CV Example for a Graphic Designer

Graphic design rests almost entirely on the portfolio, with the brief and the outcome briefly explained.

Skills employers screen for

• Creating visual identities and logos
• Designing print and marketing collateral
• Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
• Social media creative
• Preparing print-ready artwork
• Working to brand guidelines
• Delivering files in multiple formats

Keywords an ATS would look for

• graphic design
• brand identity
• logo design
• print design
• Adobe Illustrator
• social media creative

CV section order

1. Summary with design discipline
2. Portfolio link
3. Projects and clients
4. Software proficiency
5. Degree and training

Graphic Designer resume example

Graphic Designer — print, brand identity and campaigns

Graphic designer experienced in brand identity, print collateral and advertising campaigns from concept to final print-ready artwork. I run several projects in parallel and keep delivery dates with printers and agencies.

Senior Graphic Designer — United Creative Agency — New York, NY | 2021 – Present

• Delivered 140 design projects a year across print and digital campaigns with no missed deadline.
• Prepared print-ready artwork for 60 projects across different printers with zero reprints from technical error.
• Developed 9 brand guidelines that clients used internally to unify their output.

Graphic Designer — Harbour Print House — Boston, MA | 2019 – 2021

• Prepared 320 print-ready files and reduced rejected artwork from 12% to 2%.
• Redesigned an 84-page product catalogue and cut production time 30%.
• Built an internal template library that saves the department 25 hours a month.

Education: BFA Graphic Design — Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 2019

Core skills: Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, After Effects, print-ready artwork, brand identity, advertising design, Arabic typography

Ready templates that suit this profession

• Creative — The field is visual by nature — this layout gives you room to show design sense without excess. Use this template
• Luxury — Right if your work is in luxury brands, fine dining or jewellery. Use this template
• Minimal — It stays clean in print and reads quickly for an art director going through dozens of CVs. Use this template

Tools that help in this profession

• Portfolio Builder — Group work by type — identity, print, campaign — so a reviewer finds their interest fast.
• CV Infographic Generator — Show your output volume in numbers with a visual treatment that suits the discipline.
• LinkedIn Profile Optimizer — Tune your profile so agencies recruiting designers actually find you.

Frequently asked questions

Should I attach visuals to the CV itself?

Do not weigh the CV down with images — many parsers cannot read content inside them. Link to an organised portfolio, state the number and type of projects, and keep one or two visuals only if the layout allows.

What makes a designer portfolio convincing?

Show the process, not just the outcome: the problem, the idea, the directions you discarded, then the final piece. An art director wants to see how you think; twenty unexplained logos say nothing about your ability.

How do I highlight Arabic typography skills?

State it explicitly in your skills section and cite a project covering Arabic typefaces and right-to-left layout — few designers have this and local markets actively look for it.