Created by CakeIn this article, you will learn about:Which format is the best for a designer
resume?What to include in a designer
resume: 8 key sections5 tips for a good designer
resume and portfolioWhat designer
resume template is the most creative one?Designer
resume sampleA designer’s job duties
not only include making things beautiful, pleasing, or eye-catching. It’s also about making connections to people and how people act, interact, and understand each other and the world around them. You help people make every subtle decision that shapes the future of our daily life. Nevertheless, you have to persuade others to trust you
with your talent and
work to turn your design into an impact.
Surely, you k
now more than others about how to make your designer
resume aesthetically pleasing. However, writing a designer
resume is
not only about creativity. We’ll walk you through the tips to write a professional interview-winning designer
resume.
This article is for those who are writing a:Graphic designer
resumeUI / UX designer
resumeWeb designer
resumeProduct designer
resumeArt director
resumeFashion designer
resumeGame designer
resumeWhich format is the best for a designer
resume?To start writing a designer
resume, first adopt a format. The right format will present your expertise and strengths clear and straightforward, as well as retaining your unique personality in a designer
resume.
3 common
resume formats for your designer
resume1. Chro
nological
resume format
Adopting the chro
nological
resume format allows you to organize your design
experience in a timely order, and focus on delivering quality context about design achievements and special moments in the designer
resume.
2. Functional
resume format
The functional
resume features skills as the main focus and uses achievements as examples to support any design skills.
3. Combinational
resume format
A combinational
resume format combines the chro
nological format and the functional
resume format to demonstrate all the way you desire. However, it can sometimes be repetitive. In addition, it’s
not suitable for junior designers who have few achievements to showcase on their
resumes.In what format should a designer
resume be sent?
Your designer
resume file type depends on the application channel. Read the requirements of the job description once more before exporting the designer
resume file.
1. PDF format
A PDF format is recommended as it’s device-friendly across platforms. It also retains your designer
resume’s layout, font style, and margins intact. Of course, as a designer, your instinct will always lead you to a PDF file.
2. Word format
Adopt an MS word format if the company specifically asks for a word file. It can easily ruin your layout and is unfriendly for platforms except for PCs, so it’s
not ideal for a designer
resume.How to prepare an entry-level or junior designer
resume?
✅ Advice 1: Use skill-based (functional)
resume format.
If you are writing a designer
resume as a junior designer
without much
experience, try adopting a functional (skill-based) format. Highlight graphic design, UI/UX, product design, web design, etc. skills in your designer
resume to make up for the lack of
experience.
✅ Advice 2: Adopt a career objective statement.
Even
without
experience, you can show ambition and potential design creativity in your designer
resume. Use a clear design career objective to leave a positive impression on the hiring manager or senior designer.
✅ Advice 3: Highlight education and awards section
If you don’t have abundant
experience to show off in the designer
resume, make other sections shine.
Highlight your design education and design awards so the hiring manager will have a concrete idea about your skills.The education section in an entry-level designer
resume can include:
Design
workshop
experiencesDesign-related events like organizing a design week at schoolOther exhibition or show
experiencesExtracurricular activitiesGPA (if 3.5 or above)
What to include in a designer
resume: 8 key sectionsA
resume for a designer’s purpose, different from a designer’s portfolio, is a document that lists your professional
experience in the text. In order to make your designer
resume stand out, use a
resume structure that best suits you. Focus on delivering strong context in descriptions on your designer
resume. You can prove your design skills in the portfolio.
1.
Resume Profile (Personal Information)List your contact details on the top of the page, including:NameEmailPhone NumberPortfolio WebsiteLinkedIn Profile (optional)Location (optional)
2.
Resume HeadlineA
resume headline is a short statement on top of the designer
resume that an
nounces your current or expected design position.
Designer
Resume Headline Example:
Empathetic Product Designer
with 6+ years
experience in the Automobile Industry.
3.
Resume SummaryA
resume summary is a small paragraph that summarizes your entire
work experience so the hiring manager will have a clear idea of your ability
without having to read through your designer
resume. A
resume summary should demonstrate the essence of your
experience and respond to the job description post as well. To do so, integrate keywords in the job posting, so you can seize their attention.
Designer
Resume Summary Example:
Agile UX designer
with 5+ years of
experience in transforming research insights into practical products. Strong k
nowledge in immersive computing and AR/VR. Increased 50% conversion rate by reorganizing information architecture
with front and back-end engineers.
4.
Resume ObjectiveFor freshers, try a designer
resume objective instead of a summary if you don’t have sufficient
experience. A
resume objective shouts out the strong motivation for applying and your strong skills.Designer
Resume Objective Example:
Seeking a position in ABC company as a product designer to bring sketches and prototypes into unique, quality products.
5. SkillsListing skills in a designer
resume can be a nuisance as most designers are armed
with a wide variety of skills. If there’s a long list, categorizing skills is a good way to make it easy for the hiring manager to read your designer
resume.
ExampleSkills for Different Designer Roles:
Designer:- Adobe creative suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, After Effects, Premiere, etc)- Animation, Branding, Color Scheme, Editorial design, Illustration, Infographics, Logo Design, Printing, Photography, Typography.Coding:Processing, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Python, C, Swift3D Modeling:Autocad, Blender, C4D, Maya, Rhi
noceros, Sketchup, Solid
works, ZbrushUI/UX:-Figma, Framer, InVision, Origami Studio, Principle, Sketch, XD- Data analysis, Persona hypothesis, Journey mapping, User flow, Wireframing, Prototyping, RWD, A/B testingWeb Design:Web server management, Content management system, Search engine optimization, Digital marketingFashion Design:Digital Fashion Pro, CorelDRAW, Optitex, Browzwear, Clo 3D, C-Design, TUKA3D.Game Design:GDevelop, Autodesk, Stencyl, Construct 2, Twine, GameSalad, Unity, Substance Painter, Unreal 4
OtherSkills for a Designer
Resume:
CommunicationCollaborationStorytellingOrganizationProject managementProduct management
6.
Work ExperienceThe
experience section is where the recruiter looks closer. Before writing the
experience section, read through the job description once more. Select critical keywords from the posting, and make sure you use the same terms naturally in your designer
resume.
List the most recent design
experience first. Add 2-4 bullet points that explain achievements
with concrete details and quantified results. Numbers are more persuasive to hiring managers and clients.
Designer
Resume Experience Example:
Senior Art DirectorBridge Media, C.A. January 2013 - 2018Led a graphic design team of 15 people to develop corporate visual identities and logo proposals for 130+ companies and clients including Penguin publishing, The Atlantic, Godiva, and more.Brought an average of 30% more sales and Increased customer growth by 10%Design
Works featured reached 1M+ views on Behance.Graphic DesignerRiverbed Design Studio May 2010 - 2013Managed 80+ design projects including package designs, rebranding, visual identities for different clients, ranging from startups, small corporations to government events and listed companies.Collaborated
with 10+ designers to brainstorm in
novative concepts, iterate, validify, and render final projects.
7. EducationIf you have a handful of
work projects to showcase in the portfolio, keep the education section simple in your designer
resume.
However, for juniors who don’t have much
work to present, the education section matters.What to include in the education section:Date of GraduationGraduate DegreeName of the SchoolGPA (if above 3.5)
Work-related Certificates such as Coursera, Skillshare, etc.Related course
work or
workshop
experiences
Designer
Resume Education Example:
Parsons The New School of DesignAug 2015 - May 2018BFA Fashion Design BBA Strategic Design Management
8. Additional InformationFor designers, a portfolio proves your competence more than a designer
resume. Other than
work experience, you can add an extra section to include:
Contest awards or ho
norable mentionsProminent
works or side projectsHobbies or serious leisuresReference list5 tips for a good designer
resume and portfolio👍 1: Tailor the designer
resume to the job description.
Tailoring your designer
resume is essential for job application.
Using the exact words in the job description will show the hiring manager that you’re the right fit. It also increases your chance to pass the ATS system and shows your understanding of the company.
👍 2: Make it concise and relevant to the job.
Designers are usually multi-talented. Nevertheless, when writing a designer
resume, focusing on the skills and
experience relevant to the job description is crucial. Your
work responsibilities descriptions should align
with the job application. Cut out unrelated duties to make it concise.
👍 3: Refer to online designer
resume and portfolio examples.
We all look for online designer
resume samples and portfolio examples. Refer to examples online, learn from them, and avoid mistakes you see in them. Keep your portfolio clean and comprehensible.
👍 4: Pay attention to the format of your designer
resume and portfolio.
Pay extra attention to colors, font styles, font size, and line spacing on the
resume, especially for graphic designer jobs or UI/UX designer jobs. You can use a different font for headings, which makes it easy for the hiring manager to skim your
resume.
👍 5: Focus on thought process and project objectives for portfolios.
To make a good design portfolio, be clear about project objectives and storytelling techniques. One of the essential parts of a good designer’s portfolio is to provide a context for design decisions. Here are just several questions to ask yourself when you write about a project:
What problem or objective do you have initially?What are your roles in this project?What is the scope or constraints of this project?Who are the users and audience?What insight or interesting discoveries are found during each phase?How are design decisions made or selected?What effect are you intending to bring to users?What is the final result or how do you accomplish the final presentation?What improvements can be made next time?
An online design portfolio website is crucial for any designer, including freelance designers, entry-level designers, or even art directors. They are easier to update, share, and manage than PDF files. Use portfolio builders to save time on designing and focus on delivering the quality design process.What designer
resume template is the most creative one?🖋 Should I use a template for my designer
resume?Using a designer
resume template ensures the
resume is clear and easy to read, and most importantly it’s ATS friendly. In addition, it takes less time to edit than starting from scratch.
Be careful when using a
resume template for designer jobs. You should edit it to be both ATS friendly and consistent
with who you are as a designer.
🖋 What is the best designer
resume template?For freshers and juniors
with no work experience:Choose a template that hides your lack of
experience, and highlights design skills or side projects to show your expertise.For senior designers and
experienced candidates:A simple design
resume template will be sufficient to present your
experience.
🖋 Where can I get a free
resume template?Cake is an online free multimedia
resume portfolio builder. Our
resume builder features great flexibility for customization. You can easily add sections and multimedia columns using our online
resume builder!Moreover, You can also surf through real designer
resume examples and samples to get inspired.
Ready to build your designer
resume? Use our
resume builder to quickly and easily build a stunning designer
resume now for free!Create
Resume
Word Doc. / Google Doc.
Word and Google offer free
resume templates for everyone to choose from. You can refer to them, edit them and export a PDF file
with ease!
Designer
resume sampleMargaret Johnson
UI/UX designer passionate about bringing enjoyable
experiences to users through problem-solving skills.
[email protected] 925-397-6691Atlanta, Georgia
Resume Summary
In
novative designer
with 4+ years of
experience in product development and UI/UX design. Developed and managed 3 digital products from strategy research to product onboarding. Brought 30% post-launch customer growth and 95% positive feedback. Problem solver
with coding expertise to realize interaction for a better
experience.
Project Skills
User Interface DesignUsability TestingUser Research and InterviewsInformation ArchitectureHeuristic EvaluationAffinity MappingProduct Design (Full-Stack)Product StrategyPrototypingProduct GrowthProject Management
Software Skills
Adobe Creative SuiteAxureArdui
noFigmaFramer.jsMayaKeyshotSketchHTML/CSS/JavaScriptPythonPrincipleProcessing
Work Experience
Product DesignerRHJ, Inc. Jun 2017 - Dec 2021
Adopted lean startup approach to develop mobile app Hatful from product strategy to usability testing in 6 months and brought 20% customer growth.Identify obstacles in the product iteration process and organized documents for 10 team members to ameliorate the development cycle.
Work with product manager to optimize resource access for onboarding streamline rollouts .
UX UI Design InternProTami Summer 2018
Led user research and conduct quantitative interviews on 20 participants to organize.Conducted a 3-day Figma
workshop for 15 design team members to integrate
with front-end engineer system.Incorporate coding into 30 pages of prototypes to aid fully functional prototype for user testing.
Freelance Visual and Interaction Designer 2015-2018
Developed visual identities for 35+ clients.Created online digital media and interactive product design for 20 different projects.
Education
Georgia Institute of Tech
nologyMS. in Human-Computer InteractionAug. 2017 - May. 2019
Rhode Island School of DesignBFA. in Industrial DesignAug. 2014 - May. 2017
--- Originally written by Wu ChaoMin ---