Top freelance designer sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a freelance designer resume experience section
Freelance designer resume experience: checklist
- Use either chronological or reverse-chronological format when listing your previous jobs;
- Mention only relevant positions that add value to your resume;
- Briefly state the challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them;
- Highlight the results from your efforts (for bonus points, add numbers, percentage rates, etc.);
- Forget about buzzwords! Use power verbs instead.
Use the examples below to build your own experience section!
- 20000+ people all over the world joined us
- Developed responsive HTML5/CSS3 templates for a custom content management system.
- Designed 20+ event flyers using Adobe Photoshop.
- Launched website March 27, 2016
- Increased engagement to site by 40%
- Documented 20+ events through photography
- Ilustrated Concept art for the ambience
- Storyboarded concept idea of the project for a pitch meeting
- Modled for ambient props
- Audio mixed instruments
- Graphics Designer
- Social Media Supervisor
- Comic Illustrator for their book "Angeology 101"
- Focused on Customized Villa design & Experience Homes, technical drawings, design details for execution and documentation.
- Managing internal and site teams co-ordination with respect to procurement, BoQ, Site Schedules, Shop Drawings etc.
- Research & Design for Kitchen Modules & Themes for launching Total Environment Machine Craft Kitchens for Online client platform.
- Liaising with clients, identifying their needs, their preferences and provide design solutions
- Providing schematic sketches and developing design for home extensions
- Developing strategic sales skills trained by senior sales designer
- Visiting clients and developing plans within the customers financial requirements
- Designed promotional items like Banners, Posters and flyers for events
- Redesigned and laid-out quarterly magazine to print
- Laid-out and Designed Book
- Edited Selected Photos to Work Best for Layouts
- Define brand guidelines
- Handling 5 social media brands
- Design Instagram, Facebook, ads, Pinterest and overall marketing content for clients
- Did UI/UX design process for company product "Infinit Whiteboard"
- Redesign the user experience of company's website
- Deliver top projects that please clients and attract new business, with a 14% increase in client referral rate
- Building personas, questionnaires, sketches, paper prototype, Lowfi prototyping, Highfi prototyping, Wire framing, and user research
- 20+ trained students, 15 of them working at lead companies.
- Did some front end programming (HTML 5, CSS, Java Script) to build actual web based prototype.
- Accelerated new business growth by 20x in the first year.
- Gather requirements and design flows for conversational interfaces
- Create detailed, comprehensive conversational user interfaces with design specifications in collaboration with the UX Design Lead and UX Copywriter
- Facilitate user testing for conversational flows built in DialogFlow
- Analyze transcripts of user interactions and document their personas and language in order to create interaction models (intents, utterances)
- Designed conversational flows and diagrams detailing NLP intents recognized by the IVA for the Artificial Intelligence team.
- Develop UX content style guide and conversational design toolkit for the Comcast NBC design portal.
- Led weekly technical grooming sessions with the Engineering teams to iterate and redeploy bot refinements
- Leveraged user data to design happy paths and mitigate potential chatbot interaction gaps.
- Created content maps through analysis of real-time keywords and search data of end users.
- Managed a mid-size team of designers through user centered strategies to improve the content of J.P. Morgan's digital platforms.
- Document bot dialogs, personas and specification for weekly design strategy sessions.
- Increased user interaction with the chatbot agent by 15% and reduced the overall bounce rate.
- Created end to end mapping and technical specifications as part of the software development lifecycle.
- Built out user journey maps that highlighted the initial stages of navigation functions for Blackrock's digital platforms.
- Designed wireframes and prototypes for project initiatives via design tools such as Adobe XD, Figma and Sketch.
- Facilitated daily strategy sessions and summarized project milestones with the product development team.
- Conducted usability testing (A/B, focus groups, QA) to improve end user experience.
- My responsibilities include Executing daily Marketing Schedule.
- Designing the creatives.
- Product Photo Shoots.
- Maintaining Social Media Pages
- Consultant- Designed complete AW-16 collection for Haute Curry
- Managed 3 WW brands - Stop, HC, created the STOP PLUS label
- Buying, Costing, Quality approvals, Sourcing, Vendors & Range plan
- Partnered with user interface designers, Web developers and UX managers at Zita. to translate information architecture, navigation and process flows into beautiful and easy-to-use solutions
- Managed usability testing for clients landing pages in preparation for Web site redesign. Defined testing parameters, prepared prototypes, recruited users, facilitated tests and reported results
- Researched new trends to be incorporated into each line and computer flat sketched bodies/designs that fit into brand's aesthetic and budget for each monthly Market line
- Trend Shopping
- Presented monthly lines to Creative Director and Head of Sales and Sales team members
- Colorized and Recolored prints used in design bodies within the specific market's color story and mood board theme
- Worked with Graphic Artists and Art Department to decide what types and themes of print inspirations were added into each line
- Worked with patternmaker to ensure line samples were of excellent fit with hanger appeal that was on trend and sellable to our target market
- Worked with Product Development in developing novelty fabrics, trims, and washes, and determined fabrics, trims, stitching, and construction details used for each design
- Approved/Commented on production strike-offs and color/print swatches
- Attended and participated in fittings for 1st fits and PP/TOP samples
- Worked with assistant, patternmakers, cutters, and sewers in turning around samples for each approximately 45 SKU count line within an extremely tight deadline
- Researched new trends to be incorporated into each line and computer flat sketched bodies/designs that fit into brand's aesthetic and budget for each monthly Market line
- Co-presented monthly lines alongside Head Designer to Creative Director and Head of Sales and Sales team members
- Colorized and Recolored prints used in design bodies within the specific market's color story and mood board theme
- Worked with Dye houses and fabric Printers to ensure fabrics, trims, and hardware used within the line were dyed and printed within a super tight turnaround time
- Attended fittings for 1st fits and PP/TOP samples
- Ordered from domestic and overseas vendors fabrics, trims, and hardware, and determined fabrics, trims, stitching, and construction details used for each design
- Worked with patternmakers, cutters, and sewers in turning around samples for each approximately 45 SKU count line within an extremely tight deadline
- Tracked workflow of an extremely large cutting/marking + sewing room (100 person staff) to ensure samples were being properly executed within a tight deadline driven amount of time
- Ensured that said samples were delivered to our NY showroom for each monthly Market
- Pushed bought styles into Costing phase for Tech Pack sendoff
- Hand sketched and Flat sketched into new design groups for each monthly pass
- Presented sketches bi-weekly to a boardroom that consisted of the company President, Head Buyer, Creative Director, and relevant departments, to be approved into monthly passes
- Edited approved sketches in Photoshop and Illustrator to finalize them for tech packing
- Assembled and sent out tech packs to China factories
- Inspected incoming Proto samples to ensure that they accurately followed the tech packs
- Determined fabrics, trims, stitching, and construction details used for approved sketches
- Handed off design sketches to Tech team with detailed instructions on fit, trims, fabrics, and construction/stitching for each design
- Attended and assisted in fittings
- Worked closely with Head Designer and Buyer to decide what styles to add into monthly passes based on a Theme & Concept Storyboard
- Shopping for Trend Research that adhered to the TOBI girl's taste
- Designed a customized line for large-scale customers such as Stitch Fix, Anthropologie, and Dillards
- Created tech packs, CADs, and design modifications (computer flat sketched) based on special customer orders and Magic/Market show trends
- Managed and updated seasonal linesheets
- Managed Spec and Fit Comments for each incoming proto sample as well as duplicate samples
- Selected fabrics, trim, colors, and bodies for sample designs
- Managed designs from development to proto to production
- Managed PP/TOP sample follow up to bulk completion for Stitch Fix under an extremely tight production schedule.
- Attended Magic and Market tradeshows
PRO TIP
Make sure to relate your experience to your job description, but never lie. That’s not tolerated and will show up in the face-to-face interview later on.
Action verbs for your freelance designer resume
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Freelance designer resume: The skills section!
How to write a strong freelance designer resume skills section?
- Make sure to include all types of skills - soft, hard, technical;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise in the field;
- Check the job description for keywords and make sure to add them to your resume – this will help you pass ATS;
- Leave room for discussion – elaborate on some of your strongest skills in other sections of your resume
Top skills for your freelance designer resume
Upwork
Quickbooks
Microsoft Office
Email clients
PayPal
Budgeting
Marketing
Design
Communication
Leadership and project management
Teamwork
Problem
Solving
Work Ethics
Flexibility
Adaptability
Interpersonall skills
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads:
Freelance Designer Resume Header: Tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your freelance designer resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Freelance Designer resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
A career summary for your freelance designer resume
Things to include in your freelance designer resume summary:
- Your total years of experience in the industry;
- 2-3 of your most remarkable achievements so far;
- How your experience relates to the position you’re applying for;
- A very brief description of your strengths.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
You’re not going to get hired simply because of a good summary or objective. However, your recruiter can bump you up in front of similarly experienced candidates who didn’t demonstrate such passion and drive.
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freelance designer resume: the education section
Things to include in your resume's education section:
- Your highest education degree – including course, year of graduation, institution;
- Awards received as part of your education;
- Extracurricular activities that have helped you gain relevant skills;
- Certifications that have helped you master new skills and increase your expertise;
- Entry-level applicants only: relevant courses and projects.
Top Certifications for Your Freelance Designer Resume
Freelancer Course: Ultimate Guide to Freelance
Learn how to work on Freelancer and become top rated and best selling online Freelance Designer and Developer.
How to Run Your Business Using Freelancers
Outsourcing your work is now more Necessary than Ever - Hire Freelancers to Handle Your Business
Freelance Graphic Designers Masterclass
Learn commercial graphic design in an easy and simple way to begin your online career
Make a Living as a Freelance Artist or Designer
Learn the tips and tricks about being a Creative Freelancer that they don't teach you in School!
Learn Photoshop, Web Design & Profitable Freelancing 2022
Learn Adobe Photoshop and use it to create amazing website designs and create a high, stable income. No coding needed!
Recommended reads.":
PRO TIP
If you hold a certain major and a minor, your majors should be mentioned first.
Choosing the right format for your freelance designer resume
In general, there are three basic formats for your resume:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Some things to consider when choosing the right format for your Freelance Designer resume include the stage of your career, whether you have all the right skills required for the job or are looking for an industry change, and what field you’re looking to grow in.
The reverse-chronological resume format is the most common one. It lets you describe your most recent job and then move backward. This makes it great for people who have around or less than 10 years of experience and are looking to highlight only their work-related skills and qualities.
If you’re just starting your career journey and reverse-chronological resumes sound too demanding, go for the functional resume format. It’s ideal for showcasing your strengths, personal qualities, skills, education, and the courses you’ve taken, without putting too much pressure on experience and expertise.
Don’t worry if neither of these sounds suitable for you – the hybrid or combination resume format will surely match your needs. It’s similar to the reverse-chronological, but with a catchy twist. Combination or hybrid resumes are great for showcasing both your experience and work-related skills and your personal qualities. Add a “What my day looks like” section for enhancing the jaw-dropping experience!
Here are some more things worth remembering when it comes to formatting your Freelance Designer resume:
- Choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts sized 10-12p;
- Match the length of your Freelance Designer resume with your experience – choose a one-page template if you have less than 10 years of experience, and be careful with two-page templates – use them only when applying for executive positions;
- Save your resume in PDF to avoid formatting issues and potential unauthorized editing.
Tired of getting rejected? Check out this article on how to craft a resume that stands out!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections suitable for your freelance designer resume
Depending on the position and the industry, you can spice your resume up by adding some more sections. They will help the recruiter get a glimpse of who you are as a person, besides all your job-related skills and qualities.
Here are some examples:
How to add creativity to your freelance designer resume
Gone are the days when creative resumes were frowned upon by recruiters!
What’s more, the right amount of creativity will make recruiters remember you and want to learn more about who you are – both as an individual and as a professional.
There are two ways to build a creative resume - add creative sections or go for a more creative design approach in general. Go for whatever suits you, the position, and the industry most!
What makes a great freelance designer resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
