Graphic designer CV template
A soft colour glow down the page, a huge lowercase name with a full stop, a black-and-white round photo and lowercase headings between fine rules.
Best for experienced candidates, career changers and first jobs. Two-column layout, creative and modern, in purple.
£4.99 one-off · CV + matching cover letter · PDF and Word. Secure checkout by Stripe, instant access, no subscription. Or try it free with your details first.
Colourways of the Graphic designer design: Lilac, Peach, Blue.
What's included
- A matching cover letter in the same design
- A4, laid out for UK applications
- Real, selectable text that online application systems can read
- Switch template any time without losing a word
- AI writing help for your profile, achievements and letter (up to 60 AI actions)
- PDF and Word downloads of your CV and letter
- Edit and download again any time, no subscription
What to put on a graphic designer CV
A graphic designer's CV is a small piece of design work in itself, so the layout matters as much as the words. This graphic designer CV template has a soft colour glow down the page, a huge lowercase name finished with a full stop, a round black-and-white photo and lowercase headings between fine rules. It suits graphic, brand, digital and junior designers who want a CV that shows taste without competing with their portfolio.
The photo is optional, and a monogram shows if you leave it out. Choose lilac, peach or blue. Fill it in and preview every page for free, with no account needed. Pay £4.99 once to download it as PDF and Word, with a matching cover letter included. It is A4 and laid out for UK applications, and the text is real and selectable, so a reader can copy your portfolio link straight from the page.
Put your portfolio link at the top
Most design hiring starts with your portfolio, so put the link beside your name and contact details, where it is seen first. Use a short, tidy web address, check it opens properly on a phone and make sure the work behind it is recent.
Name the tools you really use
List the software you use day to day, such as Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop or Figma, and any motion or 3D tools. Leave out anything you have only opened once, as interviewers often ask how you use it.
Write about real projects
Under each role, mention two or three pieces of work: the client or brief, what you made and what happened next, such as a rebrand rolled out across a chain of shops or packaging that went into production. Keep each bullet to a line or two.
Let the layout stay quiet
The template already carries the look, so keep your own formatting simple. Avoid extra fonts, icons and skill bars that rate you out of five, which tell a reader very little and take space away from your work.
Treat the photo as a choice
Most UK employers do not expect a photo, even for creative roles, and your portfolio says more about you. If you include one, the black-and-white crop keeps it calm, and if you leave it out the monogram fills the space. Two sides of A4 is plenty.
Questions
Should a graphic designer's CV be creative?
A little, as the layout shows your eye for type, space and hierarchy. It still needs to be easy to read, with clear headings, sensible font sizes and your experience in the usual order. A tidy, well-set CV often says more about your skills than a busy one.
Do I need a portfolio as well as a CV?
Yes, for almost every design job. The CV gives the facts about your roles, skills and education, and the portfolio shows the work itself. Link to it near the top of your CV, and choose a small number of strong, recent projects over everything you have ever made.
What should a junior graphic designer put on a CV?
Your degree or course, any placements, freelance or volunteer work, and the projects in your portfolio, including student briefs and competitions. Add the software you use and a short profile about the kind of design you want to do. One page of A4 is usually enough at this stage.
Which colourway suits a design CV?
Lilac, peach and blue are all soft enough to keep the focus on your work. Pick the one closest to your own style, or to the feel of the studio you are applying to. You can change colourway or move to another template at any time without losing a word.
More templates like this
- Poster CV template - A poster-sized name, a portrait on a colour block and a soft side panel.
- Zürich CV template - A big grotesque name, numbered sections and one bold accent. No photo.
- Dusk CV template - A soft two-colour gradient header with a ringed portrait.
- Heather CV template - Soft rounded headings and a calm palette, with your availability and DBS check in the header.