In design roles, your CV is both a summary of your portfolio and your first design sample. Below is a realistic CV example from a product designer with 7+ years of experience — if you like it, you can edit it in one click with your own details.
This example is inspired by a product (UI/UX) designer with 7+ years of experience. It highlights portfolio, design systems, and measurable conversion contributions. If you're a UI/UX, graphic, product, or interaction designer candidate, you can adapt the same structure to your own field.
A designer summary should clearly state 'which field, how many years of experience, and what kind of impact you created.' Example: 'Product designer with 7+ years of experience; built design systems for SaaS products and increased conversion rates by an average of 20%.' This helps recruiters direct you to the right role.
On a designer CV, 'designed nice buttons' hurts credibility. Instead, write 'redesigned the checkout flow that increased signup conversion by 23% in an A/B test.' User research, A/B test results, conversion rates, and the business impact of design decisions — back every bullet with data.
In the design world, what you produce matters more than your degree. Still, list your school, department, and relevant design training (bootcamp, online course). If you don't come from fine arts, industrial design, or communications, foreground your portfolio and learning speed.
For a designer, a portfolio (Behance, Dribbble, personal site) matters more than the CV. Always add the portfolio link to the contact section. Present each project as a case study: problem, process, solution, and result. Explain the thinking behind decisions, not just the visuals.
Design meetups, community organization, contributions to open-source design systems, or mentorship are proof of both skill and passion. Concretely write which community you contributed what to. The design world is small; networking is valuable.
In the skills section, group design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop), research methods (usability testing, card sorting, wireframing), and techniques (prototyping, design system, accessibility) separately. ATS scans for keywords like Figma and design system; write tool names in full.
In design roles, portfolios and case studies speak louder than references. Still, if you can offer your former product manager or design lead as a reference, writing 'available on request' is enough.
Up to a point, yes — your CV is your first design sample. But don't overdo it: readability and ATS-friendliness must always come first. Show personality in color, typography, and layout, but keep the content clear and scannable.
Absolutely, and it's almost mandatory. For a designer, the portfolio matters more than the CV. Always add your Behance, Dribbble, or personal site to the contact section. Your portfolio should be current and in case-study format.
Back every bullet with data: A/B test result, conversion rate, user test finding, accessibility improvement. Instead of 'made a new design,' write 'streamlined the signup flow with user testing and reduced drop-off by 30%.'
Add the tools you use daily (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, Photoshop, Illustrator) and prototyping, design system, and user research methods to the skills section. ATS scans these keywords; write every tool by its full name.
Highlight your bootcamp projects, capstone work, and personal projects. If your portfolio is strong, your educational background moves to the background. With little experience, realistic case studies and volunteer design work are valuable contributions.
For a designer, an elegant banner template with a personality-driven color (burgundy, purple) works well. But remember: while your CV shows design skill, it must stay readable; excessive decoration makes it harder for ATS to read the text.
You can also browse our other example CVs prepared for different industries.
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