Graphic Design Resume Examples: 5 Best Samples & Why They Work

Are you struggling to write a convincing graphic designer resume that truly demonstrates your skills?

Don’t worry, writing a resume can be quite tricky for many people.

When it comes to creativity-based jobs like graphic design, your portfolio must rise above the competition.

In addition to work samples, a graphic designer must also have a powerful resume that summarizes his experiences, skills, and qualifications.

So, if you want to write your graphic design resume but don’t know where to start, you’ve come to the right place!

Today, we’ll walk you through 5 different examples to inspire you while writing yours. So without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Graphic Design Resume Examples

Since graphic design can take various forms and experience levels, your resume sample may take a different form depending on the job description you’re applying for.

So, here’s a quick look at different resume templates to help you write yours:

Entry-Level Graphic Design Resume Example

As a fresh graduate who’s ready to take on your first job as a graphic designer, you must focus on your qualifications and skill to make up for the lack of work experience.

Keep in mind that entry-level graphic design applies to anyone with less than 3 years of experience in the field.

Junior Graphic Designer (June 2022 – Current)

• Use Adobe Creative Suite and Adobe Photoshop to craft illustrations and new designs for marketing projects like logos and posters.
• Meet clients to go over their ideas, general themes, and expectations.
• Collaborate and provide assistance to other graphic designers on the team.
• Provide time and cost projections for individual projects
• Create an initial layout and report it back to the creative director.

Junior Graphic Design Intern (January 2021 – May 2022)

• Gained hands-on experience by observing and working with members of the graphic designing team while performing their roles.
• Learned and mastered all the basic and intermediate functions of Adobe Photoshop, such as color adjustment and lighting modification.
• Provide assistance to other members of the graphic design team as needed.
• Make final improvements and touch-ups while adhering to the chief graphic designer’s feedback.
• Performed other duties as assigned by the lead graphic designer and was awarded Intern of the Month for my work.

Project Experience

• Worked on a series of marketing campaigns for web-developing courses website
• Coordinated with management to redesign the company’s logo and landing page design
• Helped in an ad development project as an intern

Skills

• Active listener and eager to learn
• Capable of working in large teams
• Flexible
• Continuously learning new tools and technologies
• Deadline-oriented with excellent time management

Education

• Completed a 2-year diploma course in graphic design from the University of Minnesota (2022)
• Gained Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Florida (2020)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
• UX Design Professional Certificate
• CalArts Graphic Design Specialization

Why This Resume Works

This resume works because it covers all the necessary aspects and key factors that hiring managers would be focusing on while recruiting an entry-level graphic designer.

For starters, the resume shows a natural succession of roles from an intern to a junior graphic designer.

The roles and responsibilities of each position show the speedy development of the job seeker within the span of 2 years.

It also shows that the applicant is ready to take the next step in their career with a specialized graphic designer certificate (CalArts Graphic Design Specialization).

The projects mentioned in the resume also show the reliability of the applicant, as they were capable of gaining the company’s trust to work on an internal project like the company’s logo.

Freelance Graphic Design Resume Example

Working as a freelance graphic designer is much different from working in a firm. In most cases, a freelance graphic designer will carry out most or all of the work himself.

This doesn’t only include the project but also projections and client discussion/feedback. However, freelance designers may also work under contract with some firms.

Besides competency, the resume should always reflect qualities like reliability and responsiveness, which are very important in this line of work.

Contract Graphic Designer (October 2021 – Current)

• Develop, improve, and redesign advertisements and marketing materials for local and overseas clients on a contract basis
• Evaluate and create design packages for marketing and branding campaigns
• Provide time and budget projections for prototypes and final design products
• Create production-ready graphics for small and large clients within an agreed budget and delivery date.
• Collaborated with several firms on small and large-scale projects

Graphic Design Specialist (April 2021 – June 2022)

• Worked with various teams to develop and implement designs for existing and new product logos and packaging.
• Prepared rough sketches and illustrations of materials to discuss them with clients and learn more about their expectations
• Worked on business items like posters, ads, catalogs, and brochures.
• Led a team of junior and intern graphic designers to produce various business collaterals and creative art products
• Created infographics, videos, and other forms of media for advertising purposes while ensuring premium-quality media productions

Project Experience

• Designed the Book Cover for the 2021 Fall and Winter collections of a local fashion outlet
• Led the creative process for a Multiple Sclerosis Awareness campaign in 2019
• Created my own Youtube Channel to teach and showcase graphic design projects, reaching 20,000 subscribers in 18 months.

Skills

• Excellent at managing time
• Capable of staying creative under stress and heavy workload
• A team player but can work on solo projects
• Attentive to details
• Good at multitasking

Education

• Bachelor of Arts with a major in Graphics Design from the University of North Georgia (2020)
• Associate of Arts in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University (2016)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Adobe Certified Associate (ACA)
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop, Dreamweaver)
• QuarkXPress
• Professional Certified Marketer (PCM)

Why This Resume Works

The reason why this template is a great example of how a freelance graphic designer’s resume should be is that it shows capability.

If you follow the chronological timeline of the resume, you’ll notice that the graphic designer is extra qualified with double university degrees.

Not only that, but it shows that the applicant started freelancing on the side of their day job as a graphic design specialist.

The applicant then quit his job and concentrated on his career as a full-time freelance designer. This shows that their focus on freelancing was worth it and granted them more experience and renown in their field.

Additionally, the resume lists a variety of high-end projects that demonstrates the applicant’s achievements and shows that they’re great at multitasking and managing time (just as mentioned in the skill section).

Project-Based Graphic Design Resume Example

Project-based graphic design is somewhat similar to freelance graphic design.

The main difference between the two is that project-based graphic designers work in larger teams and need to collaborate with subordinates and superiors to get the job done.

Graphic Design Specialist (July 2021 – Current)

• Create concepts for visuals based on the specifications and requirements of the project.
• Conduct market research to decide what kind of visual products would work best on target demographics while designing logos, trademarks, and other project details.
• Tested the produced graphics across various media to ensure proper layout.
• Educated clients on design trends and formats that suit their needs as a business
• Deliver my work on time to facilitate project competition for other colleagues and ensure client satisfaction

Junior Graphic Designer (Feb 2018 – July 2019)

• Created 100+ graphics, materials, and templates as mock-ups and prototypes for client meetings
• Carefully ensured the consistency, accuracy, and overall quality of produced media
• Communicated with outside agencies and media publishers (online and offline) to ensure a smooth design process
• Pitched a wide range of creative ideas and solutions during design and brainstorming meetings
• Assisted senior team members while developing illustrations and logos for multiple business partners

Project Experience

• Participated in a grand redesigning project of a top-selling eCommerce website that led to increased sales by 7%
• Led a team to redesign a community college emblem and logo in online communications and printables
• Provided concept visuals and illustrative infographics for a 2020 market data report on the effects of the Pandemic on Photography

Skills

• Collaborating and working with large teams
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Flexibility and openness to feedback and suggestions
• Originality and creativity
• Visual storytelling

Education

• Master of Arts (MA) in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University (2019)
• Bachelor’s in Advertising and Graphic Design Degree from the Grand Canyon University (2017)
• Computer-Aided Drafting and Design Diploma from West Kentucky Community Technical College (2014)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Advanced Graphics Design
• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects, Photoshop, Dreamweaver)
• Graphic Design Specialization
• UI/UX Design Specialization

Why This Resume Works

This resume shows an incredible level of commitment to succeeding in the field of graphic design.

The job seeker is qualified by multiple colleges and managed to complete a Master of Graphic Design Art while working, which helped in boating the applicant’s career from a junior designer to a specialist.

The job experience also shows the applicant’s ability to excel while working on projects, which increases their chances of landing the job.

Moreover, the resume is backed by some high-profile accreditations and successful projects that make the applicant rise head and shoulders above the average competition.

The proven records of successful projects are also accompanied by the right set of graphic design skills to meet the demands of the role.

Experienced Graphic Design Resume Example

An experienced graphic designer is a suitable position for a graphic designer with 3 to 8 years of experience.

The new title comes with more responsibilities than the average graphic designer, such as overseeing the work of junior and mid-level designers.

However, the specific roles of the job may vary depending on the company you’re applying for, so you have to adjust accordingly.

Specialist Graphic Designer (July 2019 – Current)

• Led and coordinated various projects with different clients and agencies
• Testing and approved hundreds of finished small products by junior graphic designers and interns
• Prepared prototypes, illustrations, and mockups to discuss them with major clients and meet their project expectations
• Worked on cutting waste costs by up to 10% in 18 months
• Helped in the initiation of the Specialist Graphic Design position in the company to shorten the design cycle and improve the revision process by up to 50%.

Graphic Designer (April 2016 – June 2019)

• Worked on hundreds of small and large projects to meet clients’ expectations
• Created visual concepts in accordance with the project’s standards and requirements.
• Collaborated with various members of the creative team to develop ideas and concepts for thousands of projects
• Made finishing touches on projects while adhering to the senior graphic designer’s feedback.
• Designed project materials in coordination with research and development to ascertain the functionality and consistency of the final product and develop its characteristic aesthetic

Project Experience

• Designed and maintained a cataloging system for a collection of 50,000+ vector images and logos, saving the marketing department’s visual research staff over 250 hours annually.
• Worked with management to upgrade the tools used in the creative department to improve efficiency and meet client’s expectations

Skills

• Attention to detail
• Inspiring leadership
• Organization
• Punctual and deadline-oriented
• Adaptability and drive to improve

Education

• Master’s Degree in Print and Graphic Media Science MS from Rochester Institute of Technology (2018)
• Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Media Design from The Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (2015)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• Advanced Graphics Design
• Graphic Design Specialization

Why This Resume Works

As the name of the role suggests, this role is more reliant on the years of experience of a certain applicant than the kind of project accreditations and skills they mastered over the years.

The reason why this resume works is that it focuses on displaying actionable results when it comes to experience.

For instance, besides mentioning the roles and responsibilities of a specialist graphic designer, the applicant also displayed some of the major career highlights that qualify him for a leading role as an experienced graphic designer.

The applicant also backs his credentials up with important skills for an experienced graphic design resume, such as leadership and organizational skills.

Senior Graphic Design Resume Example

As a senior graphic designer, your resume should be directed toward expertise and qualifications.

Ideally, this role is suitable for those who have an experience of 5 to 8 years, although some may become senior graphic designers with fewer experience years if their leadership and management skills make up for the difference.

Senior Graphic Designer (January 2021 – Current)

• Spearheaded and managed graphic design projects from initiation to completion, leading a team of 15 designers in a creative advertising firm
• Meet top clients to discuss and present concepts and final products.
• Specify and estimate the necessary materials and budget needed to finish projects.
• Monitor the projects and discuss milestones and deadlines with graphic designers
• Produced high-end catalogs, brochures, flyers, and other marketing materials for several campaigns.

Specialist Graphic Designer (June 2018 – December 2020)

• Designed layouts for several marketing and packaging elements, such as display catalogs, brochures, etc.
• Developed several browser user interfaces using advanced tools and various programming languages
• Coordinated with the market research department to ensure the consistency and suitability of the final product
• Mentored and trained various junior graphic designers as well as interns, and freelancers.
• Worked closely with publishers and printers to ascertain the standard of printed collateral, and packaging.

Project Experience

• Worked with a team to update the company’s logos, images, and catalogs to meet the newest trends in the market.
• Conducted research on various competitor websites and created presentations to improve work efficiency by incorporating Google Analytics.

Skills

• Team leadership
• Project management
• Problem solving
• Analytical thinking
• Attention to details

Education

• Master’s Degree in Graphic Design (MA) from Maryland Institute College of Art (2018)
• Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the Doeside Academy of Fine Arts (2012)

Licenses & Accreditations

• Adobe Certified Expert (ACE)
• UI/UX Design Specialization
• Advanced Graphics Design
• Graphic Design Specialization

Why This Resume Works

This senior graphic designer’s resume works because it doesn’t only focus on the accumulated experiences and projects over the years, but also showcases the applicant’s managerial capabilities.

This is represented in skills like leadership and project management. The applicant also backs up his vast work experience with some remarkable qualifications and accreditations.

Another excellent point that this resume represents is goal-setting. As you could notice, the applicant was focused on leading a team for a very long time, having mentored junior graphic designers for years.

Common Skills & Action Verbs to Include On a Graphic Design Resume

Optimizing your graphic design resume can have a huge impact on your acceptance rate. In fact, many hiring managers nowadays use Applicant Tracking Software (ATS) systems to process thousands of applications in very little time.

This software is designed to look for specific skills and action verbs that identify a strong candidate for the job.

As a job seeker, you should try to incorporate these skills in your resume to increase your chances of landing a job as a graphic designer.

To help with that, here are some of the most common soft and hard skills as well as action verbs that are critical for graphic designers:

Common Skills for Graphic Design Resumes

• Creativity
• Infographic Design
• Communication
• Research
• HTML / CSS
• Knowledge of image copyright laws
• Leadership
• Active listening
• Delivering Presentations
• Image SEO
• Multitasking
• Sketching
• Time-Management
• Product Packaging Design
• Teamwork
• UX / UI Design
• Adobe Creative Suite

Common Action Verbs for Graphic Design Resumes

• Created
• Drafted
• Presented
• Crafted
• Oversaw
• Provided
• Conducted
• Designed
• Implemented
• Coordinated
• Improved
• Led
• Identified
• Prepared
• Collaborated
• Delivered
• Spearheaded

Tips for Writing a Better Graphic Design Resume

Some minor adjustments and tips can greatly improve the quality of your graphic design resume.

In this section, we’ll walk you through some of the best ones to make your resume more attractive to employers.

1. Design Your Own Resume

As a graphic designer, your resume is your own billboard. You can use it to give an employer a hint of what you’re capable of doing.

In other words, rather than fully relying on resume builders, you should also use graphic design software to create a unique resume design that would look intriguing and unique without being too flashy.

2. Utilize Data and Numbers

As you can see from the examples above, skilled graphic designers tend to support their work with numbers and data.

While discussing your role and responsibilities, try to also talk about the impact of your work on the overall process.

For example, while discussing a project you’ve made, you can also mention how it helped in improving productivity or work efficiency.

3. Don’t Overlook Your Soft Skills

Many graphic designers focus heavily on filling up their resumes with hard skills like adobe software and UX design.

However, at the end of the day, a graphic designer is an employee in a company, and working with others needs other skills like communication and problem-solving.

While writing your resume, make sure that your skills are a balance of both soft and hard skills.

4. Use Resume Builders for Inspiration

Although we previously recommended building your own resume, things can get a little overwhelming if you don’t know how to start.

For that reason, we suggest a resume writing service like Top Resume or Resume Go to help understand how a complete resume should look like.

These resume builders will also help you test out how your information is presented in a variety of styles to help you choose the one that goes well with your professional image.

5. Proofread Your Resume

Spotting errors and typos while writing a resume can be quite difficult. However, these small errors may reflect carelessness about the final product, which can cause many problems in a field like graphic design.

For that reason, you must proofread your resume and make sure that everything reads perfectly, as a tiny mistake could cost you a valuable interview.

6. Create Multiple Optimized Resumes

Although you should always submit your resume once for every job opening, you don’t have to create a single resume for all jobs available.

If you specialize in multiple graphic design fields, you can actually create a separate resume optimized for each of these fields.

This way, instead of submitting a general resume that won’t stand out, you can choose the most suitable version of your resume, effectively increasing your chances of landing an interview!

7. Strike a Balance Between Unique and ATS-Friendly

If you want to increase your chances of getting an interview, you have to dare to stand out and build a unique resume.

In other words, you may use any unique words or add special sections if you feel that it’ll help you get hired.

Yet, you should remember that most HR departments nowadays use ATS systems to process resumes.

So, you have to use your discretion to keep your resume balanced between uniqueness and bot-friendliness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Similar Resume Types to Reference

While seeking inspiration for your cv template, you’re not limited to graphic designer resume examples alone.

In fact, you can seek inspiration from just about any professional resume template that you can find out there. Here are some resume examples from similar fields to reference.

• Marketing Resume: Graphic design and marketing always work together on major advertising projects. Since they both share the same strategies, they carry a very similar tone while writing a resume.
• Social Media Manager Resume: This gives you a brief idea of how a managerial-level resume should be in a strategic marketing field.
• Web Developer Resume: Like graphic designers, web development is a project-oriented job. This makes it a great reference, especially for freelance resumes.

Wrap Up

There you have it! A helpful guide that shows you different examples of graphic design resumes and what to include in them.

As you can see, writing an interesting resume is all about being honest and succinct without missing out on the highlights of your career.

If you find this article helpful, make sure that you share it with others to spread the word. Also, don’t hesitate to leave us a comment down below if you have any thoughts or questions.