Designer Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you struggling to decide what you should and shouldn’t add to your designer resume, to help you win the job of your dreams?

You are not alone.  Many people find it difficult to decide what is important and will improve your odds and what is not.  

Fortunately, it is not that difficult once you understand what recruiters are looking for and how to add the information to your resume.

We have analyzed the best resumes to help you get your creative juices flowing so that you can draw up an impressive resume that stands out among all the rest.

Designer Resume Examples

The following examples illustrate the best way to showcase your skills, experience and expertise in the field of design.

Graphic Designer Resume Example

Graphic designers are the creative minds behind brand logos, graphics on websites, social media, and more.

If you’re pursuing a career in graphic design, here’s a resume example on which you can base your resume.

Objective:

• A highly skilled and motivated graphic designer with three years of industry experience seeking to work with other creative industry professionals. I’m seeking a role in a dynamic and innovative company where I can use my education and freelance experience to create visual solutions for clients’ needs and continue to explore industry trends.

Work Experience 1: Graphic Design Internship

• Implement my freelance skills and education to create unique graphics for clients in various industries.
• Collaborate with junior and senior graphic designers to develop engaging and innovative graphics for clients.
• Maintain relationships with clients to create long-lasting partnerships.
• Design brochures, email graphics, website banners, YouTube thumbnails, and more in Adobe Creative Suite and other similar platforms.

Work Experience 2: Freelance Graphic Designer

• Create engaging and unique graphics for clients found on various freelancing websites.
• Effectively meeting with clients to better understand their needs and expectations before beginning a project.
• Utilize Adobe Creative Suite and Canva to create brand logos, advertisements, social media graphics, and more.
• Complete projects ahead of schedule or on time to ensure client satisfaction.

Project Experience:

• Food Drive: Volunteered for the local food drive by designing all the event posters, brochures, and signage.

Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Timeliness
• Brand development
• Illustration
• Color theory
• Canva

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design: Graduated from NYU with a 4.0 GPA.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from Manhattan High School with a 3.9 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
• Certified Graphic Designer (CGD)

Why This Resume Works

This resume works as, although the candidate has limited work experience, they listed their internship, freelance experience and volunteer work.

Their internship is relevant because it shows that they have worked under an experienced colleague who would have shown them the ropes and given them the opportunity to develop in their own right as a graphic designer.

By mentioning their freelance experience and volunteer work, it creates the impression that the candidate is serious about their craft and is willing to learn.

It also shows that they are flexible and are willing to work under different circumstances.

Next they listed their skills which included a list of the programs they are proficient on.

By listing programs that they are competent in using, they demonstrate that they are keeping up with technology and are less likely to need intensive training.

Finally, the candidate listed their education and certificates, which further adds to the impression that the candidate has the necessary education, training and experience to quickly get up to speed if they were to be employed.

UX Designer Resume Example

UX designers possess unique qualities like the ability to create content that compels people to take action.

Thus, it is important to demonstrate that you possess qualities like being a problem solver, a good listener but also a good storyteller.

Objective:

• Motivated UX designer with two years of UX design experience seeking to work with a company where I can use my skills, education, and expertise to fulfill clients’ needs. I’m seeking a role in an innovative and creative company where I can collaborate on UX design to improve the user experience on various products.

Work Experience 1: Entry-Level UX Designer

• Conduct user testing on products to gather user experience data better to improve a product, software, or service.
• Create design specifications based on user experience.
• Design easy-to-use user interfaces that are cohesive to the brand and product.
• Create mockups, prototypes, and wireframes to run a variety of tests to better understand the design and how users will see it.

Work Experience 2: Part-Time Graphic Designer

• Utilize Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, and other platforms to create engaging graphics for websites, social media, and more.
• Collaborate with other graphic designers to best fulfill the client’s needs.
• Keep up with trend changes in graphic design.
• Complete projects on time and correct anything the client requests.

Project Experience:

• App Development: Created a mobile app for smartphone users to use to locate restaurants in their area that’s easy to use and free to download.

Skills:

• User research
• Time management skills
• Visual design
• User analytics
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Canva
• Teamwork

Education:

• UX Design Bootcamp: Completed a 24-week course from NYU. 
• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science: Graduated from NYU with a 3.8 GPA. 
• High School Diploma: Graduated from Manhattan High School with a 3.5 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Certified User Experience Designer (CUXD)
• Certified Usability Analyst (CUA)
• Design Thinking Certification

Why This Resume Works

Starting with the individual’s education on this resume shows plenty of education, and even the boot camp is perfect for showing that they have additional knowledge .

The skills are the perfect blend of creative and analytical, precisely what it takes to be a successful UX designer.

This UX designer resume works because it shows prospective employers that you have a creative mind but can still perform unbiased research and analyze the user experience to improve upon digital designs.

The addition of the CUXD and CUA certifications on this resume will stand out to hiring managers and recruiters because it shows a dedication to UX design that other candidates might not have.

Interior Designer Resume Example

Interior design is a unique career where you’ll rearrange, style, or design a room or building from scratch.

Objective:

• I’m a creative interior designer with four years of interior and other design experience seeking a position with a dynamic company where I can put my skills, education, and experience to good use. I’m eager to apply my knowledge to assist clients in creating beautiful spaces within their homes, offices, or elsewhere.

Work Experience 1: Senior Interior Designer

• Oversee all interior design projects and junior interior designers to ensure they’re following company protocols, client instructions, etc.
• Implement final designs for office spaces, living rooms, bedrooms, and other residential or commercial space areas.
• Collaborate with other interior designers to come up with designs that are innovative, functional, and stylish.
• Design different rooms by using visualization tools and creative platforms to see how they would look in real life.

Work Experience 2: Junior Interior Designer

• Collaborate with other junior interior designers under the direction of the senior interior designer to exceed client expectations.
• Design bedrooms, living rooms, offices, and other spaces with design specifications, style, and color schemes in mind.
• Implement designs by purchasing furniture, paint colors, and other styling components within the client’s budget.
• Meet with clients to discuss their needs, wants, and budgets to ensure they’re happy with their interior design service.

Project Experience:

• Home Projects: Design and style my neighbor’s entire home, from the living room to the kitchen to the bedrooms, by using their personal preferences and my design knowledge.

Skills:

• Color theory
• Space planning
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Knowledge of building codes and regulations
• Furniture selection
• Adobe Creative Suite

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Interior Design (In Progress): Anticipated to finish in December with a GPA of 3.8.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design: Graduated from NYU with a 4.0 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)
• International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Certification

Why This Resume Works

To demonstrate their experience the candidate lists the interior design jobs they have held and a list of duties they have performed.

The skills list on this resume highlights everything you’d want to see on an interior design resume. It shows how they can efficiently plan different spaces, uses color theory to create a specific ambiance, and more.

The education is what will likely make this candidate stand out among other interior designers.

Showing that they’re pursuing their master’s degree in interior design shows that they’re willing to put forth more effort to learn about the field and use that knowledge in practice.

Lastly, the licenses and accreditations showcase the fact that the candidate excels in their field and has the documentation to prove it.

Product Designer Resume Example

Product designers have a combination of creative and practical skills that allow them to develop products for various industries.

As a product designer, you’ll want to touch on your creative, research, and analytic skills.

Below is a resume for someone with several years of product design experience, but you can still use it for inspiration as an entry-level designer.

Objective:

• I’m an innovative product designer with five years of experience researching, creating, and implementing different products across various industries. I’m seeking a position within a company where I can put my skills to use and grow within the company to provide exceptional product designs.

Work Experience 1: Senior Product Designer

• Manage a team of product designers and researchers to understand better products and how to improve them.
• Design the final drafts of various products, including mobile apps, websites, and more, to ensure they exceed customer needs.
• Collaborate with other product designers to gather more insight and bounce ideas off one another.
• Assist in training other product designers and researchers as new trends emerge, and new designers join the team.

Work Experience 2: Product Designer and Researcher

• Conduct user research through surveys, fictional personas, and more to better understand how a product works and where improvements are needed.
• Design new products based on user research.
• Collaborate with other designers to problem-solve and troubleshoot design issues seamlessly.
• Analyze user data to understand how a product design functions in real time.

Project Experience:

• Website Design: Design and implement a website for a local charity where people can donate, learn more about what they do, and how they can help if financial donations aren’t possible.

Skills:

• User research
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Research skills
• Prototyping
• User interface design (UI)
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design: Graduated from NYU with a 3.5 GPA.
• Associate’s Degree in Product Design: Graduated from New York Community College with a 3.9 GPA.

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Certified User Experience Professional (CUXP)
• Product Development and Management Association (PDMA)

Why This Resume Works

As a product designer, this resume should be one you consider when crafting your resume. Much like the other design resumes, it works for many reasons.

It uses common skills and action verbs to pass applicant tracking systems and get in front of a hiring manager or recruiter.

The skills for this resume are similar to a UX designer’s resume in the sense that they combine creative and analytical skills.

Since you’ll need to use analytic and creative design skills as a product designer, this resume works well to showcase the individual’s skillset.

The project experience is what will set this individual apart from other applicants.

Not all product designers have a wide range of design experience, so if you have other design experience not directly related to product design, it can show that you’re well-rounded.  

As for the license and accreditations, you don’t have to add any to your resume, but if you have them, it’s beneficial.

Even if you don’t have the two listed on this resume, if you plan on getting them, you can mention that.

Website Designer Resume Example

The website designer resume below showcases a variety of things you’ll want to include on your resume.

The best thing about website design is that you don’t necessarily need any higher education, so this resume shows how to use experience, skills, and minimal education to sell yourself to prospective employers.

Objective:

• I’m a creative website designer seeking a position where I can utilize my design and branding skills. I am seeking a position where I can grow with clients and a company to expand my portfolio and produce innovative, user-friendly, and beautiful websites for a variety of industries.

Work Experience 1: Junior Website Designer

• Collaborate with a team of designers to create websites that fit the needs of each client.
• Design website pages for clients in healthcare, food and beverage, and other industries that will provide visitors with all the information they need.
• Implement new website design trends as they become available.
• Assist in holding website design training for new website designers.

Work Experience 2: Freelance Website Designer

• Organize a portfolio of website designs to use on freelancing websites to showcase my abilities to prospective clients.
• Use WordPress, Wix, and similar website builders to create simple, effective, yet innovative websites for various clients in different industries.
• Manage time wisely by prioritizing website jobs in order of importance and due date.
• Use coding skills to create more intricate website designs as necessary.

Project Experience:

• Create Website for a Local Restaurant: Helped a local restaurant bring their business into the 21st century by creating a beautiful, easy-to-use, and effective website to bring in more business.

Skills:

• Coding
• Graphic design
• WordPress
• Color theory
• Space design
• Collaboration

Education:

• Website Design Certificate: Completed a ten-week course on website design. 
• Associate’s Degree in Website Design: Graduated from New York Community College with a 3.9 GPA.
• High School Diploma: Graduated from Manhattan High School with a 3.7 GPA. 

Licenses & Accreditations:

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• WP101 WordPress Certification
• Codecademy WordPress Skills

Why This Resume Works

As a website designer, this resume works because it has everything an employer is looking for. It shows ample education, excellent skills, relevant work experience, and plenty of licenses and certifications.

While you don’t need to have higher education to become a website designer, the fact that this individual pursued online certificates and an associate’s degree will show employers how dedicated they are to web design.

In addition to that, they have three great licenses and certifications that prove they’re willing to continue learning about web design and implementing that knowledge when creating websites.

Besides the education and experience, this resume works well when you look at the skill list.

It combines everything someone looks for in a web designer but other skills that other types of designers might have, like space design and color theory.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include On a Designer Resume

You can’t rely exclusively on your work experience and education when building your design resume.

You’ll need to ensure you’re using common skills and action verbs that hiring managers and recruiters want to see.

Since most companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to pre-screen resumes, adding common skills and action verbs they’re looking for can help avoid them throwing out your resume before they even look at it.

Common Skills for Designer Resumes

What skills you’ll showcase on your resume will vary depending on what you have and the type of design career you’re entering.

Here are some of the most common skills you might want to consider adding to your designer resume:

• Detail-oriented skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Color theory
• WordPress skills
• Marketing
• Branding
• Adaptability
• Time management skills
• Presentation and public speaking skills
• Adobe Creative Suite
• User Experience (UX) design
• AutoCAD
• Space planning
• Project management skills
• Budgeting skills
• Lighting design
• Web design
• Illustration skills
• Print design
• Furniture and accessory selection

Common Action Verbs for Designer Resumes

Action verbs won’t be listed like skills on your resume, but they’re helpful when writing your job and project experience.

These are some of the most common action verbs people look for on designer resumes:

• Revamped
• Streamlined
• Designed
• Implemented
• Collaborated
• Conceptualized
• Presented
• Branded
• Initiated
• Furnished
• Optimized

Tips for Writing a Better Designer Resume

In addition to utilizing the five above examples to help you craft your designer resume, here are some helpful tips that can make you stand out as a design candidate.

List Your Hobbies

If you want to make your designer resume more unique, try listing hobbies you have that relate to design!

Not only will this show off your personality a little bit more, but it can show your interest in design outside of a career and that it’s something you actually love.

For example, even if you’re an interior designer, if you have an interest in photography, drawing, or other creative hobbies, it can show that you’re a well-rounded creative individual.

Listing hobbies that pertain to DIY projects could be a good idea too.

Include an Objective

It’s always a good rule of thumb to include an objective on any resume, but this component is possibly more important for a designer’s resume.

Designer resumes rely heavily on skills and experience, but adding an objective allows you to stand out and showcase more of yourself.

You can use the objective to speak more about the design components you enjoy, your experience, and what your goals are.

Include a Link or PDF of Your Portfolio

A resume will only get you so far as a designer.

You’ll have a portfolio of your projects at some point, and ensuring you either use a link to it if you’re emailing the resume or print out a PDF of relevant projects and submit it with your physical resume is vital.

You can talk about your experience all you want, but when an employer or hiring manager can see the work you’ve done, they can get a fuller picture of your skills.

Use Strong Action Verbs

You’ll want to use action verbs on any resume, but with a designer resume, they’re that much more critical.

These will show how you work on a design. For example, I drew, illustrated, I designed, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check out some frequently asked questions other designers are asking about writing a great resume.

Similar Resume Types to Reference

Designer resumes are all a little bit different depending on the style of design you’re pursuing.

Below you’ll find some more in-depth designer resumes that can provide you with more insight and use for reference:

• Graphic Design Resume: If you’re a graphic designer, you can utilize this graphic design resume for further inspiration for your designer resume.
• Interior Design Resume: Interior designers will benefit from reviewing this information and incorporating applicable information on your designer resume.
• UX Design Resume: As a UX designer, building a resume can be a little more challenging than other design resumes. This UX design resume should be able to provide more insight.

Wrapping Up

Whether you’re an interior designer, graphic designer, or another kind of designer, crafting a great resume is critical to getting a job in your field.

From adding high-quality skills, action verbs, and an objective that’s strong and to the point, there’s a lot to learn about writing a designer resume.

By using the five design resume examples above and our helpful tips, you should be well on your way to creating a designer resume you can be proud of.

Let us know in the comments if you found the examples useful, and share the article if you liked it.