Graduate Brand Designer CV Template Example
As a career coaching professional with over 25 years of experience supporting graduates, managers, and senior executives, I know how vital it is to create a CV that not only stands out but also wins interviews. Today, we’re going to focus on one of the most exciting creative career paths – the Graduate Brand Designer. If you’re aiming to break into the branding and design industry, your CV is the first chance to show potential employers that you have the creativity, technical ability, and strategic thinking needed to thrive in such a dynamic environment.
The importance of the Graduate Brand Designer role
A Graduate Brand Designer is more than just someone who can put together graphics. The role requires a keen understanding of design principles, visual identity, typography, colour theory, digital marketing, and user experience. You’ll be helping companies craft the very essence of how they are seen in the market – their visual identity and branding. It’s a role that blends artistry with commercial strategy, making it one of the most exciting opportunities for design graduates today.
A Graduate Brand Designer typically works closely with senior brand designers, creative directors, and marketing teams to develop logos, campaigns, and brand guidelines. Tasks often include creating digital and print assets, assisting with rebranding projects, and ensuring consistency across different platforms. Employers are looking for candidates who are not only technically skilled in tools like Adobe Creative Suite or Figma but who also demonstrate an understanding of branding psychology and market trends.
In terms of salary, a Graduate Brand Designer in the UK can expect to earn between £22,000 and £28,000 per year, depending on location and company size. As experience builds, progression to Brand Designer, Senior Brand Designer, and even Creative Director is possible, with salaries reaching into the £50,000–£80,000 bracket and beyond.
This career path is as rewarding as it is competitive, and that’s why your CV needs to be crafted with precision, personality, and professionalism.
Why your Graduate Brand Designer CV matters
Your CV is not just a piece of paper – it’s your personal brand story in written form. Just as you’d carefully select colours and fonts for a client’s brand identity, you must take the same care in structuring and presenting your CV. Recruiters and hiring managers often spend as little as 7 seconds scanning a CV before deciding whether to read further. That means every word and every section counts.
As a graduate entering the creative industry, you may feel the pressure of not having years of experience. However, what you do have is passion, fresh ideas, and transferable skills from education, internships, and freelance projects. Your CV should demonstrate not only your technical ability but also your creativity, problem-solving skills, and commitment to growth.
How to structure your Graduate Brand Designer CV
When creating a Graduate Brand Designer CV template example, here’s a structure I recommend to my clients:
1. Personal profile / professional summary
This short paragraph at the top should highlight your passion for design, your understanding of branding, and your career aspirations. Keep it optimistic, engaging, and professional. For example:
“A highly motivated Graduate Brand Designer with a strong foundation in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and brand identity development. Passionate about helping organisations communicate their story through innovative design solutions. Looking to contribute creativity and fresh thinking to a forward-thinking design or marketing team.”
2. Key skills
Include a bullet-point list of 6–8 core skills that match what employers are looking for. Examples:
Brand identity development
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign
Typography and layout design
Digital and print media design
Social media content creation
Presentation and pitch design
Collaboration and communication
Problem-solving and creative thinking
3. Education
As a graduate, your degree is one of your strongest selling points. List your course, university, and any standout modules or projects. For example:
BA (Hons) Graphic Design, University of the Arts London (2022)
Final year project: Rebranding concept for a sustainable fashion brand, incorporating logo design, digital campaigns, and packaging.
4. Work experience / projects
This can include internships, part-time jobs, voluntary roles, freelance work, or university projects. Even if not all are directly design-related, highlight transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, and project management.
Example:
Junior Design Intern, XYZ Agency, London (June 2022 – Sept 2022)
Assisted with brand identity refresh for a tech start-up.
Produced design mockups and supported senior designers with creative pitches.
Contributed to client presentations and supported social media visual campaigns.
5. Portfolio link
Always include a link to your online portfolio (e.g., Behance, personal website). Employers expect to see your work instantly. Make sure it’s up to date, well presented, and showcases variety.
6. Additional sections
You can also include awards, certifications (such as Adobe Creative Suite), languages, or relevant extracurricular activities.
General advice for graduates writing a CV
As a graduate, your biggest challenge is often limited work experience. The good news is that employers know this – they are looking for potential and personality as much as they are looking for a long employment history. Here are some tips:
Highlight projects: University and freelance projects can demonstrate your abilities just as effectively as paid roles.
Show passion: Mention personal creative projects, competitions, or collaborations.
Focus on skills: Employers want to see design skills, but also soft skills like teamwork, adaptability, and time management.
Tailor your CV: Every job description is different. Always align your CV with the key requirements listed in the job advert.
Advice for middle and senior-level Brand Designers
If you’re no longer a graduate but moving up the ladder, your CV should evolve. For mid-level roles, demonstrate the impact you’ve made on brand growth, campaign success, or client acquisition. For senior roles, emphasise leadership, strategy, and results.
Middle-level CVs should showcase projects where you’ve led small teams, contributed ideas that were implemented, and worked directly with clients.
Senior-level CVs must highlight leadership, mentoring juniors, delivering ROI, and developing brand strategies that align with business goals.
In both cases, measurable results are key. Instead of saying “designed marketing materials,” say “created a brand refresh that improved brand recognition and contributed to a 20% increase in client engagement.”
The Do’s and Don’ts of a Graduate Brand Designer CV
Do’s
Do keep your CV to two pages maximum (one page is ideal for graduates).
Do include a professional, concise personal statement at the top.
Do tailor your CV to the job description every time.
Do make sure your online portfolio is polished and aligned with your CV.
Do use clear formatting, plenty of white space, and professional fonts.
Don’ts
Don’t use overly decorative fonts – save creativity for your portfolio.
Don’t include irrelevant personal details (e.g., date of birth, full address).
Don’t make spelling or grammar mistakes – proofread carefully.
Don’t exaggerate skills you don’t have – you will be tested.
Don’t send a generic CV to multiple employers – customise it.
Final tips for creating an interview-winning Graduate Brand Designer CV
Keep it clear, creative, but professional.
Balance showcasing design flair with ensuring your CV is readable.
Use action words such as “developed,” “designed,” “created,” “collaborated.”
Demonstrate your enthusiasm for branding and design.
Always back up skills with examples.
Remember – your CV is your very first design project for a client: that client is your future employer. Show them the same attention to detail you’d give to a branding brief.
Conclusion
Creating a Graduate Brand Designer CV template example that wins interviews isn’t about copying and pasting generic information – it’s about presenting your story in a way that highlights your strengths, skills, and passion for design. With the right structure, the right content, and the right tone, your CV will help you stand out in a competitive creative industry.
If you’d like professional support in crafting an interview-winning CV and LinkedIn profile, I’d love to help you. Book an appointment today and let’s work together to unlock your career potential: Book an Appointment
