How to Write a CV for a Graphic Designer (Examples & Tips)

You’re creative, design-focused, and love making eye-catching visuals, but when it comes to writing a good CV, you’re baffled as to why you are not getting through to the interview phase. Well, the thing is, a CV does not need to be graphic-heavy. All that truly matters is the content and layout. The aim is to keep your experience, skills, and key achievements short and sweet to showcase why you are the best candidate for the job. If you have completed design projects, it's best to insert a link on your CV or send a portfolio as a separate attachment. Whether you are a student or changing careers, we provide the latest information on what makes a designer CV, skills to include, and examples for different levels.

Explore our wide range of customisable CV templates tailored to your specific career or experience level.

Graphic designer CV example

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Emily is a qualified and experienced Graphic Designer with a proven track record of creating and implementing innovative ideas across multiple mediums. Over the years, she has gained expert knowledge in design principles and tools. Her previous, graphic-heavy CV was in dire need of an update, so she has opted for a simple yet modern CV template.

Explore our matching graphic designer cover letter example to help you streamline your application, increasing your chances of success.

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How to write a graphic designer CV with no experience?

Start by building up a robust portfolio through freelancing or exploring diverse design tools to create work that reflects your passion and unique style. Engage in networking activities online or within professional groups to stay ahead of the competition. Additionally, consider creating a skills-based CV or completing courses that could enhance your skills and further improve your chances to land your dream job. Lastly, incorporate transferrable skills and additional experience, such as memberships in student societies, volunteering, or side jobs to set yourself apart from others.

To help you get started right away, ensure to check out the following freelancer platforms:

• Upwork

• Dribble

• Freelancer

• Fiverr

• Behance

Example of no work experience for a graphic designer:

Graphic Design Intern, KUKA Robotics, London, UK, 2022-2023

Assisted in the development of digital graphics using Figma within a fast-paced setting, collaborating directly with the Creative Director and copywriters. Worked closely with a diverse team of engineers, designers, and data scientists to create visuals aimed at informing and inspiring the target audience. Honed skills in branding, typography, and social media design with guidance and mentorship from industry professionals in IT, product development, UX designers, marketing specialists, and art directors

• Completed 20+ design projects under tight deadlines, ensuring they match the tone of voice and brand guidelines.

• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to integrate design elements into educational materials for 10+ campaigns.

• Implemented feedback to enhance design quality and impact, receiving positive reviews from the product owner.

To learn more about this type of CV, refer to our blog article on how to write a CV with no experience.

For more inspiration, check out the following CV writing guides to help you navigate the market with confidence:

• Internship

• Apprenticeship

• Part-time.

What to include in a graphic designer CV?

As a creative thinker who enjoys using technology to bring ideas to life, focus on clear, concise, and relevant content when crafting your CV. Highlight your key skills, experience, and achievements to capture the attention of recruiters or hiring managers. While writing a strong portfolio is crucial, a well-written CV is essential to increase your chances of success.

For more information, check out our related blog article on the difference between and job-specific vs master CV.

See our list of must-have CV sections to include:

• Personal profile

• Work experience

• Education

• Skills

Additionally, consider adding the following sections to further improve your CV:

• Hobbies and interests

• Language skills

• Courses and certificates

• Achievements

1. How to write a personal profile for a graphic designer CV

The personal profile, also known as a CV opening statement, is your first chance to grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Essentially, it serves as an elevator pitch that needs to start with a powerful statement. Similar to your headline on LinkedIn or short bio on other social media platforms, you need to keep it brief but relevant.

A well-written personal profile should contain your title, years of experience, and relevant soft skills. Alternatively, your CV needs to be clear on the types of roles you are targeting if you are a recent graduate or changing careers.

Refer to our artist CV example for more inspiration on creative skills to add to your CV.

2. What skills to put on a graphic designer CV

A designer can specialise in many different areas including but not limited to brand identity design, marketing and advertising, product packaging, web or user interface design, or print. Whichever route you choose, you need to ensure you include skills relevant to the job.

When it comes to deciding which skills to put on your graphic design CV, it is pretty straightforward. Skills on a CV should be balanced between hard, soft, and transferable skills. Sometimes, you must elaborate on technical skills such as software and tools. For example, you can mention Adobe Creative Suit but be more specific in the technical skills section. Alternatively, incorporate the exact tools into your work experience or education. Refer to the skills article for more information.

A hard skill is most commonly gained through training, school, or work experiences and typically can be proven. Soft skills refer to character traits, interpersonal skills, and professional attributes that are developed and sharpened in your daily life. A transferable skill can be categorised into hard, soft, or even more technical skills, such as a specific program or tool.

3. How to include work experience on a graphic designer CV

Whether you have experience or are just starting your career in graphic design, recruits or hiring managers want to see what you did versus what you achieved. Your achievements include projects you’ve worked on, clients you’ve assisted, training, or even new tools or graphic design software. Your career history should only include the relevant experience to your job targets.

For more tips on what keywords to include, consult our blog article on how to write applicant tracking systems (ATS)-friendly CV.

We recommend listing your experience in reverse chronological order (or current to oldest). Include the company's name, the dates of employment, and the location while differentiating between duties versus key achievements. This gives the company an idea of your practical work experience, especially if they are looking for someone with your experience.

For more information, explore our article on how to write a chronological CV.

Work experience examples for graphic designers:

Graphic Designer, ArtSpace Studios, London, UK, 2023-2024

Conceptualised and executed visual designs for diverse clients, ensuring brand consistency and seamless communication across all departments. Collaborated with creative directors and marketing specialists to understand project goals and deliver reports aligned with their requirements. Streamlined design processes by implementing templates and guidelines, reducing project turnaround time by 15%.

• Led a marketing team and created two large-scale social media campaigns that increased engagement rate by 30%, reaching 1 million impressions.

• Elevated social media engagement rates by 20% by creating visually captivating graphics for campaigns.

• Re-designed the brand’s tone of voice and style across all platforms, enhancing brand awareness and resulting in 15% increase in lead generation within six months.

Freelance Graphic Designer, Fiverr, London, UK, 2021-2023

Created eye-catching designs reflecting clients' brand identities and marketing objectives. Stayed updated with industry trends to deliver innovative solutions exceeding client expectations. Built strong client relationships based on trust and effective communication.

• Increased brand engagement across social media platforms by 20% through the creation of captivating visual assets.

• Received client recognition for consistently exceeding expectations, contributing to a 15% increase in client satisfaction ratings.

• Developed a new packaging design for clients, resulting in a 20% increase in sales in the first quarter of its release.

Junior Graphic Designer, Jo Wade Limited, 2019-2021

Create cutting-edge graphics, photos, and videos to convey messages to specific audiences effectively. Ensure compliance with brand guidelines and integrate feedback from leadership to achieve company objectives. Work closely with the marketing department to strategise, outline project requirements, and bring designs to life, guaranteeing timely communication with all involved parties. Supervise and maintain internal databases for design, photo, and video resources.

• Increased client satisfaction by 25% through designs that effectively conveyed their messages and resonated with their audiences.

• Designed a new office space design and reduced material costs by 30% within 6 months.

• Created educational infographics for a non-profit organisation which resulted in a 40% rise in page views and 300 donations within the first month of release.

Refer to the work experience on a CV for more valuable tips, examples, and industry-specific information.

4. How to list education on a graphic designer CV

To work in the design field, you need to be knowledgeable about specific tools, processes, and techniques. Although this can be self-taught, it is always crucial to back it up on your CV with some training if you still need to get secondary or tertiary education. Only include the highest level of study if you have completed tertiary schooling.

However, to become a graphic designer in the UK, ideally, you would need to start off with a foundation diploma in art and design. The type of information you need to include within the education section, like other sections, must be short and to the point. The one thing that you can do as a recent graduate or student seeking an internship would be to elaborate on projects, relevant courses, and high grades to make your CV stand out. Refer to our skills-based CV example or graduate article for more information.

Details to include your education section:

• Institution/school

• Degree or diploma type

• Location

• Date range, year completed, or in progress.

Examples of education:

• Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, Falmouth University, UK, 2015-2018

• Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design, Royal College of Art, UK, 2019-2021

• Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Illustration, University of Brighton, UK, 2023-In progress

• Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Visual Communication, University of the Arts London, UK, 2014-2017

• Master of Arts in Graphic Branding and Identity, London College of Communication, UK, 2019

5. What certifications to include for a graphic designer CV

This section is a must for anyone who is changing careers or has completed several forms of professional training. Including certifications shows that you are proactive and take the initiative by making sure to stay ahead of the latest industry trends.

This choice of a course or certification depends on the type of graphic design positions you're targeting. Most jobs do not require them. However, certifications in some graphic design specialities help gain a competitive advantage. Some of the essential certifications you may want to list on your graphic design CV include the following:

• Udemy

• Linkedin Learning

• Coursera

• EdX

• UX Design Institute

So, how do you go about putting this section together? It's straightforward. List all your current certifications - that's all there is to it. We recommend following the format:

• Course name

• Issued by

• Issued date or in progress

Examples of courses and certificates on a CV for a graphic designer:

• Google UX design, Google, In progress

• Adobe Certified Professional (ACP), Adobe, 2023

• Graphic Design Specialisation, CalArts, 2022

Key takeaways

We hope this article has shed more light on what makes a good CV as well as key strategies and practices to set yourself apart from other competitors. By having more insights into the different career paths and CV sections you can help set yourself up for success. The key thing we want you to take away from this article is the need for consistency and attention to detail. Remember to prioritise content over heavy graphics or long content to increase your chances of success. For more information, check out our related blog article on how long should a CV be.

• Make sure the font is professional and easy to read.

• Proofread your CV using Grammarly, or share it with family or friends to get a fresh perspective on your work.

• Tailor your CV to each job you apply for

• Avoid white space and unnecessary CV sections irrelevant to your job targets.

• Always make sure your personal details, previous employment history, and education match what you've stated on your application or cover letter.

Next steps?

Need to polish some inconsistencies in your text or improve your writing? Check our CVMaker website for professional CV Writing Services or our easy-to-use CV Builder. After creating your CV and cover letter, the next stage is preparing good questions for your job interview.

For additional support, check out our related blog articles:

• How to send a CV via email

• Video interview tips

• Interview tips for introverts

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FAQ

What is the best font for a graphic designer CV?

The font choice depends on your portfolio, job target and design direction of your job target. Ensure you comply with licensing restrictions for each font. For examples, for a luxurious brand logo fonts, consider using Future or Helvetica. On the other hand, for brochures and music festival posters, opt for playful fonts suchas fonts such as Avenir or Bebas Neue. Other common fonts include Arial, Times New Roman, and Garamond. They are widely used across different industries in the UK, from branding to editorial layouts.

For more information, check out related blog article on the best font for a CV and best colour on a CV.

Is graphic design a good career choice?

If you are someone who wants to combine your passion for art, technology, and communication, then yes, graphic designers are needed in every industry, so depending on which type of design you want to produce or the types of company you want to work with, it is a great career choice.

What should a graphic designer put on a CV?

Your portfolio, achievements, and technical proficiencies are some of the key things to include in your graphic design CV. Recruiters want to see the type of work you have provided, whether you are familiar with the latest tools and trends, and what you have achieved through university or past work experience.

Where can I apply for graphic design jobs?

Using CVMaker job search option you can apply and manage all your applications in one place. Alternatively,  LinkedIn and Indeed are two alternative platforms used by professionals worldwide. If you have a strong LinkedIn profile that matches the information you have included on your CV, then it could be a great way to land your first or new graphic designer position.

For more information, check out our related blog article on how to track job applications to learn more.

What are the types of graphic designers in the UK?

The need for graphic designers and companies to continuously increase their digital presence is growing. Choosing a career in graphic design allows a lot of flexibility, whether you decide to work for an agency, freelance, or in-house. A few career paths within the umbrella of graphic design include but are not limited to:

• Product Designer

• Packaging Designer

• Game Designer

• Brand Identity Designer

• Animation Designer

• User Experience (UX) or User Interface (UI) Designer

• Production Artist

• Creative Director

• Lettering and Typography Designer.