb GPA or have other academic achievements, like winning graphic design or costume design contests in college . . . you’ve got it. Add them to your resume.
• An objective statement might also be a good option to up the ante on your design resume. Use it to tell recruiters your career goals, how they’ll benefit your potential employer, and what qualifies you for the role.

3 Tips for Writing a Designer Resume if You’ve Got Some Experience Already

• When you have a more extensive history in design, reverse-chronological formatting will help you by placing your most advanced experience points at the top. This format makes recruiters more likely to see your best design points at a glance.
• Even if you have a laundry list of design jobs under your belt, now’s a good time to streamline your experience section. Just list three or four jobs in your experience section, and make sure they’re the most memorable ones!
• Now that you’ve made a bit of a name for yourself, you don’t need to use page space on your GPA or other academic achievements—unless you helped with a design project that was really impressive. By this stage, you’ll want to let your design experiences speak for themselves.

Revisit the job description , take a look at the company website where you’re applying, and read attentively. Take note of how they sound when they write everything from the job description to their about page, and mirror that writing style in your design resume.

There’s another reason to circle back to the job ad . What job requirements do they emphasize the most? If they’re all about concept sketches and prototypes, then you’ll want to pick examples with related metrics that reinforce your alignment with the job role.

Just as you’d consider the visual hierarchy of a graphic brochure or webpage, compare our different resume templates to see which one arranges your qualifications to look most pleasing. You want recruiters to see your excellence right away!

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7 Real UX Designer Resumes and a Template

Here are seven UX designer resumes—from real designers at various stages in their careers—to inspire you, encourage you, and help you learn.

Putting together a resume can be a daunting step in the job search process, especially if you’re starting from scratch. For aspiring UX designers , there might be several questions putting together a resume might bring up. How should you list the skills you have? And how should you design it so that it looks appealing but not over-designed?

Here are several examples from real people to inspire your own UX designer resume, plus a template to get you started.

Ready to create your resume? Start with this hands-on course that takes five hours to complete:

UX designer resumes: From current student to senior designers

The following seven resumes are from designers at various stages in their careers. Though no resume is ever perfect, you can learn a lot by seeing what other people have done before you. Each has several takeaways you can incorporate into your own.

1. Current student

Courtesy of Lavi Tang

What you can learn:

If you’re a student, emphasize any relevant experience like internships or relevant extracurriculars to build out your resume. Look for opportunities on campus to exercise the skills you’ll want to use professionally. Join a student group that will let you use your design skills. You can also approach the leadership of a group you’re in already to see if you can take on any design projects, like designing social media posts or a website. Visit your career center to see if they can connect you with design internships and other opportunities. 

As a student, your work experiences might still be limited. Don’t be afraid to put down experiences that didn’t directly involve design. Work or club involvement that show your passions, or workplace skills like time management, collaboration, or communication can be beneficial.

Read more: 9 Essential Skills for UX Designers in 2021

2. UX design intern

Courtesy of Deia Green

As an intern, you might not have led teams, but you probably learned new skills and had an impact. Thinking about how your work impacted a product, team, or company can be a good starting point to decide what to emphasize.

3. UX designer

Courtesy of Fiona Lin

What you can learn: 

Lists don’t always have to be lists. Finding creative ways to list information can save space for other relevant items.

Generally, it’s a good idea to organize jobs in chronological order to help hiring managers get a sense of your career progression. But if there’s something you want to emphasize before everything else, some exceptions can be made. A resume that prioritizes your skills and areas of expertise is called a “functional resume.”

Get to know the basics of UX design

The Google UX Design Professional Certificate equips you with the prototyping, user research, and design thinking skills you'll need to enter the UX design field. Whether you want to become a UI designer, UX researcher, or design strategist, explore this field with a free 7-day trial of Coursera Plus .

4. Product designer

Courtesy of Elias Ruiz Monserrat

You can describe your work experience in bullet-point lists or in short sentences. Choose the way that allows you to convey your work accomplishments most effectively.

Read more: 5 UX Designer Career Paths: Stepping Up Your Design Career

5. Senior UX designer

Courtesy of Shaunak Deo

What you can learn

Shaunak transitioned his career from a systems analyst to a UX designer. If you’ve changed careers, it can be useful to quickly reference what you were doing before, if you have space. This can give the recruiter a fuller picture of who you are, and show that you might have some unique skills.

If you feel crunched for space, check to see if your resume has any excessive white space, or adjust your font sizes (though make sure it’s still easily readable). It’ll be a good idea to have somebody you trust look through your resume to catch any errors you might have overlooked.

Read more: 4 UX Careers Beyond Design You’ll Want to Explore

6. Creative director, UX designer, and student

Courtesy of Winona Nasser

If you have the space, you can include some facts about yourself outside of your design experience that can help humanize you or make you memorable to a recruiter.

7. Senior product designer

Courtesy of Elizabeth Lin

Giving more room to your most relevant experiences can be a good idea. Keep in mind this doesn’t always have to mean the most recent. Think about the job you’re applying to and choose the projects and skills that are most applicable.

Good use of whitespace and design elements can make a resume look clean and give it space to breathe. But remember to prioritize the content you want to include. If you’re dying to incorporate a fun design element but find it just won’t fit, don’t worry—you’ll have your portfolio to show off your creativity too.

UX designer resume template

A blank page can be intimidating. Here’s a template you can use for inspiration.

We’ve kept it simple so you could customize your resume according to your tastes. Play around with fonts, add a dash of color, add another column, or rearrange any information to fit your needs. You may need to download the template and open in it a word processing program to make certain adjustments, like changing column widths.

Take this course and write your resume by the end of the week:

The essentials

You’ll want to make sure you have the following items in your resume:

Name and contact information: Make sure you have your name, email address, link to a portfolio, and phone number listed somewhere easy to spot. You can also include your street address.

Portfolio: UX design resumes often include links to online portfolios that showcase a designer’s previous work. You’ll want to put this in a clearly visible place, like under your contact information. Here’s some guidance on putting together a UX designer portfolio .

Relevant experience: Your relevant experience should be listed in reverse chronological order, from most to least recent. Include the name of your employer, your title, applicable dates, and a short description of what you did and any significant achievements in a short paragraph or bullet point list.

Education: List your education history, including the name of your school, your degree (for example, B.A., A.S.), major, and years attended. 

Skills: A separate list of skills can be helpful in design resumes because it allows hiring managers to quickly see what technical skills you have. List any tools you’re familiar with in this section. Learn what skills are in demand for UX designers .

What sets you apart: If you have the space, consider creating a section for achievements, recognitions, or even fun facts. If it won’t all fit on your resume, don’t worry—list what you think is essential and put the rest on your portfolio website.

What if I’ve never worked in UX design before?

Even if you haven't worked as a UX designer, chances are you have some skills and experiences lined up that are applicable to the job. These can be experiences you’ve had in related fields like graphic design or web development. They can also include roles where relevant soft skills—like collaboration, communication, or time management—played an important part.

If you’re starting from scratch, or are looking to build up your hard skills in UX design, then consider enrolling in the Google UX Design Professional Certificate . You’ll learn how to conduct user research, use design tools like Figma and Adobe XD, and create your own portfolio.

Designing your resume

Readability should be a priority in your resume, but there are some elements you can play with.

Colors: Your inner designer might be tempted to experiment with color on your resume—pops of color can certainly make a resume interesting. But try to keep it simple, and save any major design efforts for your portfolio. Stick with black text to make it easy to read. Remember that there’s a chance your resume will be printed, so make sure any elements you put in color will still be legible if printed in black and white ink.

Typefaces: Choose a simple and clean font for your text. You can experiment with more interesting fonts for small elements like your name or certain headings, so long as they’re still clearly legible. Try bolding or italicizing headings, or information like dates, for visual variety.

PDF it: Using columns, colorful elements, or hard-to-find fonts can make for appealing resumes, but they increase the chance of formatting errors in a Microsoft Word doc. Saving and sending your resume as a PDF will make sure your recipient will see what you intended them to see.

Read more: 7 UX Designer Portfolio Examples: A Beginners Guide

What to avoid

Avoid these mistakes to ensure you’re in as competitive a position as you can be.

Typos and errors: Make sure to double-check for spelling and formatting errors. You’ll want to be sure the first impression you’re making is your best. Try having somebody you trust to look through your resume for any errors you might have missed.

Multiple pages: Though it might be tempting to do otherwise, keep your resume to one page. Choose information that you think will be relevant to the job. Any information you can’t fit can go into your portfolio or website.

Read more: How to Write an Effective Resume

Continue on your UX design path

Boost your UX design skills or build a professional resume with step-by-step guidance, with any of these top-rated courses and projects from Coursera:

Get hands-on support with your resume with the project-driven course How to Write a Resume from SUNY. You'll conduct a "self-inventory" to capture your best self, piece it together in an organized structure, and learn resume best practices in five hours or less.

For a deeper overview of resume writing, try the Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters course from the University of Maryland. Identify gaps in your skill set and clarify your strengths so you can highlight your experiences with a strong resume and cover letter.

Deepen your UX expertise with Google's UX Design Professional Certificate. Learn foundational UX concepts, practice user research, and create a professional portfolio in less than six months, all of which are necessary to land that UX designer job.

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

Graphic Designer Resume Sample & Guide [21+ Examples]

You’re a graphic designer. You’re smart. You’re creative.

You design creative ads, product packaging, and websites on a daily basis.

But when it comes to creating a resume, you’re stumped.

How do you make a graphic designer resume, anyway? 

Is it exactly the same as a resume for any other profession?

Do you attach your portfolio with the resume? Or do you include the links inside?

There’s a ton of things that are not clear when it comes to making a graphic designer resume, which brings out to this article.

We’re going to walk you through the entire process of creating a graphic designer resume step-by-step!

• A job-winning graphic designer resume example
• How to write a designer resume that’ll keep getting you invited to interviews
• How to make your graphic designer resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Now, before we move on, here’s some inspiration:

A graphic designer resume example, created with our very own resume builder:

How to Format a Graphic Designer Resume

Before you can start working on your resume, you need to decide on the formatting.

After all, the hiring manager will think twice before hiring a graphic designer who’s resume isn’t well-formatted.

In 2024, the most common resume format is “reverse-chronological,” so we’d recommend starting with that:

Other resume formats you could try are:

• Functional Resume - This format is a lot more about your skills as opposed to professional experience. It’s good if you don’t have a lot of experience, are transferring to a new industry, or have gaps in your employment history.
• Combination Resume - As the name suggests, a combination resume is a mix between “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological.” Meaning, it focuses both on skills AND work experience. You can use a combination resume if you have a lot of work experience or changing industries.

Once you’ve decided on the format, you need to get your resume layout right.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Margins - One-inch margins on all sides
• Font - Pick a font that stands out, but not too much. Do: Ubuntu, Roboto, etc. Don’t: Comic Sans
• Font Size - Use a font size of 11-12pt for normal text and 14-16pt for headers
• Line Spacing - Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing
• Resume Length - Don’t go over the 1-page limit. Having trouble fitting everything into one page? Check out these one-page resume templates.

As a designer, you have a lot more freedom on what kind of resume design you go with. Feel free to pick a more creative template to show off your imagination!

Use a Graphic Designer Resume Template

If you’ve ever made a Word resume, you’d probably agree with us: it’s a total pain.

You have to play around with the formatting longer than it actually takes you to fill in the contents.

Then, you decide to make a single, small layout change, and BAM! Your entire resume layout falls apart.

Want to make your life easier? Use a graphic designer resume template .

What to Include in a Graphic Designer Resume

The main sections in a graphic designer resume are…

• Contact Information
• Work Experience

If you want your resume to stand out more, you can also try these optional sections:

• Awards & Certification

Interests & Hobbies

Now, we’re going to go through each of those sections, and explain how to write them.

Not sure which sections to use? Check out our guide to What to Put on a Resume .

How to Get Your Contact Information Right

Even if you get everything else right in your resume, if you mess up the contact information section , you won’t be getting a lot of interview invitations (mainly because they won’t be able to call your misspelled phone number).

For your contacts, include:

• Title - In this case, “Graphic Designer.” Make this specific (the role you’re applying for), and don’t try to be too creative (Master of Designs).
• Phone Number - Double-check, triple-check this. One small tiny can really mess up your chances.
• Email Address - Make sure to use a professional email address ([email protected]), and avoid that email you created back in 5th grade ([email protected]).
• Portfolio Link - Behance , Dribble , or your personal website
• (Optional) Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location.
• Josh Fakester, Graphic Designer. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Josh Fakester, Graphic Design Guru. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Graphic Designer Resume Summary or Objective

Fun fact - recruiters spend less than 6 seconds reviewing each resume. This isn’t that surprising, though. You can’t expect them to read all 200 resumes end-to-end.

So, if the recruiter doesn’t see that you’re relevant for the job in a single glance, your resume won’t even be read.

Now, the question is, what can you do to hook the recruiter the moment they look at your resume.

The answer is simple: use a resume summary or objective .

As a quick intro, both resume summary and objective are sections that go on top of your resume, just under the contact information section.

The main difference between the 2 sections is that:

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

• Graphic designer with a strong background in marketing design. 5+ years of experience in creating infographics, Facebook ad creatives, banners ads, and more. Passionate about working in a marketing agency, as that involves creating graphics for clients in all sorts of fields.

A resume objective , on the other hand, is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

Motivated graphic design student looking for an entry-level job at Software Company X. Passionate about web & UX / UI design. Experience creating websites designs for made-up businesses as a student at University X. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and more.

So, which one do you pick? A summary, or an objective?

As a rule of thumb, you always go for Summary if you have any work experience, and you go for Objective if you’re new to the field (student, graduate, or switching careers).

How to Make Your Graphic Designer Work Experience Stand Out

Work experience is the most important section in your resume (after your portfolio, of course).

Sure, your design skills are super important, but so is your professional experience. Here’s how to structure your work experience section:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Or, here’s what it looks like in practice:

Now, if you really want to stand out, you should focus on talking about your achievements instead of responsibilities.

Instead of saying:

“Charged with designing client companies...”

“Designed 15+ client company websites from start to finish”

So, what’s the difference between the two?

The second one is more specific. You know exactly what the person did, and you can say that they’re reliable.

The first example, on the other hand, is too generic. Sure, you were charged with designing client websites, but you can’t tell if you’re a complete newbie (designed 1-3 websites), or an expert (designed 15+ different websites).

What if You Don’t Have Work Experience?

Maybe you’re a recent university graduate looking for your first design job?

Or maybe, you just picked up graphic design from online courses, but have no real experience in the field?

Whichever the case might be, don’t worry!

If you’re applying for entry-level graphic designer positions, there’s a good chance they won’t be asking a lot about your experience.

What really matters here is your portfolio.

If you already have some designs, feel free to put them up online and link it in your resume (we’re going to explain how in a bit).

If you don’t, though, you can always make them now.

Here are several ways you can get a portfolio (and get paid for it):

• Pick up some freelance gigs on UpWork
• Ask your friends & acquaintances if they know anyone that needs cheap design work
• Join an online contest on a site like 99 Designs
• None of the above options working? Sit down in your own time and create some mock-ups. Design a website , some flyers, product packaging, whatever you’re interested in!

If you’re a recent graduate, you might want to check out our guide on how to make a student resume !

Use Action Words to Make Your Graphic Designer Resume POP!

• “Responsible for”
• “Worked in”

These are the most common words you’ll find on ANY resume.

And since you want YOURS to stand out, we’d recommend avoiding them as much as possible.

Instead, use some of these power words to make your responsibilities and achievements stand out:

• Conceptualized
• Spearheaded

How to Add a Portfolio to Your Resume

You can add a portfolio section pretty right about the same way you’d add work experience.

Create a header named “Portfolio,” link to your website (or Behance / Dribble), and list the designs you’ve worked on. And here’s how this looks like:

If you don’t want a dedicated section for your portfolio, you can simply link to your online portfolio in your contact information section.

How to List Education Right

The next section in any graphic designer resume is the “Education.”

This one’s pretty straightforward. Simply list out your education entries, and you’re gold!

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

And here’s a practical example:

B.A. in Graphic Design

Boston State University

• Relevant Courses: Typography 101, Introduction to Graphic Design, Advanced Graphic Design, Web Design

Clear? Good!

Before we move on, here are some of the most frequent questions we get about education on a resume (and their answers!):

• Q: What if I haven’t finished college?

A: Whether you’re still a student, or you dropped out, you should still mention your degree. All you have to do is include the years studied, and you’re good.

• Q: Do I list my high school education?

A: Only if you don’t have a higher education. No one cares about your high school education if you have a B.A.

• Q: What goes first, education or experience?

A: If you have any relevant work experience, then experiences go on top. If you don’t, though, then education.

Still have some questions? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 17 Skills for a Graphic Designer Resume

When the HR manager is going through your resume, they’re looking to see if you have the right skills for the job.

Imagine this: you’re the best graphic designer in the world and your resume is impeccable. BUT, you still get rejected, because you didn’t mention that you know HTML and CSS in your resume, which was one of the main requirements.

Not sure which skills to pick?

Here are some of the most common graphic designer skills.

Hard Skills:

• Illustrator
• UX / UI Design
• Print Design
• Infographic Design
• Product Packaging Design

Soft Skills:

• Communication
• Time-Management
• As a general rule, we’d recommend not to go overboard with “Soft Skills.” They’re a lot harder to back up, especially if you’re a student or a recent graduate. Just about anyone can say that they’re “creative,” but not a lot of people are experts at InDesign.

Looking for a more comprehensive list? Here’s a mega-list of 150+ must-have skills in 2024 .

Other Resume Sections You Can Include

At this point, you’re probably ready to wrap up your resume and call it a day.

After all, we’ve covered all the essential sections, right?

Well, not exactly. See, the #1 goal of your resume is to stand out.

And if your resume looks exactly the same as everyone else’s, that’s where you fail.

If you’re already a good match for the job in terms of skills and experiences, these sections could end up being the deciding factor that gets you hired (and makes you stand out from the rest).

Awards & Certifications

Did you win a design competition during university?

Do you have a bunch of online courses completed on Coursera?

Whichever the case may be, definitely mention all of them in your resume!

• Infographic X published on entrepreneur.com
• User Experience Research & Design Coursera Certificate
• Adobe Certified Expert
• Advanced Graphic Design Class at MadeUpUniversity
• Video Game Concept Art Coursera Certificate

Are you passionate about graphic design?

Well, awesome! That’s exactly what your next employer likes to hear.

And what’s a better way to show off your passion than with a project.

Whether it’s a university project or a personal side-hustle, HR would love to know more.

Here are some of the potential projects you could mention…

• Instagram page showing off your designs & art
• Mock-up website you designed at a hackathon
• University project where you designed a website for a fake business
• Side-hustle designing logos for clients on Fiverr
• Designing your own blog

An extra language or two can always come in handy, even if it doesn’t have anything to do with the position you’re applying for.

If you know any foreign language & have extra space in your resume, feel free to add a language section.

Make sure to split the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, you might be thinking, “what does my skateboarding hobby have to do with my profession as a graphic designer?”

Well, nothing, but it does have something to do with you as a person.

Most companies aren’t hiring a robot who’s going to pump out design after design, 9-to-5, every day.

They’re looking for someone they’re going to enjoy working with, someone they’ll get along with.

And what’s something you can bond with potential employers about? Hobbies and interests, exactly!

Not sure which hobbies & interests you want to mention? We have a guide for that!

Match Your Cover Letter with Your Resume

Yep, that’s right.

You might be thinking, “A cover letter?! I’m a designer, not a writer!”

Well, here’s the thing: cover letters are still very important.

They show the recruiter that you’re passionate about working for THIS position in THIS company, and you aren’t just sending your resume all over the place.

Having a solid cover letter with your resume can significantly boost your chances of getting the job.

The first step to writing a convincing cover letter is to get the structure right. Here’s how to do that:

And here’s what you’d write in each section:

Contact Details - Your personal contact information, including full name, profession, email, phone number, location, website (or Behance / Dribble).

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information - Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph - Your introduction should be very strong. If you don’t manage to hook the hiring manager here, chances are, they’re not going to read the rest of it. So, mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and top achievement

The Body - Once you’ve got the hiring manager hooked, you can go through the rest of your background. Some of the points you can mention here are...

• Why you want to work for this specific company
• Anything you know about the company’s culture
• What are your top skills and how are they relevant for the job
• If you’ve worked in similar industries or positions

Closing Paragraph - This is where you:

• Wrap up any points you missed in the body paragraph
• Thank the hiring manager for their time
• End with a call to action. Something like, “I’d love to further discuss how my experience as an X can help the company with Y”

Formal Salutations - Use a formal closing, such as “best regards” or “Sincerely.”

Need more inspiration? We get it - creating a cover letter is very hard work. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with your step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Key Takeaways

If you followed everything we just taught you to the T, you’re pretty much guaranteed to land the job.

Now, let’s go through everything we’ve learned real quick:

• Get the right formatting for your graphic designer resume. Use a reverse-chronological format, and follow the best practices we mentioned on getting the layout right.
• Use a resume summary or objective to catch the hiring manager’s attention.
• In your work experience section, try to talk more about your achievements than your responsibilities.
• Get your portfolio section right. After all, this is the section that’s going to land you the job.
• Match your graphic designer resume with a convincing cover letter.

Related Resume Examples

• Architect Resume
• Construction Project Manager Resume
• Career Change Resume

Suggested Readings:

• 9+ Essential Resume Ideas [to Get Your Next job]
• +10 Best Answers for Why Should We Hire You?
• 40+ Best Job Search Sites in 2024 [For Every Industry]

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