Graphic Design CV Examples, Template & Guide

You know how to stand out in a crowd. How to stand out on a wall. How to stand out in the depths of the internet. You create designs that captivate. So, how can we make your graphic design CV stand out in the pile? A blank piece of paper with just a QR code in the middle? A minimalist, clean design? A wild, extravagant explosion?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to make recommendations on the colour palette or the composition. This article and graphic designer CV examples will show you what information to include, and how to present it, before you let your artistic flair run. Additionally, you'll learn how to prepare a shiny graphic design personal statement to adorn your CV and you'll get a ready-made graphic designer CV template with expert formatting tips.

Create an effective CV in minutes. Choose a professional CV template and fill in every section of your CV in a flash using ready-made content and expert tips.

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Considering other positions? See CV examples for different jobs:

• Actor CV
• Animator CV
• Artist CV
• Designer CV
• Fashion CV
• First CV
• Freelancer CV
• Illustrator CV
• Interior Designer CV
• Marketing CV
• Photographer CV
• Production Assistant CV
• Self-Employed CV
• Social Media Manager CV
• Video Editor CV

Haven't found your job? Check our full list of professional CV examples.

Graphic design CV example & template

Now you know what the proper graphic design CV looks like. 

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to write a job-winning graphic designer CV:

1. Craft a graphic designer CV personal statement

Sure, it’s your portfolio that stands the best chances of capturing someone’s attention. But they did ask for the CV.

The best way of captivating someone’s attention with your graphic designer CV—apart from reinventing the form—is with a strong graphic design personal statement (also known as a CV summary).

One that hooks the reader in with immediate appeal to their needs, and provides solid reasons to keep reading, or to check out the portfolio.

“A portfolio for a creative role stands out when it's visually appealing and well-organized, letting the work speak for itself without overwhelming the viewer. While creativity matters, clarity and specificity are crucial—highlight relevant projects that show a strong understanding of the brand, audience, and campaign goals. A well-structured CV that ties your creative work to measurable results is often more impactful than a purely artistic presentation”.

To write a striking personal statement, answer the following questions in one sentence each:

1. Who are you, what’s your experience?
2. What type of projects are you experienced in delivering?
3. What’s your most impressive/relevant achievement?
4. What’s your most unique achievement?
5. What are you hoping to be able to achieve in this job? (Think about the employer, not yourself).

The personal statement will write itself if you approach it after you finish your graphic design CV.

Graphic design CV: personal statement example

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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2. Create a graphic design CV job description

Your portfolio speaks for itself. That will show your style and your skills.

Your CV job description is for allowing the employer to imagine the impact you can make to their team or project. So specify what you specialise in.

Record your achievements, and showcase a range of proven experience that matches the employers expectations. Use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula to help you out.

List 3 to 7 bullet points for your most relevant position, and rank them in order of significance under such a heading:

[Job Title]

[Company Name, Location]

[Dates of Employment]

For older positions, stick to 3 bullet points. 

If you've mostly worked as a freelance graphic designer, consider writing a skills-based CV (also called a functional CV). It gives prominence to your skills rather than professional experience.

Graphic designer CV: work experience section example 

3. Paint the picture of your education in your graphic design CV

While it is the quality of your portfolio that will dictate your employment, it will be reassuring for the employer to know you have relevant qualifications.

This is where you CV education section comes in. Record your degree in the following way: 

[Degree Class] [Degree Name](Year Graduated)

[University Name]

If you are low on practical experience, feel free to list a bullet point list of achievements, extracurricular activities and things you excelled at. 

Graphic design CV: education section example

4. List relevant graphic skills in your graphic designer CV

For graphic designers, soft skills matter far less than the software and mediums you have mastered.

Make a list of the hard and IT skills and software packages you have that correlate with the employer’s expectations, and create a skills section.

Your personal statement and job description will show exactly what impact you can make, your portfolio will show what you can do, and this section explains how you do it. It is a place to show that you match the expectations of the employer, not to brag about irrelevant skills.

Graphic designer CV: skills examples

“To effectively showcase your technical skills on a CV, include a link to your portfolio with brief descriptions of your projects, highlighting the technologies used. Depending on your CV structure, students might place this in the work experience section to demonstrate practical skills. Additionally, list the technologies you're familiar with and describe your level of expertise, giving employers a clear understanding of your capabilities”.

5. Add additional sections to your graphic design CV template

Additional sections like hobbies and interests can round out your CV. If you were mainly a freelancer, you could add a Notable Projects section. Otherwise, awards, certifications and languages are safe bets.

Make sure these sections are relevant and demonstrate your complexity. Yoga is hardly relevant. So are references on a CV (recruiters know they can expect them).

Graphic designer CV template: additional sections example

6. Attach a matching graphic designer cover letter

In a world where the work speaks for itself, the second place where you will be able to explain yourself is the interview. Your graphic designer cover letter being the first one. Here, you can add your personal touch, and craft your letter to be unique for each position.

You can find the best graphic design jobs on Design Jobs Board, and then use the employer sites to learn more about them, and display genuine interest in their company or project in your cover letter.

The ideal cover letter is composed of:

• 1st Paragraph (60-80 words)—Years of experience, and the main reason why you are the best candidate. 
• 2nd (Main) Paragraph (120-200 words)—Illustrate the 2 or 3 most significant reasons for why you will make a world-class addition to the project.
• 3rd Paragraph (40-60 words)—State your interest in the company and tell them what you hope to do for them.
• Call to Action (Single Sentence)—Be confident, and ask them to look at your portfolio and give you a call back.

Write a cover letter especially if you're a junior. It's a tool that will let you show transferable skills. 

7. Keep your graphic design CV format clean

This is your chance to get creative. Normally, we offer tips on using legible CV fonts and white space in your CV, but you likely already know that. Pick the best CV design to stand out, and consider using modern CV templates, creative CV templates, or preparing a Canva CV. Basic CV templates or blank CV templates won't cut it here.

The only suggestions that seem worth making regarding a CV format: Check that a *.doc CV isn’t required—some applicant tracking systems have trouble parsing PDFs. 

And if you're planning to use a free CV template you found online, make sure that your CV layout is ATS-parsable.

Track the dates of sent applications in Excel. If you don’t hear back after two weeks, give them a follow-up call.

And that’s it! Now you know what a CV should look like. Good luck!

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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Did we answer all your questions on how to write a graphic designer CV? Got any job hunting tips and tricks you’d like to share? Did you find our graphic designer CV examples useful? Use the comments section below. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.

How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with Livecareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.