Writing a graphic designer resume is the part of the job search that many people dread most. However, with some easy-to-follow instructions on how to write a resume and some excellent resume examples for reference, the task can be quite simple.
If you’re a whiz at creating illustrations or designing logos, you might excel in a career as a graphic designer. Graphic designers create visual designs and express ideas through a variety of visual elements. Graphic designers work in a variety of industries, including advertising, marketing and publishing. In addition to creating logos and illustrations, depending on the company they work for, graphic designers might design marketing materials, edit photos, create websites or design packaging.
Here, we will teach you exactly what you need to know to write an impressive graphic designer resume in a matter of minutes.
Read on to learn more about:
- Examples of graphic design resumes any type of applicant.
- What makes a graphic designer resume example great.
- Tips and tricks for writing graphic design resumes.
- What to include in every section of your resume.
- How to choose the right resume template and format for the role.
If you’re ready to make your resume today, head directly to our Resume Maker. There, you can choose a design of your liking and get advice and easy-to-edit, auto-generated text for every section.
Graphic designer resume examples
What makes this a great graphic designer resume sample
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Uses an industry appropriate resume template.
This resume features a colorful creative resume template, which is appropriate for a graphic designer role.
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Packs in valuable information.
This graphic designer resume sample is well organized and uses each of the five resume sections to its fullest.
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Utilizes the right resume format.
Since this applicant is applying for an entry-level role, she has chosen a functional resume format to highlight her education and impressive skill set.
What makes this a great graphic designer resume sample
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Utilizes a chronological resume template.
Since this candidate is highly experienced, he chose a resume template that will highlight his impressive work experience and strong career progression.
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Uses data and metrics.
To showcase the impact his work has had, this applicant uses data and metrics that show tangible results.
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Abundance of action verbs.
Since recruiters sometimes read dozens of resumes in a single day, it’s critical that your content is engaging. Here, the applicant makes great use of language, using action words to describe his work experience rather than simply including a boring list of job duties.
Looing for a specific job title? Check out more art resume examples or these job titles that are related to your career field:
Browse other popular samples
Choose a format for your graphic designer resume
To land the job you want, you need to get the right information in front of a recruiter. How do you accomplish that? By selecting the right resume format.
There are three different resume formats successful job seekers useHere’s how to decide which one is right for you:
- The chronological resume format is perfect for applicants with little to no direct work experience as a graphic designer.
- The combination resume format is great for midlevel applicants who have a few years of work experience as a graphic designer.
- The functional resume format works best for experienced applicants who have five or more years of relevant experience as a graphic designer.
Visit our guide on how to format a resume to learn more about how to put your most relevant information front and center on your graphic designer resume.
Select a well-designed resume template
While every resume template will have the same basic sections — a professional summary or resume objective, skills, work history and education — you can customize the look and feel of your resume by selecting the right template.
Since graphic design is an artistic field, choosing a resume template with some flair is appropriate, like one of our creative resume templates. Or, peruse our template library to see if one of our modern resumes or simple templates is more your style.
How to write a graphic designer resume in 5 simple steps
While there are some basic rules for writing a great resume, top candidates for competitive graphics design jobs know that the key to getting noticed is to write a resume that is specific to the industry and the role they seek. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1
Study the graphic designer job description
A well-written resume is customized to the job at hand. The job ad should tell you everything you need to know about the key requirements the employer is looking for in applicants. Or, do some research on your own to learn more about what employers seek in top candidates. If you are able to successfully incorporate those into your resume, you’ll improve your chances of landing a job interview.
Many employers run resumes through applicant tracking systems (ATS) that screen out unqualified candidates based on preset keywords. If your resume doesn’t contain the right keywords, you’ll be eliminated before a human ever sees your resume. To make your resume ATS-friendly, you’ll need to customize it to the job description. That’s why if you’re able to successfully incorporate the right keywords, you’ll improve your chances of landing a job interview.
You may be asking yourself, “Each job is different. How do I know which keywords to use?” Don’t worry — it’s easy.
While every graphic designer role is different, a good job ad should tell you everything you need to know about which keywords to add to your graphic designer resume. The key to success is to study the job description and make a list of critical keywords.
For example, if the job description for the graphic designer role you seek asks for advanced Adobe, communication skills and experience making logos, and a degree in graphic design, you’ll want to be sure to use those exact words in your graphic designer resume. Look for opportunities in your professional summary, skills section and work experience section to add the keywords you’ve identified. Then, go through your resume and make sure what you wrote matches the wording in the job description so that the ATS recognizes it.
It may sound like a lot, but once you get used to the process, it should only take you a few minutes to do and will get your JT resume better results than if you don’t tailor it.
Step 2
Write a professional summary or resume objective
Depending on your level of experience, your graphic designer resume should include either a professional summary or a resume objective to start. Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective, which states your transferable skills and your career goals. Applicants with more direct experience in a graphic design role should use a professional summary, which outlines your skills and experience and highlights some of your most notable professional accomplishments.
Here are some strong examples for your graphic designer resume:
Graphic designer professional summary example:
Graphic designer with seven years of experience and a long track record of creating visual designs that communicate ideas and messages effectively. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and web design principles and technologies. Excellent communication skills enable effective collaboration with clients, which allow for effective translation of their ideas into designs that meet their objectives. Passionate about staying current in design technology and mentoring junior staff to hone their skills.
Graphic designer resume objective example:
Certified Graphic Designer (CGD) looking to secure an entry-level position in a highly-innovative organization that will allow me to utilize my technical skills, creativity and love of design. Created a varied portfolio that showcases my ability to design visually stunning designs that communicate effectively with the intended audience. Graduated from California College of the Arts with honors.
Step 3
Highlight your most relevant graphic designer skills
Regardless of your experience level, hiring managers will be looking closely at the graphic design resume skills you list. Skills for a graphic designer resume should be added to your resume skills section and peppered into your professional summary (or resume objective) and your work experience section.
It’s critical that you provide employers with a solid mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are the measurable skills needed to perform a job. These skills are easily taught in a classroom. Soft skills, on the other hand, are nontechnical, making them difficult to measure. They are behaviors and personality traits that help you do your job well. Below, we provide a side-by-side list of hard and soft skills to help you see the difference between the two.
Hard and soft skills for a graphic designer resume
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Sketch
- Figma
- JIRA
- WordPress
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Creativity
- Active listening
- Attention to detail
- Deadline-driven
Even for jobs that don’t require interacting with the public, soft skills are important to list. Employers seek out candidates who already possess these skills because they are difficult to teach.
Step 4
Write a strong graphic designer work experience section
While the required background and experience will be different for each role, the key to getting noticed is writing a work experience section that demonstrates what you will bring to the table.
Here is an example of a great graphic designer work experience entry:
Graphic Designer, Willow Agency – San Francisco, CA
January 2019 – Present
- Develop and present up to 100 design concepts and options for clients each year.
- Create and design a wide range of visual materials including logos, websites, social media graphics, marketing materials and presentations.
- Use design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Sketch to produce high-quality designs.
- Collaborate with clients and project managers to understand design needs and project requirements and iterate designs based on feedback.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.
Make your graphic design credentials pop by using action words, data and metrics to capture the attention of a hiring manager.
Step 5
Showcase your education and training on your graphic designer resume
To be hired as a graphic designer, you’ll need to show employers that you have the required education and training. Top candidates for this role often list a degree in graphic design or visual arts and certifications or special training in graphic design. There is no need to list your year of graduation unless you are a very recent grad.
How to list your graphic design education:
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
Certifications
- Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
- Certified Graphic Designer (CGD)
If you have professional certifications or special training, add them to your resume. You can include them in your education section or add a special section to your graphic designer resume.
Optional sections for your graphic design resume
Awards and Certifications
Adding accolades to your resume is a smart way to show off your abilities, achievements and qualifications. Awards emphasize exceptional performance or leadership, whereas certifications offer hard evidence of your expertise and abilities in a specific domain.
Including certificates and awards on your resume sets you apart from other contenders. They tell the employer you are truly dedicated to your field and capable of making significant contributions to their organization — ultimately increasing your chances of landing the job.
How to list awards on your graphic design resume:
2021 One Show Awards – Bronze
2017 Adobe Design Achievement Awards – Finalist
Projects
Projects are a great addition to your resume because they show you’re capable of using theoretical knowledge in real-world situations. It’s one thing to learn something in class — it’s another thing to put the ideas into practice.
Projects are also a tangible demonstration of the types of skills — from problem-solving and time management to teamwork and leadership — that are valuable to employers. Not only that but also a relevant project can highlight your long-standing passion and expertise in a given subject.
How to list projects on your graphic design resume:
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Branding and Identity Design
Created logos, color schemes, typography and other visual elements that represent a company or brand for a variety of clients, including the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and Bimbo Bakeries USA. -
Web Design
Designed and developed web pages — including layout, typography, images and user experience — for clients such as Ivory Soap and Crest toothpaste. -
Print Design
Created print materials, including brochures, flyers, business cards and posters for several Los Angeles’ bands and club promoters.
Languages
Languages give you a chance to showcase your cultural awareness and adaptability, two qualities highly prized in today’s globalized job market. Being multilingual also expands your communication abilities, giving you access to a wider variety of clients, customers and stakeholders, and opening the door to international opportunities.
Additionally, knowing multiple languages suggests you have impressive mental agility and determination. Ultimately, all else being equal, if a job opening comes down to two candidates and one of them lists multiple languages on their resume, the multilingual candidate will be more attractive to the employer.
How to list languages on your graphic design resume:
- English: Fluent
- French: Fluent
- Spanish: Proficient
Interests and Hobbies
Adding hobbies to your resume is appropriate as long as they’re relevant to the job. They offer an opportunity to show your personality and meaningfully connect with a potential employer. Plus, they emphasize your transferable skills, like creativity or leadership — qualities you take from job to job.
Finally, hobbies and interests can demonstrate whether you’re the right culture fit for a company. They enrich your overall profile, showing the employer how you are a unique and fully defined person.
How to list interests and hobbies on your graphic design resume:
- Passion for creative writing
- Avid photographer (both digital and film)
- Enthusiasm for yoga
Include a cover letter
Adding a graphic designer cover letter to your application can help you stand out. Why? Because it gives you extra space to convince the employer that you’re the right person for the job.
Learning how to write a cover letter for a graphic design job starts with becoming familiar with the six basic cover letter sections: the header, salutation, introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion and the signoff. Study our cover letter examples to learn how long a cover letter should be and how to format your cover letter.
Or, if you want a job-specific cover letter in a matter of minutes, use our professional Cover Letter Generator, which offers professionally written text suggestions for every section. Use the wording as-is or customize it to suit your needs.
Key takeaways for your graphic designer resume
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Follow our steps for a standout resume
Take care to write all five sections of your resume in a way that is specific to the job you seek. Your professional summary, skills, work experience and education section should all be targeted to the job ad.
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Select the appropriate resume format
Decide what you’d like to emphasize the most on your graphic design resume — strong skills, an impressive work history or both — and then select the template that will help you put your best foot forward.
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Be specific to the role
Use specific information from the job ad rather than generic resume filler when crafting your document. Again, a well-written job description will tell you what to emphasize on your resume.
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Highlight both hard and soft skills
Being a graphic designer requires a mix of technical and personal skills to do the job well. Study our list of hard and soft skills to be sure that you include a balance of both types in your resume.
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Show the impact of your work
Employers want to see the impact of your work. In the work experience section, use action verbs, data and metrics to emphasize how you made a difference.
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Choose an appropriate resume template
Graphic design is a creative field but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should choose a creative resume template. Choose a template appropriate for your industry.
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Go the extra mile
Including a well-written graphic designer cover letter can increase your chances of landing a job interview.
FAQs from job seekers
Last Updated: January 01, 2025
Heather is the Content Strategy Manager for Resume Now and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than ten years of experience writing about job search and career topics. She is based in San Francisco.
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