Graphic Designer Resume Example
Designers face a real tension: you want a beautiful resume, but a heavily designed, multi-column PDF is exactly what breaks in an ATS. The winning move is a clean, single-column resume that links to a portfolio — let the portfolio show your visual skill, and let the resume pass the scanner. The example below does that: readable structure, tools named, impact shown, portfolio linked.
Don't rely on the layout to impress. Recruiters filter on keywords and outcomes first, then click the portfolio. Name your software (Figma, Adobe CC), and turn projects into results: rebrands delivered, engagement lifted, guidelines built.
Graphic Designer resume sample
Olivia Nguyen
Senior Graphic Designer
olivia.n@example.com • +61 401 222 333 • Melbourne, VIC
Portfolio: olivianguyen.design
Summary
Multidisciplinary graphic designer with 6 years across brand, digital, and print. Led a rebrand that lifted social engagement 40% and built a design system now used across 8 product teams.
Experience
Senior Graphic Designer — Creative Studio
2021 – Present
Melbourne, VIC
- Led a full brand refresh for a national retail client, increasing social engagement 40%.
- Built and maintained a design system adopted by 8 internal product teams.
- Mentored 2 junior designers and ran the studio's design critique process.
Graphic Designer — Agency Co
2018 – 2021
Melbourne, VIC
- Designed campaign assets across digital and print for 15+ clients.
- Cut asset turnaround time 30% by creating reusable templates in Figma.
Education
B.A. Communication Design — RMIT University
2014 – 2017
Skills
Design: Brand identity, Typography, UI/UX, Design systems
Tools: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects
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ATS keywords for a graphic designer resume
Applicant tracking systems scan for role-specific terms. Work the ones that genuinely apply to you into your resume — naturally, not stuffed:
Tips for a strong graphic designer resume
- Keep the resume itself single-column and ATS-safe — put the visual flair in your linked portfolio, not the PDF layout.
- Link your portfolio prominently in the header; it's the single most important element for a designer.
- Name your tools exactly (Figma, Illustrator, After Effects) — ATS screens for them and so do art directors.
- Turn projects into outcomes: “rebrand lifted engagement 40%”, “built a design system used across 8 products”.
- Show range appropriate to the role — brand, digital, print, motion — but lead with what the job asks for.
Graphic Designer resume FAQs
Should a graphic designer use a creative, designed resume?
Use a clean, single-column resume for the application (so it parses in ATS) and showcase your creativity in a linked portfolio. A gorgeous PDF that fails the scanner never reaches a human.
Is a portfolio link required?
Effectively yes. For design roles the portfolio carries more weight than the resume — make the link impossible to miss.
What if my best work is under NDA?
Describe the outcome and your role without showing the asset, or create a password-protected portfolio section you share on request.
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