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Graphic Designer Resume Example

Professional Graphic Designer resume example with ATS-optimized template. Learn how to showcase your design portfolio and creative skills to land top design roles.

Last Updated: 2026-02-02 | Reading Time: 8-10 minutes

Quick Stats

Average Salary
$45,000 - $85,000
Job Growth
3% projected through 2032
Top Hiring Companies
Apple, Nike, Pentagram

Graphic Designer Resume Example

Mia Thornton

mia.thornton@email.com

(555) 401-2233

Portland, OR

linkedin.com/in/miathornton

Skills

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Figma
Sketch
After Effects
Typography
Print Production
UI Design
Color Theory

Certifications

Adobe Certified Professional in Visual Design
Google UX Design Certificate

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Rhode Island School of Design
2019 • GPA: 3.7/4.0

Profile

Creative Graphic Designer with 5+ years of experience producing compelling visual identities, marketing collateral, and digital assets for B2C brands. Delivered 200+ brand projects that contributed to a combined 30% increase in client engagement. Passionate about typography, brand storytelling, and accessible design.

Professional Experience

Senior Graphic Designer
BrightLeaf Agency Portland, OR
March 2022 - Present
  • Designed brand identity systems for 15+ clients, resulting in an average 25% uplift in brand recognition scores
  • Led creative direction for a product launch campaign that generated $2M in first-quarter revenue
  • Managed a team of 3 junior designers, conducting weekly design critiques to elevate team output quality
  • Streamlined asset delivery workflow using Figma and Dropbox, reducing production turnaround by 40%
Graphic Designer
Mosaic Creative Co. Seattle, WA
June 2019 - February 2022
  • Created 100+ print and digital marketing assets for clients across retail, hospitality, and technology sectors
  • Developed a modular template system that cut project kick-off time by 35%
  • Collaborated with copywriters and strategists to execute integrated campaigns reaching 1M+ consumers

Why This Resume Works:

  • Quantified achievements with specific metrics
  • Keywords match common job descriptions
  • Clean, ATS-compatible formatting
  • Strong action verbs throughout

How to Write a Graphic Designer Resume

Professional Summary

Lead with your creative specialty and years of experience. Mention the types of brands or industries you have worked with and quantify your portfolio impact.

Work Experience

Showcase measurable results such as engagement lifts, revenue influence, or efficiency gains. Mention the scale and scope of projects you delivered.

Skills Section

List design tools first, then creative competencies. Match the specific software mentioned in the job posting and include both digital and print skills.

Action Verbs for Graphic Designers

DesignedIllustratedCreatedConceptualizedProducedDirectedCollaboratedManagedDeliveredStreamlinedBrandedRefinedPresentedVisualizedIterated

Graphic Designer Resume Keywords

These keywords appear most frequently in Graphic Designer job descriptions. Include relevant ones in your resume:

Technical Keywords

Brand IdentityVisual DesignLayout DesignTypographyColor TheoryPrint ProductionDigital DesignResponsive DesignMotion GraphicsPackaging DesignArt Direction

Industry Keywords

Brand StrategyCreative DirectionMarketing CollateralCampaign DesignDesign SystemsVisual StorytellingClient BrandingAdvertising DesignContent CreationDesign Thinking

Tools & Technologies

Adobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignFigmaSketchAfter EffectsCanvaProcreateInVisionDropboxGoogle WorkspaceAsana

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Submitting a heavily stylized resume that ATS cannot parse

Use a clean, text-based format for ATS submission and save your creativity for the portfolio link

No portfolio link on the resume

Always include a link to your online portfolio (Behance, Dribbble, or personal site) in the header

Listing software without showing design impact

Pair tool proficiency with outcomes: "Used Figma to deliver 15 brand identity kits, boosting client satisfaction by 30%"

Ignoring print production knowledge

Mention pre-press experience, color profiles, and file formats to show production readiness

Graphic Designer Resume FAQs

Should I use a creative resume layout as a Graphic Designer?

For ATS submissions, use a clean, parseable format. Attach your creative layout as a portfolio piece or personal website. Many employers review both the ATS-friendly version and your portfolio.

How important is a portfolio for a Graphic Designer resume?

Extremely important. Your portfolio is often more influential than the resume itself. Include a prominent link and curate 8-12 of your strongest projects demonstrating range and impact.

Do I need a degree for Graphic Design roles?

A degree helps but is not always required. Strong portfolios and relevant certifications can compensate. Bootcamp graduates and self-taught designers regularly land top roles with compelling work.

How do I show freelance work on a Graphic Designer resume?

List freelance work as a single entry with your business name or "Freelance Graphic Designer." Include your best client results and the scope of work to demonstrate professionalism.

Ready to Optimize Your Graphic Designer Resume?

Our AI-powered resume analyzer will score your resume against ATS systems, find missing keywords for Graphic Designer roles, and give you specific improvement suggestions.

Last updated: 2026-02-02 | Written by JobJourney Career Experts