A graphic design CV seamlessly combines professionalism with creativity to help you secure a job in this in-demand field. Its goal is to demonstrate your expertise both through content and style, since the visual aspect is just as important as the written one.
In this article, we will explore how to write a graphic design CV in 2025, which elements to include, and what mistakes to avoid. We will also show you examples of these documents to inspire your own writing.
Key Takeaways
A graphic design CV is a document that showcases your professionalism and creativity, demonstrating to employers why you are the perfect fit for a specific job in this field.
To write a graphic design CV, include contact information and a headline, highlight relevant skills, showcase work experience, write about education and certifications, and add portfolio links.
To write a graphic design with no experience, focus on projects, internships, and coursework, include volunteering and freelancing, and highlight transferable skills.
Common mistakes when writing a graphic designer CV are overloading with graphics, forgetting to include portfolio links, talking about responsibilities instead of achievements, and using generic templates.
Why Is a Graphic Design CV Important?
A graphic design CV is important because it can help you secure a job in a highly competitive field. However, you must first know how to write an effective one and how it differs from a standard application.
The main one is that a graphic design CV must reflect the creative nature of the profession, so you should pay particular attention to the style, font, and composition of the document. A visually appealing application is likely to catch a recruiter’s attention and establish that you do possess design skills.
However, the content should slightly differ, too; unlike most other professions, designers should include links to their portfolios. That way, recruiters can quickly review their work and determine whether it meets their requirements.
Graphic Design CV Examples
Before we go into details on the format and content, let’s take a look at two graphic design CV samples: one for junior designers and the other for those with more experience.
How to Write a Graphic Design CV in 5 Simple Steps
To write a graphic design CV, you should start with contact details and a creative headline, highlight relevant skills, showcase work experience, include education and certifications, and add portfolio links.
Let’s take a look at these CV tips for designers in more detail:
#1. Start With Contact Details and a Creative Headline
Every CV, including a graphic design one, must start with contact details, which give recruiters the information necessary to reach you. No matter how good your application may be, you won’t be hired without this segment.
The contact information section should contain the following details:
Header Details
Full name
Address
Email address
Phone number
LinkedIn profile (optional)
Professional website (optional)
There’s no need to add more information than this, especially not social media or personal blogs. These are usually irrelevant and may even harm your chances if the content you post doesn’t align with the company’s values.
Here’s what this section should look like in practice:
CV Header Example
Contact Information
Tina Holloway Brighton, United Kingdom tinaholloway@example.com +4422423759
Then, below the contact information section, you should include a personal statement, which serves as a brief overview of what’s to come. This section is only 4–5 lines long and typically written using the following formula:
Sentence #1, where you add your job title and years of experience, or the degree that you’ve earned, if you’re still at the beginning of your career
Sentence #2, where you highlight your most significant achievement using action verbs and measurable results
Sentence #3, where you mention some relevant traits and skills that you possess
Here’s what this segment should look like:
CV Summary Example
Professional Summary
Innovative senior graphic designer with 10+ years of experience developing compelling visual identities for large and small businesses alike. Oversaw the rebranding of a major client’s digital presence, which resulted in an increase in traffic by 30%. Known for my unique storytelling through design and the ability to effortlessly connect with the audience.
#2. Highlight Relevant Skills
The skills section can be placed directly underneath the professional summary or below work experience; the exact order is up to you. It’s worth noting that it is a very important segment, and most recruiters skim through it to see if you possess the abilities they require.
Despite its importance, the skills section is actually very simple; you just need to list your capabilities as bullet points, preferably starting with hard skills. There’s no particular limit on how many skills you should include, but we suggest 6–10 to cover as many as you can.
Here’s what the skills section for a graphic designer may look like:
Graphic Design Skills
Adobe Creative Suite
Digital and print campaign design
Branding and visual identity
Art direction
Marketing and brand analytics
Mentoring
Teamwork
Leadership
Innovation
Client communication
#3. Showcase Work Experience and Projects
Work experience is undoubtedly the most important section of your graphic design CV, as it showcases your previous roles along with some of your most prominent achievements. These should be placed in bullet points under each entry and elaborated on in a single sentence.
When writing about achievements, try to be as specific as possible and include measurable outcomes for each one. If you can’t think of any for particular entries, add other details, but ensure that your contributions are clear and impactful.
Keeping that in mind, here’s what this section may look like:
Work Experience Example
Work Experience
Senior Graphic Designer ABC Company, Brighton, UK May 2020–July 2025
Oversaw the rebranding of a major client’s digital presence, which resulted in an increase in traffic by 30%.
Managed a team of three junior designers, ensuring that all projects are delivered on time.
Introduced a new file management and workflow system, improving team efficiency by 20%.
#4. Include Education and Certifications
In the education section, you should include two of your most recent degrees, along with the name of the institution that issued them, its location, and the period of your attendance. If you have work experience, there’s no need to add anything more; otherwise, you can write about your achievements here.
As for certifications, simply list them as bullet points in the designated section and add the years when you obtained them. There’s usually no need to elaborate further, but you can if you believe the title of the certificate isn’t clear enough.
Here’s what these two sections look like on a graphic design CV:
Education and Certifications Section
Education
BA (Hons) Graphic Design October 2012–June 2015 Manchester Metropolitan University
A-Levels September 2010–June 2012 Brighton College
Certifications
Adobe Certified Professional (2016)
Professional Certified Marketer (2015)
#5. Add Portfolio Links and Extras
Finally, a graphic design CV can greatly benefit from portfolio links, which serve as a more detailed introduction to your work. If you’ve worked in the field for a while, you’ve likely already built up your portfolio or created a website to showcase your work.
However, even as a beginner graphic designer, you should try to showcase some of your creations on your CV. If nothing else, you can at least include your personal work; the assets and designs you’ve created for practice, for instance.
Here’s how to incorporate portfolio links into your CV:
Portfolio Links
Portfolio
Bakery branding samples → www.daisycarterdesign.com/bakery
Logos and visual assets for businesses → www.daisycarterdesign.com/logos
Aside from this, you can add other sections to complete your CV, such as publications, languages, volunteering, and more. Just make sure that they are relevant to the company you’re applying for, and be brief and detailed.
How to Write a Graphic Design CV With No Experience
To write a graphic design CV with no experience, you should focus on things outside of your professional background that set you apart. Here’s what you can try doing:
Highlight projects, internships, and coursework. Even if you haven’t officially worked as a graphic designer, you’ve likely done some projects at university, which you can include to boost your CV. You can also elaborate on your coursework in the education section, especially if you achieved great success in specific subjects.
Include freelance or volunteer work. Freelancing and volunteering still count as work, and they can significantly set you apart from other inexperienced candidates. Both show initiative and a proactive approach that most employers value. Additionally, you can elaborate on your achievements here to showcase your skills.
Focus on transferable skills. Transferable skills can be incredibly useful when you lack the experience necessary to build industry-specific hard skills. Highlight your communication, teamwork, time management, and organisational skills; these are in high demand no matter the industry or position.
Which Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Graphic Design CV
Common mistakes to avoid in your graphic design CV include the following:
Overloading with graphics, which can affect your CV’s chances of being read by an actual human. Namely, most recruiters nowadays use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to scan applications and select the most suitable ones. They read only those that pass the initial scan, which may not respond well to graphics.
Forgetting to include a portfolio link and, therefore, not giving recruiters an actual sample of your work. Since most designers do that, you’ll be at an automatic disadvantage.
Using vague job descriptions instead of achievements, which makes your CV appear generic and unremarkable. Recruiters know what specific roles entail, so they don’t want to read about it in your application. Instead, they want to see how you’ve contributed in a particular position.
Choosing a generic template that doesn’t showcase your creativity. Though we don’t recommend experimenting too much, you are a designer, and your CV should reflect that. Select a more eye-catching option and customise it, if possible. Adding a personal touch certainly isn’t bad in your line of work.
Create a Striking CV Within Minutes
If you still need help writing a graphic design application, use our CV builder to help you create one in less than 15 minutes. The process is simple; enter your information, follow the instructions, select a CV template, and finalise the document. Then, you can instantly submit it to your potential employer.
And if you want to write your application from scratch, you can always take a look at our CV examples for inspiration. We offer a vast collection of documents for numerous industries, so you’ll be sure to find an option that suits your needs.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to write an effective graphic design CV and what helps it stand out. The key is to include a portfolio, add measurable achievements, and ensure your application is visually striking. Once you have these elements in place, you’re sure to receive an interview invitation.
Graphic Design CV FAQ
#1. What is the best format for a graphic design CV?
The best format for a graphic design CV is a reverse chronological format, which is preferred by recruiters in most industries. It organises information starting with the most recent entries; for instance, the last position you held before searching for a new one. That way, hiring managers see the most relevant details right away and can track your career progress over time.
#2. What skills should I put on my graphic design CV?
You should put a combination of hard and soft skills on your graphic design CV. Start with industry-specific abilities, such as art direction, colour theory, and branding, then move on to teamwork, time management, communication, and other transferable skills.
#3. How long should a graphic design CV be?
A graphic design CV should be 1–2 pages long, but preferably only one. This is typically enough to list your most relevant experiences; remember, you shouldn’t include everything you’ve ever done, but only the information that can help you secure a job.
#4. Should I include a portfolio link in my CV?
You should include a portfolio link in your CV, as it is the most effective way to demonstrate your skills to potential employers. As a result, you should start building your portfolio as soon as you can, even if you don’t have significant work experience.
