Graphic Design Resume Example and Writing Tips

Key sections to include in a graphic design resume

All graphic designer resumes have the same basic format – header, resume summary, work history, education, and skills. These are the foundation to every good resume and tell the hiring manager the main points they need to know before they meet you for an interview.

Let’s take a closer look at these sections and what to put in them, including graphic designer resume examples for each element to help inspire you.

The header, also called “personal details” or “contact details,” is where you put your name and contact information. This gives the hiring manager a clear, centralized location to find your information if they want to discuss the next steps.

Resume headers generally include:

Full name
Job title
Phone number
Email address
Location (city and state)
LinkedIn URL

Here’s a graphic designer resume sample header for inspiration:

Robert Aldo
Graphic Designer
555-7551
robertaldo@gmail.com
Fresno, CA
linkedin.com/robertaldo/

Resume objective or summary

A resume objective or summary are both short professional descriptions of you – about two to four sentences long. Let’s quickly compare the two to help you choose which one to use:

Resume summary: A brief description of your work experience and achievements
Resume objective: A brief description of your skills and professional goals.

Here’s an example resume summary for a graphic designer:

“Versatile graphic designer with 7 years of experience crafting creative designs for marketing teams and agencies. Expert in all major graphic design platforms and color theory, and adept in basic HTML coding. Proven skills in increasing brand awareness, increasing brand cohesion, and identifying key opportunities.”

Resume objectives are useful for people new to the workforce and people switching careers, so it’s more likely that you’ll need to make a resume summary instead, as they’re for established professionals.

If you’re interested in seeing a sample objective, browse our resume examples for a variety of unique resumes.

Work experience

Relevant work experience is the most important thing you can add to a resume. Hiring managers want to study your previous work and ensure it aligns with their open role and expectations, so make this section engaging and distinct.

Start by listing your job title, and then provide the organization’s name, its location, and your date of employment. Finish with a bullet list of your top accomplishments from that role.

Here’s an example:

Graphic Designer
Creative Splash, Fresno, CA
September 2021 – Present

Created a complete visual identity for 3 clients, enhancing brand awareness and increasing customer interaction by an average of 200%
Constructed logos, GIF animations, website graphics, infographics, and social media channels for more than 20 clients
Prepared illustrations and sketches of designs according to client requests, discussing them and making changes where necessary

Education

Most creative roles, like graphic design, don’t require high education – hiring managers are usually more concerned with your relevant experience and portfolio pieces.

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t provide your education if you have it. Many recruiters are excited to find candidates with an educated background to help them shortlist a large volume of candidates.

When listing your education, keep it short and simple. Here’s an example:

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts
California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
September 2012 – May 2016

Hard skills

A graphic designer’s technical skills are vital tools to get the job done. Working with graphic design software, understanding color theory, and 3D modeling help you craft beautiful logos and stunning animations. Without hard skills, your work wouldn’t be possible.

Here are the top hard skills for graphic designers:

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe inDesign
Visual storytelling
Figma
HTML/CSS
Branding and identity
UX/UI design
Responsive design

Soft skills

Although not as important as hard skills, soft skills help graphic designers manage their work, collaborate with teams, and communicate with clients.

Here are the main soft skills for a graphic design resume:

Communication
Time management
Attention to detail
Active listening
Teamwork
Innovation and creative thinking
Problem-solving

Optional sections

These sections are helpful additions but aren’t strictly necessary. The most common optional sections are Languages, Volunteer work, Certifications, and Hobbies and Interests.

Certifications can be useful for a graphic design resume. Certificates like UI/UX Design Specialization are a great way to show the recruiter your specialty skills in certain fields.

If you’re new to graphic design, consider adding relevant volunteer work and hobbies to showcase your work ethic and transferable skills.

These bonus elements may be sections underneath your work experience and education, or they can be organized into a side column to make space – it depends on the resume template you use.

Tips for writing a graphic designer resume

Now let’s get into some special tips. The above steps will build you a solid graphic designer resume, but the tips and tricks below help you stand out from the crowd.

Interested in more advice? Check out our resume articles for even more guides.

Use a creative resume to showcase your skills

As a graphic designer, you can do so much more than simply tell a hiring manager about your qualifications. Why not show them?

Use a creative resume to show recruiters your experience in matching colors and choosing a tidy layout. Create a visually stunning resume that displays your graphic experience and details your experience through words.

This might include splashes of color and geometric shapes, or you may even create an infographic filled with your accomplishments and testimonials. When it comes to creative resume examples, graphic design is the main profession, so it isn’t difficult to find inspiration.

For more insights, read our full guide on building a creative resume.

Build a freelancer resume

Many graphic designers are freelancers, so it’s a great idea to follow freelancer best practices when creating your resume:

Frame your resume as an application and a way to market your business
Highlight your skills, transferable skills, and unique projects
Include a link to your portfolio
Provide a few testimonial quotes
Showcase your adaptability and flexibility

Don’t be afraid to display the unique qualities you bring to the table as a freelancer. It makes you stand out and gets you more high-quality gigs.

Check out our guide on creating a freelancer resume for more tips.

Construct a stunning graphic design resume

How does a visual professional showcase their skills through a written application? By following our tips and building a beautiful graphic design resume. Remember to:

Focus on work experience, relevant skills, and transferable skills
Emphasize your hard skills, such as proficiency with graphic design software
Make a creative resume that displays your skills with color and structure
Create a freelancer resume that links to your portfolio and testimonials

Let’s get started. Head over to CVwizard’s Resume Builder to craft a quick, professional graphic design resume.