12 Graphic Design Resume Examples & Templates (New Data)
Our graphic design resume examples and detailed writing guide will help you write a professional resume that stands out from the competition.
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Graphic designer resume templates (text format)
Copy-and-paste text format
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/your-profile
Professional Profile
Graphic Design Specialist with 5+ years of experience in the management of the complete design process, from conceptualization to delivery. Expert at interdepartmental coordination and communication. Skilled with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) as well as Figma and Sketch. Able to stretch the boundaries of web design and digital storytelling to help my clients’ brands stand out.
Professional Experience
- Lead in the design, development, and implementation of the graphic, layout, and production communication materials while helping clients cut their costs by an average of 12%
- Delegate tasks to the 7 members of the design team and provide counsel on all aspects of the project
- Supervise the assessment of all graphic materials in order to ensure quality and accuracy of the design
- Oversee the efficient use of production project budgets ranging from $2,000 – $25,000
- Developed numerous marketing programs (logos, brochures, newsletters, infographics, presentations, and advertisements) and guaranteed that they exceeded the expectations of our clients
- Managed up to 5 projects or tasks at a given time while under pressure to meet weekly deadlines
- Recommended and consulted with clients on the most appropriate graphic design options based on their overall marketing goals
Education
Skills
- InDesign
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- Figma
- Blender
- Sketchbook
- HTML and CSS
The most in-demand graphic designer skills
Hiring managers look for graphic designers whose resumes align with the skills emphasized in their job ads.
To help you identify the most relevant graphic design skills to highlight on your resume, we analyzed graphic designer job listings from multiple job search platforms.
Our research reveals that these 10 keywords appear most often in graphic designer job descriptions:
Skill | % of job listings | Hard or soft skill? |
---|---|---|
Graphic design | 99% | Hard |
Design & composition software | 96% | Hard |
Project management | 83% | Hard |
Interpersonal skills | 79% | Soft |
Teamwork skills | 79% | Soft |
Printing & bindery skills | 74% | Hard |
Digital image processing | 66% | Hard |
Microsoft/Google Office Suite | 65% | Hard |
Organizational skills | 55% | Soft |
Copywriting | 51% | Hard |
Graphic design resume examples by specific role
Here are some more resume examples to help you get started when writing your graphic design resume:
Entry-level graphic design resume
Check out our entry-level graphic design resume to use as a reference when writing your resume.
Why this example works
- Strong introduction: The candidate mentions key graphic design skills in the introduction so that employers can quickly get a sense of their qualifications.
- Subtle graphics: The background graphic element adds visual appeal without taking away from the content of the resume.
Web designer resume
A good web designer resume should showcase your proficiency with web design software, as well as basic visual coding languages like HTML, CSS, and Javascript:
Why this example works
- Includes hard numbers: The candidate quantifies the achievements on their resume to provide employers with a sense of the scope of their contributions to previous workplaces.
UX designer resume
Use our UX designer resume sample as a guide when writing your own resume:
Why this example works
- Strong action verbs: Each work experience bullet point starts with a strong action verb that makes the resume more engaging to read.
Freelance graphic designer resume
As a freelance graphic designer, you are a creative entrepreneur, combining your artistic talents with business acumen to deliver exceptional visual solutions to clients.
Why this example works
- Eye-catching design: The color blocking stands out and is sure to grab the reader’s attention
- Emphasis on teamwork: The applicant highlights their collaborative skills, one of the top skills employers look for, throughout the experience section
- Technical skills: The candidate highlights their technical skills in both the skills and work experience sections
Graphic design student resume
As a graphic design student, your resume serves as a crucial tool to showcase your talents, skills, and creative potential to prospective employers.
While you may have limited professional experience, your resume should highlight your relevant coursework, design projects, or freelance work you’ve undertaken.
Here’s an example:
Why this example works
- Complements the portfolio: While this template doesn’t replace a traditional resume, it highlights specific projects and makes a nice addition to a portfolio website
- Highlights skills: Students have limited work experience, so it’s important to emphasize sought-after skills such as printing and bindery and interpersonal skills
- Attention-grabbing graphics: The graphic elements add a visual flair while showcasing key skills
Graphic design intern resume
Whether you’re a graphic design student or a recent graduate seeking an internship, your resume should showcase your relevant coursework, projects, and any experience you may have, even if it’s limited:
Why this example works
- Clean layout: The simple layout makes sure the focus is on the candidate’s experience
- Strong resume objective: The introduction outlines the candidate’s key skills and eagerness to succeed in their next role
- Emphasis on projects: The candidate has limited work experience, so elaborating on past projects helps showcase their skills
Brand designer resume
In the competitive world of marketing, a well-crafted resume is essential for demonstrating your expertise:
Why this example works
- Striking design: The unconventional layout and pops of color make the resume stand out without being distracting
- Graphic elements: The timeline graphic draws the eye to the work experience section
- In-depth work experience: The candidate explains their past achievements in great detail and uses quantifiable metrics where possible
Motion graphic designer resume
A motion graphic designer’s resume needs to capture the essence of their creativity, technical expertise, and ability to bring stories and ideas to life through captivating animations and motion graphics, like this example:
Why this example works
- Crisp design: There is a clean layout and graphic elements that add visual interest without being distracting
- Quantifiable metrics: The candidate backs up their achievements with numbers
- Strong summary: The resume summary mentions key skills and achievements
Visual designer resume
A compelling visual designer resume is essential for showcasing your talent in creating aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly designs:
Why this example works
- Clean layout: The two-column format allows both skills and work experience to stand out
- Detailed work experience: The candidate provides a lot of context around their professional achievements
- Highlights skills throughout: The candidate not only lists their technical skills in the skills section, but also mentions them in context when detailing their work experience
Logo designer resume
Creating a memorable and impactful logo is a true test of a designer’s ability to capture the essence of a brand. Learn how to showcase your skills and expertise in this highly specialized field with our logo designer resume example:
Why this example works
- Starts with a compelling introduction: The candidate’s introduction is concise yet memorable
- Mentions quantifiable achievements: The candidate provides metrics to show how they contributed in previous roles
- Lists relevant skills: The candidate includes the skills most relevant to their specialization
Creative graphic designer resume
Graphic designers need to be able to think outside the box and craft impactful designs that resonate with audiences. Show off your artistic flair with our creative graphic designer resume example:
Why this example works
- Creative design: The graphic elements add pops of color without detracting from the resume’s content
- Two-column layout: This format emphasizes both the skills and work experience sections
- Emphasis on technical skills: The candidate highlights their proficiency with different design and composition software
Professional graphic designer resume
If you work in a more formal industry, our professional graphic designer resume example will show you how to highlight your expertise in a no-frills way.
Why this example works
- Clean layout: The understated layout is perfect for more formal industries
- Stand-out summary: The candidate introduces themself in a concise yet impactful way
- Demonstrates experience: The work experience section includes key achievements backed up by numbers
Average graphic designer salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states in the USA. Average graphic designer annual salaries by state
State Salary / Year
California $74,360
Texas $53,100
New York $74,410
Florida $53,970
Pennsylvania $52,000
Illinois $57,090
Ohio $50,470
Georgia $56,460
North Carolina $53,710
Michigan $51,110
National Average $54,331
How to write a graphic design resume
As a graphic designer, you probably already know how to choose an eye-catching design for your resume, but here we’ll show you how to make a resume that impresses potential employers.
Start your resume with a strong introduction
If you’re just starting out, try writing a resume objective to outline your key skills and career goals. Here are some examples:
Graphic design student resume objective
Motivated and creative graphic design graduate seeking an entry-level position to apply my skills in typography, layout design, and Adobe Creative Suite while continuing to learn and grow as a designer. With a strong foundation in design principles and a passion for visual storytelling, I am eager to contribute fresh ideas and collaborate with experienced professionals. My versatility and ability to adapt to new challenges make me a valuable asset to any design team.
Graphic design intern resume summary
Passionate graphic design intern looking for an opportunity to showcase my design abilities and keen eye for detail in an environment that values creativity and innovation. Proficient in digital image processing and familiar with Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Sketch. Eager to contribute fresh ideas and learn from experienced professionals.
Entry-level graphic designer resume objective
Aspiring graphic designer with a passion for visual storytelling and deep appreciation for design principles. Proficient in designing typography, branding, and advertising campaigns. Eager to join a team of professionals and contribute fresh ideas while expanding knowledge and experience.
If you already have a decent amount of work experience, start with a resume summary that provides a concise overview of your relevant experience, achievements, and skills. For example:
Mid-level graphic designer resume summary
Highly creative and versatile Graphic Designer with 5+ years of experience in developing innovative designs and marketing materials across print and digital platforms. Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, skilled in branding, typography, and layout design. Adept at collaborating with teams to deliver visually impactful solutions aligned with client objectives.
Senior graphic designer resume summary
Award-winning Senior Graphic Designer with over 7 years of experience in developing cutting-edge designs for renowned brands. Proven ability to translate complex concepts into visually striking and meaningful designs. Exceptional interpersonal skills and knowledge of typography, color theory, and layout design. Passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest design trends and software.
Describe your work experience in detail
You might think that potential employers are just going to look at your portfolio to learn about your past work, but don’t neglect your work experience section.
Make sure to provide further context about what you did in past roles and back up your achievements with numbers wherever possible.
Here are some areas where your impact as a graphic designer can be measured:
- User engagement
- Conversions
- A/B test results
- Sales
- Customer reviews and comments
- Social media activity
Here’s an example of how you can use metrics in the experience section of your resume:
Work experience section with quantified achievements
Graphic Designer
Brightstar, New York, NY
June 20XX – January 20XX
- Designed new website layouts, graphics, and user experience that increased customer engagement by 27% based on heatmap analysis and time on site metrics
- Created branded graphics and visuals for marketing campaigns that generated over 500 new 5-star customer reviews praising the modern, appealing designs
- Revamped UI/UX for mobile app that led to a 15% improvement in customer retention rates according to cohort analysis
- Conducted A/B tests on multiple homepage design variations resulting in a 9% uplift in clickthrough rates for the winning design
- Collaborated with marketing team on graphics for social media campaigns that boosted follower growth by 34% year-over-year
What to do if you don’t have work experience
If you’re writing a resume for your first job as a graphic designer, focus on the skills and qualifications you do have. Instead of a traditional work experience section, you can include information about independent design projects, university projects, or freelance work that you’ve done.
For example:
Projects section of a graphic design resume
Projects
Brand Identity Project
Brand Identity Design, University of Georgia
- Developed a comprehensive brand identity system including logo, color palette, typography, and brand guidelines for a new fitness apparel startup
- Conducted market research and presented brand rationale to a panel of professors and peers
- Brand identity package was selected for the Annual Student Design Exhibition
Social Media Campaign
Visual Content Creation for Social Media Marketing, University of Georgia
- Created digital graphics, animations, and video content for an awareness campaign promoting sustainability on campus
- Campaign visuals were used across Instagram, Facebook, and other university social channels
- Campaign reached over 10,000 students and received 500+ likes/shares
Magazine Layout Redesign
Typography Fundamentals, University of Georgia
- Analyzed an existing magazine’s design, layout, and readability pain points
- Redesigned the magazine’s interior layout, cover design, and typography system using Adobe InDesign to improve readability and visual appeal
- Implemented user feedback and iterative design processes to refine the layout and improve overall effectiveness
Feature your portfolio prominently
Ultimately, the most important thing an employer considers when hiring a graphic designer is the quality of their work.
It’s great to be able to describe your past work in your work experience section, but potential employers are going to want to see it for themselves. That’s why it’s essential to provide a link to your portfolio on your resume.
You can either put it in its own section, like this:
Example of a portfolio section for a graphic design resume
PORTFOLIO
www.sarapearsondesigns.com
Example of a portfolio link in a resume’s header
Bernice Doggett
Lead Graphic Designer
(435) 283-1405
bernice.doggett@gmail.com
www.bernicedoggett.com
If you’ve included a Projects section, you can add links to the projects you want to show off the most, like this:
Projects section of a graphic design resume with portfolio links
Projects
Branding & Logo Design | Jan 20XX – Mar 20XX
Greentree Charity, Seattle, WA
www.jacklarsondesigns.com/greentree
- Rebranded company’s visual identity including new logo, color palette, typography, and brand guidelines
- Collaborated with marketing team to develop branding strategy aligned with company’s vision
- Designed brand assets for digital and print marketing materials
Branding Revamp | Aug 20XX – Dec 20XX
Bean & Leaf Cafe, Seattle, WA
www.jacklarsondesigns.com/beanandleaf
- Developed a new brand identity, including logo design, color palette, typography, and visual elements, to reflect the coffee shop’s unique personality and appeal to the target demographic
- Created branded materials such as menus, signage, packaging, and promotional materials to maintain consistency
- Implemented the new brand identity across physical and digital platforms, including the coffee shop’s interior decor, website, social media profiles, and marketing campaigns
Fill in your education section
Though employers will ultimately place the most weight on your portfolio and work experience, it’s still important to fill in your resume’s education section correctly.
You should start with your highest level of education achieved, and include the following for each degree you have:
- Name and location of the school
- Degree name/major (and minor, if applicable)
- Graduation date (or anticipated graduation date)
For example:
Example education section for a graphic design resume
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
New York University, New York, NY
May 20XX
If you’re a recent graduate, you can also include relevant coursework on your resume, like this:
Example education section for a graphic design resume with relevant coursework
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design
California College of the Arts, San Francisco, CA
June 20XX
Relevant Coursework:
- Typography and Layout Design
- Branding and Identity Design
- Digital Illustration Techniques
- Web Design Fundamentals
- Print Production and Design
- Motion Graphics and Animation
Additionally, make sure to write a great graphic design cover letter to complete your application.
Additional resources
Want to break into the graphic design field but not sure where to start? Sara Sun shares her path to becoming a freelance graphic designer in the video below:
@sara.and.misc This is how i became a freelance graphic designer 🫶🏻 #fyp #foryou #graphicdesign #design #creativeprocess ♬ The Latter Teens – Vansire
Not sure what your resume should look like? The best way to learn is by taking inspiration from resume examples written by other candidates in your industry.
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