Graphic Design CV Example

Whether you’re applying for freelance roles or an in-house position as a graphic designer, you’ll need to impress employers with a concise, well-written graphic design CV that accurately showcases your relevant design skills.

Our section-by-section guide and CV example will help you understand all the essentials and prepare you for writing an eye-catching graphic design CV.

1. List your up-to-date contact information

First, list your contact information on your graphic designer CV. Your contact details are an essential part of any CV because employers can’t offer you an interview if they can’t reach you.

Your graphic design CV’s heading should include your:

• email
• phone number
• address (just the city is fine)
• LinkedIn profile

Additionally, include a link to your online portfolio if you have one. Linking to your portfolio gives employers a chance to look at your previous work and see if you have the requirements they want in their ideal graphic designer.

2. Write a convincing personal statement

To catch the attention of employers, you’ll need to write a compelling personal statement for your CV.

Personal statements are 3–5 sentences that showcase:

• who you are
• your goals and motivations (like why you’re applying for this job)
• what you can offer the organisation

There are two approaches to doing this, depending on how much work experience you have as a designer:

If you’re a senior graphic designer

First, consider your experience, which skills/software you’re proficient in, and any other abilities that make you a great graphic designer.

Next, read the job posting to understand what you need for the position.

Finally, explain how your experience and skills match the position requirements.

If you’re an entry-level graphic designer

Emphasise what experience you currently have, such as your education details, volunteer work, and previous jobs), along with your eagerness to learn new skills. 

Additionally, research the company (mission statement, values, etc.) you’re applying to and explain why you’d make a good fit in your statement.

3. Describe your prior work experience

Your work experience is your main selling point as a graphic designer.

There are two approaches to listing design work history on your CV, depending on whether you’ve had traditional work experience or completed freelance work (if you’ve had both experiences, then both methods apply to you).

Here’s how to list traditional, in-house graphic design experience on your CV:

How to list your traditional graphic design experience

• State your position title, company name, and dates you were employed
• Explain your duties and responsibilities, but ensure you quantify them with hard numbers
• List promotions, achievements, and how you were rewarded for quality work

Here’s how to include freelance graphic design experience on your CV:

How to list your freelance graphic design experience

• Write the project name, company who delegated it to you, and project duration by listing the dates and the software you used for the assignment
• Similar to traditional work experience, quantify your project duties and responsibilities with exact numbers
• If you’ve only worked freelance, try naming the section ‘Projects’, and include it where work experience would normally go on your graphic design CV
• Otherwise, list your freelance projects in a separate section from your work experience if you have both freelance and traditional work experience

4. List your educational qualifications

The importance of your educational qualifications on your CV depends on your level of experience in the design industry.

If you’ve just graduated, your employer will want to see where you’ve studied before (especially if it was at a red brick university), along with which GCSEs and A-Levels you achieved.

However, if you’re a more senior professional, focus on presenting the quality of your design work. In this case, simply list your university name, dates you attended, along with the degree and honours classification you were awarded in your CV’s education section.

5. Highlight your graphic design skills

Having a detailed skills section on your graphic design CV is essential because it tells employers:

• what design software you’re familiar with
• the design techniques you’re versed in
• what programming languages you know
• how well you work with other employees

If you’re unsure whether the job-specific abilities on your CV will impress your target employer, here are some of the top graphic design skills employers want in 2023:

Additionally, one way to give your CV design a more creative look and stand out from the competition is by representing your talents using skill bars. Choosing online CV templates with skills bars or designing your own visual CV lets the employer know which design software you’re proficient with.

Here’s an example of skill bars on a CV for a graphic designer:

6. Include a brief section for your hobbies

Many employers like to know what you enjoy doing in your free time so they can have a better idea of your personality and if you’ll be a good fit at the office. Providing them with an introduction to some of your hobbies is a great way for them to start a conversation during an interview.

We recommend keeping things simple. Team sport or social groups you’re a part of are a great addition to any CV and demonstrate a variety of soft skills.

So don’t hesitate to mention your involvement in a community football league. Ideally, you can include these as small icons or pictures.

Here’s an example of how to list your hobbies on a CV: