Graphic Designer Resume Examples & Templates

Kellie Hanna, CPRW
By Kellie Hanna, CPRW, Career Advice Expert Last Updated: November 03, 2023
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Graphic designers are creative professionals who translate concepts into unique, eye-catching designs. They work by hand or using computer software to develop designs for marketing agencies, magazines, websites and more. 

To thrive in this position, you need to have a creative flair and the ability to transform complex ideas into visually pleasing designs that satisfy both the company and its client requirements. 

Get expert advice to create a professional graphic designer resume using our graphic designer resume example and pro tips. 

Use this example graphic designer resume or explore the rest of our layouts on our resume templates page for more options. Check out 800+ professional resume examples to get inspired.

Graphic designer resume example (text version)

Bryden Larsen

Providence, RI 02903

(555) 555-5555

example@example.com

WWW: Bold Profile

Websites, Portfolios, Profiles

example1@example.com

Professional Summary

Highly creative and detail-oriented graphic designer with 10 years of experience translating clients’ visions into compelling visual designs. Proficient in various design software and a strong understanding of design principles. Proven track record of delivering eye-catching and effective designs to meet clients’ needs.

Work History

November 2021 – Current

Vineyards Management Group – Providence, RI

Senior Graphic Designer

  • Lead a design team responsible for conceptualizing and executing creative marketing materials, resulting in a 20% increase in brand visibility.
  • Design and implement a new website, leading to a 30% increase in user engagement and a 15% decrease in bounce rates.
  • Collaborate with the marketing department to create a visual brand guideline that improved brand consistency across all materials.

September 2016 – October 2021

VUP Media – Smithfield, RI

Graphic Designer

  • Developed engaging visual content for social media platforms, increasing user engagement by 25%.
  • Created logos and maintained print materials, including brochures and banners, resulting in a 15% growth in event attendance.
  • Worked with clients to understand their design requirements, ensuring satisfaction and repeat business.

June 2013 – August 2016

J&R Marketing – Smithfield, RI

Junior Graphic Designer

  • Produced visually appealing infographics and illustrations for blogs and presentations, improving content engagement.
  • Contributed to the successful launch of two brand campaigns, resulting in an average client satisfaction rating of 4.8 out of 5 and a 15% increase in client referrals.
  • Designed graphics for clients’ social media platforms, with a focus on visual storytelling.

Skills

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and CorelDRAW
  • UI/UX design
  • Print design
  • Branding
  • Web design
  • Typography
  • Time management
  • Communication

Education

Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI

Bachelor of Fine Arts Graphic Design

5 essentials of a job-winning graphic designer resume

  1. Contact details

    Add your contact information to the top of your resume so hiring managers can contact you. As our sample medical equipment technician resume shows, your contact information must include your full name, city, state and ZIP code, phone number and professional email address. If you have a LinkedIn profile and professional website, add them last.

  2. Professional summary

    Your professional summary should highlight your top skills and work experiences in one to three sentences. A professional summary is a short introduction that works as an “elevator pitch” where you present yourself to the hiring manager and encourage them to continue reading through your qualifications. Check our resume example graphic designers can use for inspiration.

    Here’s an example of a professional summary for a graphic designer resume: “Skilled, detail-oriented graphic designer with experience in all aspects of print production as well as design user experience.”

    The objective of a graphic designer resume summary is to succinctly detail your artistic prowess and design software skills. In a few sentences, give a brief overview of your best work experiences and skills to date. 

    Incorporate keywords that match the job description, such as “design user experience for marketing and advertising” or “print production processes and procedures.” 

  3. Skills

    An excellent graphic designer resume will feature a blend of technical skills, hard skills and soft skills. Soft skills for graphic designers include creativity, the ability to meet deadlines, superior client communication and collaboration. Technical skills include familiarity with Adobe Photoshop and proficiency in coding.

    While both technical and soft skills should be highlighted, technical skills should be your primary focus. Mention your proficiency in applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Illustrator and MS PowerPoint. Also include any coding skills you have in areas such as JAVA, CSS, HTML and DHTML. 

    We recommend scanning graphic designer job descriptions for resume skill ideas to include in your resume. The job description is the best place to find relevant skills that the employer wants to see.

  4. Work history

    The best graphic designer resume work history sections focus on key professional accomplishments in addition to daily tasks and responsibilities. Keep this section relevant to the job you’re applying for and only include up to 10 years of work experience. 

    Instead of listing every single task you had at previous jobs, feature only relevant achievements that show you can handle the job you’re applying for. For example, for a graphic designer position at a magazine, emphasize successful projects for print media and quantify your achievements. 

    Be specific in your bullet points. For example, write “Led a team of 13 graphic designers and managed 56 clients simultaneously” instead of using vague statements like “managed a team of designers.” The more specific you get, the more recruiters will understand your capabilities.

    If you’re just starting your career as a graphic designer, use a functional format for your resume and focus on your skills. Emphasize your keen attention to detail and expert communication skills with colleagues and clients. 

    For more guidance on detailing your professional experience, read up on how to write work experience on a resume for tips from career experts.

  5. Education

    Feature your highest academic credentials in the education section of your graphic designer resume. Many jobs in this profession will require at least a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related fine arts field. 

    Add any relevant certifications that further showcase your design expertise, such as a web design certification or an Adobe Creative Suite certification. Adding certification and diploma courses you’ve completed that relate to graphic design shows you’ve devoted the time and work to become an expert in the field. 

    Include training in areas such as Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Illustrator, PowerPoint, Dreamweaver and HTML, as well as any project management training you’ve had.

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Do’s and don’ts for your graphic designer resume

  • Use measurable achievements to describe your graphic design experience. 
  • Use action verbs to make an impact on your graphic design resume.
  • Tailor your resume to your target graphic design job.
  • Use keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
  • Format your resume so that it is easy to read by ATS software and human eyes.
  • Don’t lie about your graphic design experience and skills.
  • Don’t boast that you’re the “best graphic designer ever.” 
  • Don’t include irrelevant personal information such as your ethnicity and age.
  • Don’t add skills and work experience that do not pertain to graphic design.  
  • Don’t forget to proofread. A resume with errors is unprofessional.

Top 4 tips for interviews for a graphic designer job

  1. Research the organization.

    A few days before your interview, do your due diligence and check the organization’s website. Read through their mission statement and vision and learn more about their culture. What do they stand for? How happy are their current employees? Can you see yourself working for them? 

  2. Practice your answers.

    It’s tricky to know what the interviewer will ask you for a graphic design job, but you might have an idea from your past roles. Put together a list of questions you think they might ask and practice your answers with someone you trust or in front of a mirror.

     Some commonly asked questions for a graphic design job include:

    It’s always a good idea to prepare answers for some possible behavioral interview questions the hiring manager might ask, such as:

     

  3. Go prepared with questions to ask.

    Turn your interview into a conversation by asking the hiring manager questions about the organization, culture and expectations. There’s a high chance that they’ll open the floor for you at the end of the interview, so write a list of questions to ask, such as:

    • What are the current design projects the team is working on?
    • How is success measured in this role?
    • What does a typical day look like for someone in this role?
    • Can you provide examples of projects I would be working on?
  4. Create a document with your professional references.

    Gone are the days of writing “References available upon request” on your graphic designer resume. Instead, save a separate document with your top professional references as a PDF. The hiring manager will ask for your list of references later in the hiring process.

    Pro tip: Make sure your list of references has a similar design to your resume template for a graphic designer.

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