A great art & design resume can become your canvas to dazzle potential employers with your creative talents. Whether you're a designer, a photographer, or a video editor, employers look for that standout spark in your approach.
In this guide, we'll provide easy tips, useful examples, and customizable templates to help you sculpt a resume that encapsulates your unique artistic vision.
Keep reading and learn:
- How to masterfully format your art & design resume
- How to craft a jaw-dropping professional summary
- The most impressive soft and hard skills to put on your art & design CV
- How to craft a balanced work experience section
- How to include academic achievements in your education section
- How to create dedicated extra sections to complement your art & design CV
- Where to find valuable resources for job-seeking artists and designers
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
1. How to masterfully format your art & design resume
There is no doubt that when it comes to formatting an art & design resume, one might expect an impeccable, maybe even unique, format.
There's a variety of creative options you can use to spruce up your CV, and you should certainly take advantage of them.
Nevertheless, you'll also need to make sure that your format is adding value to your content and not distracting from it.
Remember not to overdo it. Most companies claim to prefer traditional resumes. Subtle color, or personalized graphic elements as focal points might work like a charm.
Follow these tips for a balanced resume format:
- Set one-inch margins on all sides.
- Keep your page count low, and effectively distribute your art resume sections. The best way to consider may be a two-column layout.
- Include the following CV sections: contact details, professional profile, soft and hard skills, work experience, education and additional sections.
- If you are a seasoned artist with a lot of professional experience to offer, opt for a reverse-chronological format.
- On the other hand, if you are just breaking into the field, use a functional resume, turning the spotlight on your competencies and education.
Choose your preferred template and make your resume shine.
2. How to write a jaw-dropping professional summary for your art & design resume
Just like the most representative art piece in your portfolio, your professional profile should blow the hiring manager away.
How much time recruiters spend on reading your CV depends on how captivating and relevant your professional summary is.
For a great art & design professional profile follow these tips:
- Market your best skills and relevant, measurable accomplishments rather than your daily duties.
- Use keywords from the job posting.
- Employ interesting adjectives such as performance-driven, knowledgeable, highly professional, etc.
- Use impactful verbs: produce, possess, mentor, develop, increment, spearhead, etc.
Art & design professional profile summary example
Performance-driven and knowledgeable Creative Designer adept at developing original design concepts, creating digital advertising materials, and producing content for multiple social media platforms. Detail-oriented professional offering extensive communication skills and strong determination to perform excellent work. Possess a highly professional attitude and important time management abilities.
3. What are the most impressive soft and hard skills to put on your art & design CV
Certain core skills may set the great job applicant in the art & design industry from the passable candidate. Since you surely aspire to be the great one, you will want to opt for the best combination of technical competencies and soft skills.
Use hard skills that fit the job position you are applying for, and remember to complement them with your relevant talents and abilities. After all, thanks to your soft skills you are able to harness the full potential of the technical ones.
Combine them effectively, mentioning first the ones required in the job ad you are replying to, and stand out a mile.
The best art & design soft skills for your resume
- Ability to generate new ideas
- Active listening
- Outstanding communication
- Time management
- Planning and organization
- Taking criticism
- Teamwork
- Client orientation
- Innovation
- Dedication
- Attention to detail
- Punctuality
- Patience
Effective hard skills for your art & design CV
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- InDesign
- Animate
- HTML/Web Design
- UI & UX
- Skylum Luminar
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Lightroom
- Aerial Photography
- Marketing and promotion
- Copyright laws
- Product Advertising Photography
- Avid Media Composer
- After Effects
- Final Cut Pro
- Voice Overs
- Animation
- Logging clips
- Project planning
- Budgeting
4. How to craft a balanced art & design work experience section
If your art & design related work history is not a blank canvas, then you can certainly make it your artistic triumph if you just put it right.
The following tips will help you craft a work experience section that will work like magic.
- Start with the most recent work experience.
- Use 4-6 bullet points.
- Incorporate keywords from the job posting.
- Be relevant and concise.
- Focus more on your accomplishments rather than your daily duties.
- Quantify your achievements for a higher effect.
- Employ impactful language.
Art & design work experience section example
Ifuture Inc., St. Louis, MO, United States
Creative Designer
2015–2018
- Produced professional creative concepts and solutions and assisted in the website design development to ensure that the clients' needs were fully met.
- Designed original advertising materials and produced digital content for multiple social media platforms.
- Implemented 20+ marketing campaigns.
- Mentored a team of 12 creative professionals, recruited and coordinated multiple graphic design interns.
- Awarded Employee of the Month for finishing all projects in a timely manner while saving expenses by 12%.
5. How to include academic achievements in your art & design education section
Depending on the job posting, you may be required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Whether you do meet your prospective employer’s expectations on this end or not, it is a great practice to include related areas of interest or academic achievements. It might do the trick especially if you lack relevant work experience.
Education section example for an art & design resume
Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
BA in Graphic Design
2010 – 2013
- Excelled in Digital Prepress
- Top 5% of the Program
- Area of interest: Graphics and Production
- The 2016 Dean's Award winner for the 1st prize in the National Graphic Design Competition
6. How to create dedicated extra sections to complement your art & design CV
Convince the hiring manager that you are the perfect candidate. What activities, courses, achievements or interests would back your superior professional aptness?
Create dedicated extra sections to convey your exceptional skills related to the role you are applying for.
If you are, for instance, a video editor, and you volunteered as one, this activity will become a very direct building block contributing to your professional background.
Volunteering Activities
- Video Editor, XYZ Nonprofit Organization, 2019-Present
- Collaborated with a team of volunteers to create promotional videos and social media content for fundraising campaigns, increasing donor engagement and raising $50,000 for charitable initiatives.
- Video Production Assistant, Annual Arts Festival, 2018-2020
- Assisted in filming and editing event highlights, artist interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage, contributing to the promotion and documentation of the festival's artistic offerings.
- Video Editor, Local Animal Shelter, 2017-2019
- Produced compelling video content to raise awareness about animal adoption and advocate for animal welfare, resulting in increased adoption rates and community involvement.
However, not all of your activities or interests need to directly reflect your video editing skills. If you like exploring distant lands, it can perfectly predetermine you for the job that requires travel.
Hobbies
- Exploring distant lands
- Team sports
- Classical literature
7. Valuable resources for job-seeking artists and designers
The creative industry is a vibrant, ever-changing landscape. To navigate this dynamic field, we've curated some of the best job search resources for artists and designers:
- Specialized job boards: Websites like Behance, Dribbble, and ArtStation serve as rich platforms for job listings specific to the art and design community.
- Networking platforms: LinkedIn remains an invaluable tool for connecting with fellow creatives and recruiters, scouting potential job openings and sharing your portfolio.
- Portfolio websites: Platforms like Adobe Portfolio, Squarespace, or Wix allow you to create a digital showcase of your work, an essential companion to your resume.
- Professional organizations: Joining groups such as AIGA, the professional association for design, can offer networking opportunities, job boards, and industry insights.
- Freelance marketplaces: Websites like Upwork or Fiverr can be great to find freelance or project-based work.
Remember, as an artist or designer, your creativity is your unique selling point. Use these resources to present your work in the best light and open doors to new opportunities.
Art / Design Resume FAQ
What should I include in my art & design resume?
Your resume should contain your contact information, a summary or objective, skills, work experience, and education. Don't forget to include any awards, certifications, and professional affiliations. If applicable, add a link to your online portfolio.
How can I make my art & design resume stand out?
Employers value creativity in art and design roles, so don't be afraid to showcase yours. Use a unique but professional layout or typeface. Also, quantify your achievements where possible, for example, "Boosted website traffic by 40% with redesigned user interface".
What format should I use for my art & design resume?
Choose a format suited to your work experience. The chronological format is best if you have solid work history, while a functional or combination format may serve better if you're changing careers or have gaps in employment.
Should I include an online portfolio in my art & design resume?
Absolutely! A portfolio showcases your work and skills in a way that a resume can't. Include a link to your online portfolio in your contact information.
What skills should I highlight in my art & design resume?
Technical skills like proficiency in Adobe Suite are essential, but don't forget soft skills like communication, conceptual thinking, and time management. Tailor your skills section to match the job description.