7 Creative CV Examples (& How to Make Your Own)

A creative CV can be a powerful tool for standing out when you apply for a job.

Creative CVs are designed to showcase your unique design and presentation skills. They use graphic elements, colour theory, and special CV formats to highlight your skills, achievements, and experience.

Scroll down for 7 great creative CV examples that stand out for their clever approach to professional self-presentation. Get inspired by these design-forward documents as you make your CV, or download them as free templates to edit in your word processor.

The gradient CV

This graphic designer CV conveys creativity and balance with its clean, modern layout and soft teal accents.

Why this example works:

• Unique colour scheme: The use of teal gives the CV a memorable appearance while retaining the professionalism and neatness of a good job application.
• Visualised skills: Progress bars for key skills like ‘Figma’ and ‘Photoshop’ offer a quick visual representation of the candidate’s expertise, showcasing their understanding of design.
• Tailored content: Relevant modules in education and detailed work experience include CV keywords that align closely with employer expectations.

The infographic CV

A great choice for both creatives and recent graduates, this skills-based CV uses eye-catching graphics to highlight skill competency.

Why this example works:

• Visually pleasing format: Bar graphs, pie charts, and a clever work experience timeline demontrate the applicant’s skills.
• Eyecatching colour palette: Bright accent colours highlight contact information and skill graphics for a dynamic appearance.
• Great for career-starters: The skills-based CV format emphasises knowledge areas over previous experience, making it great for first-job applicants.

The timeline CV

This fashion designer CV is both elegant and functional, using a centrally-aligned layout and red accents to emphasise the applicant’s career progression.

Why this example works:

• Professional formatting: The layout is logical and easy to follow because it combines bold job titles and locations with bullet-pointed achievements.
• Balanced use of colour: The red headers and design elements add a touch of flair, helping the document stand out.
• Multi-page format: This creative design looks good across one or two pages, making it perfect if you need to add additional CV sections or include extensive work experience.

The skills bubble CV

Similar to the infographic CV, this template uses creative design elements to demonstrate skill levels.

Why this example works:

• Versatile for any industry: This template strikes a balance between creative and traditional formatting. It uses design elements to effectively showcase the candidate’s education, skills, and work experience.
• Eye-catching header: The circular design can feature either a headshot or the applicant’s initials, offering flexibility based on preference.
• Easy to read: Numbered subheaders for each work experience entry help organise the content, making it simple to scan and follow.

The photo CV

This photo CV template is a great choice if you need to put a headshot on your application.

Why this example works:

• Clear organisation: The use of colour in the margin, sidebar, and headers makes key information such as your name and qualifications easy to catch at a glance.
• Balanced use of space: The sections are evenly divided and indented to improve readability.
• Concise formatting: The sans-serif font reads easily at smaller sizes, allowing you to include more information without writing more than necessary.

The InDesign CV

Using an InDesign CV template can be an effective way to showcase your creative skills if you’re applying for an artist or designer job.

Why this example works:

• Eyecatching design: The colour border makes this creative CV stand out from more ordinary applications.
• Professional colour palette: The soft violets and greys in this CV give it a professional, visually appealing look.
• Space-efficient layout: The work experience section is set out across two columns, allowing you to fit four previous jobs on the first page of your CV.

The video CV

Making a video CV is a great way to show your confidence and personality, especially if you’re applying for a role that requires verbal communication or editing skills.

Why this example CV works:

• Strong hook: The applicant opens their videographer CV with a snappy transition before quickly outlining his background and professional interests.
• Visually engaging: Simple animations and subtitles highlight key information, making the video dynamic and engaging.
• Highlights portfolio: The video cuts to shots of the applicant’s previous work, providing compelling evidence of their skills in action.

Here are tools you can use to make a video CV that impresses your target employer:

When to use a creative CV design

It’s important to consider whether a creative CV is appropriate for the job you’re applying for before you write your CV.

Creative CVs are most suitable for job opportunities that require design, editing, or visual communication skills. In these cases, submitting a visually interesting CV can be an effective way to demonstrate your expertise.

The point of including design elements should always be to highlight your relevant skills and experience. They should never distract from your CV’s key information.

If you’re unsure of whether a creative CV is suitable for your target role, err on the side of caution. Create a simple CV that focuses on summarising your experience rather than impressing the employer with clever design elements.

Frequently asked questions about creative CVs

Here are three common questions people have when making their creative CV.

1. How do you show creativity on a CV?

The best way to show creativity on your CV is by highlighting relevant experience.

Fill out your CV personal statement and work experience section with achievements demonstrating your creative skills. For example, a videographer might highlight projects where they used specific production tools or storytelling techniques.

If you have extensive freelance creative experience, include a projects or freelance work section to ensure that your achievements stand out properly. You should use these sections as you would a work experience section by including the project name, client, date completed, and a few bullet points detailing the skills you used and project results.

2. Do employers like creative CV templates?

Creative CVs are suitable for job opportunities in creative, communications, design and marketing departments.

Moreover, most employers are happy to have you write your CV using a template, as your CV’s primary purpose is to convey the key points of your professional experience, not your design skills.

However, consider whether your chosen template design suits your target role. Carefully read the job description, considering the requirements, key responsibilities, and the company culture. Ask yourself whether a unique CV design would make you stand out for the right reasons.

3. How do I make my CV look impressive?

Focus on content to create an impressive CV. First, highlight relevant achievements and qualifications, emphasising the positive results of your work.

To improve the visual appeal of your CV, focus on cleanliness and simplicity. Here are a few design tricks to make your creative CV have the right impact:

• Keep it clean and simple: Use a clean layout with clear headings and white space. Avoid cluttering the page with too much text or unnecessary design elements.
• Use subtle colours: Muted colours like greys, blacks, or soft tones work best. Use colour sparingly for accents such as headings, dividers, or icons.
• Highlight key sections: Use bold, larger fonts or subtle colour for section headings (e.g., work experience, skills). Align headings consistently to guide the reader’s eye through the document.