CV and cover letter resources
Graphic Designer CV Example and Writing Guide for the UK
A Graphic Designer CV has one main job: to get the reader to open your portfolio. This fictional UK example keeps the layout clean, names the Adobe Creative Cloud tools that employers search for and describes brand, print and digital work in terms of briefs and results. Adapt it to your own projects and keep the design as considered as your best work.
Updated
How should a Graphic Designer structure a CV in the UK?
Keep a clear reverse-chronological structure and put your portfolio link right beside your name and email. UK creative directors usually look at the portfolio before reading the detail, so the link must be easy to find and work first time. Use a short URL to your own site, Behance or a PDF on a reliable host.
Limit the CV to two pages and let the layout show your judgement. A well set grid, sensible hierarchy and one or two typefaces say more than decorative graphics. Avoid skill bars and icons that applicant tracking systems cannot read.
Leave out a photo and personal details such as age or marital status. They are not expected in the UK or Ireland. Your portfolio is where your work makes the visual impression.
Which technical skills should a design CV list?
Name Adobe Creative Cloud applications individually rather than writing a general label. Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign remain the core tools in UK agencies and in-house teams. Add After Effects or Premiere Pro if you produce motion work, and Figma if you design for screens.
Show that you understand production as well as concept. Mention preparing print-ready files, colour management, preflight checks or working with web developers. Employers value designers who can hand over artwork that needs no rework.
Brand guidelines deserve a specific mention. Writing or applying a brand book shows you can protect consistency across many touchpoints. In-house roles in particular look for this experience.
How do you describe creative achievements on a CV?
Describe each project by the brief, your role and what happened next. A line such as "Created eight visual identities, including full brand guidelines" is more convincing than a list of adjectives. Say whether you led the work or contributed as part of a team.
Use results only when the client or employer has shared them with you. Engagement on a campaign, a product reaching new stockists or an award shortlist are all useful evidence. If you do not have figures, describe scope, audience and deliverables instead.
Link the strongest projects in your portfolio to the matching lines on the CV. Recruiters can then check the work behind each claim. This also gives you natural talking points at interview.
Should you use a creative CV template?
Use a template that is distinctive but easy to scan. Many employers still run CVs through an applicant tracking system, which can struggle with text in images, complex columns or unusual fonts. A clean single or two column layout with real text works for both software and people.
Send your CV as a PDF unless the advert asks otherwise. Check that the text can be selected and copied, which shows it can be read by software. Keep the file size small so it uploads easily to job boards.
Tailor the order of your experience to each role. For a packaging role, move packaging work up. For a digital agency, lead with screen and motion projects.
| Vague description | Concrete achievement |
|---|---|
| Responsible for logo design. | Designed a new identity and brand guidelines for a regional bakery chain, rolled out across shopfronts and packaging. |
| Made social media posts. | Produced a monthly set of social templates and motion pieces that the client team could reuse without design support. |
| Good at Adobe software. | Prepared print-ready artwork in InDesign and Illustrator, including preflight checks and printer proofs. |
| Worked on packaging. | Designed packaging for five food and drink products, from concept sketches to printer-approved artwork for independent retailers. |
Frequently asked questions
Should I put my portfolio on my Graphic Designer CV?
Yes. Place a working portfolio link in the header next to your email. Choose 8 to 12 strong projects that match the roles you apply for rather than everything you have ever made.
Can a Graphic Designer CV be more than two pages?
Two pages is the usual limit in the UK and Ireland. Your portfolio carries the visual detail, so the CV should stay focused on roles, skills and the projects that matter most.
Do I need a degree to work as a Graphic Designer in the UK?
Many designers hold a degree in graphic design, but employers mainly judge the portfolio. A Level 3 diploma, an apprenticeship or a strong self-taught body of work can also open doors.