Designer Resume Sample
· Keith Kwai
Designers applying for in-house or agency roles in Singapore face a specific challenge: the portfolio does the real work, but the CV still has to earn the click. A designer’s CV that reads like a list of software is a missed opportunity.
What makes a strong Designer CV
Make the CV a design statement without being a design experiment
Your CV layout signals your eye for hierarchy, spacing, and readability. It does not need to be unconventional — it needs to be clean, considered, and easy to navigate. Overly designed CVs often fail ATS and distract from content.
Frame design work in terms of the brief
Every design project starts with a problem. Describe the brief, the creative constraints, the solution, and the response. This shows design thinking, not just design execution.
Be clear about the type of design you do
Brand, UI, motion, print, environmental, packaging — these are different skills. If you work across multiple disciplines, state which is your primary strength and which are secondary.
Commercial output versus personal projects
Both are valid. Be honest about which is which, and describe personal projects with the same rigour as client work — why you did it, what problem it solved, what you learned.
What to do
- Put your portfolio link at the top — not buried in a footer
- Describe two or three projects in detail rather than listing fifteen with no context
- Mention client briefs, brand guidelines, or design system constraints where relevant
- Show collaboration with copywriters, developers, or marketing teams
- Include any production or print knowledge if applying for roles that require it
What to avoid
- Design a CV so visually complex that the content is hard to read
- List creative software without showing what you produced with it
- Describe aesthetic choices without any reference to purpose or audience
- Ignore the business context for your design work entirely
- Submit a black-and-white text CV for a design role with no visual consideration
What a weak CV looks like
- A software skills section that is the most prominent element on the page
- Project descriptions that read like Instagram captions
- No indication of design process — only outputs
- A portfolio link that leads to an outdated or incomplete site
Knowing the principles is one thing. Applying them to your specific background, role, and target market is another. That is what we do at GetThatJob. See how we can help.