The Ultimate Product Designer CV Example [+ 2024 Guide]

Sobhan Mohmand, CV Writing Expert          31 Oct 2023

Are you looking to write your perfect Product designer CV?

Crafting a compelling CV is crucial for landing that dream job in the field of product design. Your CV serves as a snapshot of your skills, qualifications and accomplishments, giving potential employers insight into your suitability for the role.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process, providing step-by-step instructions, tips, and examples to ensure your CV shines and gets noticed, let’s get started!

• Product designer CV example
• Download CV template (Word format)
• How to format your CV
• How to write a perfect CV (a step-by-step guide)
• Personal profile statement example
• Duties to add to your CV
• Useful skills to add to your CV
• Tips on making your CV more effective

CV Example

Preview

What makes this CV good and effective?

• Structure and format: The CV follows a clear and organised structure with distinct sections, including education, work experience and skills. Fonts and formatting are consistent throughout, enhancing readability. Overall, the layout, format and structure of the CV ensures that the applicant’s information is easily findable to employers.
• Tailoring to the job: The CV is tailored to the product designer role, emphasising skills and experiences relevant to the field. They have also used the same key phrases and keywords as the job’s personal specifications, giving a greater impression of their suitability for the job. They have also not included any irrelevant personal details or outdated employment information that could distract from the important information.
• Relevant extracurricular activities: The candidate includes extracurricular activities related to product design, demonstrating their passion and dedication.
• Use of white space: The layout incorporates adequate white space, preventing the document from appearing cluttered and enhancing readability. This is very important because the job that they are applying for is design-related so any deficiencies in the CV’s design, layout and format will reflect badly on the candidate and result in an automatic rejection.

Download CV template

Download

Are you writing your CV from scratch or is your CV template outdated? Download this professional CV template to impress employers!

• Free
• Save time and effort
• Guaranteed correct CV structure
• Word document (.docx) format
• Fully customisable

How to save your CV as a PDF document:

• Click on File > Save As > Select “PDF” from the drop-down menu.

How to format your CV

• Use clear headings: Employ distinct headings for sections like “Experience”, “Skills” and “Education” to guide the reader through your CV. Use a bigger font size for the headings and consider using a touch of colour to enhance its visual appeal.
• Use bullet points: Instead of using paragraphs and long sentences, use bulleted lists to make the information easier to find and process. For example, “Designed user interfaces for a mobile app, improving user experience.”
• Include a skills section: Dedicate a section to list technical skills relevant to product design, such as “3D modelling software proficiency”, “User Interface (UI) design”, “Rapid Prototyping” and “Sketching and Wireframing.”
• Use keywords strategically: Incorporate industry-specific keywords, such as “CAD modelling”, “User-Centred Design (UCD)”, “Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)”, “Ergonomics” and “Design Thinking,” to cater to applicant tracking systems. It will also make your CV more targeted to the job and portray you as an expert in the field.
• Proofread: Before sending your CV to employers, thoroughly review your CV for any typos or grammatical errors to present a polished and professional document. An example of this is ensuring consistency in verb tenses throughout your CV. Consider asking a colleague, friend or family member to proofread your CV and give you feedback.

How to Write a Product Designer CV

Personal details

Your CV’s personal details section is where you introduce yourself to potential employers. It should contain essential information like your full name, address, phone number, and email.

Don’t include overly personal information like your date of birth, marital status or gender. These details are typically not relevant to your qualifications for a job and could lead to potential bias in the hiring process.

• Benjamin Lewis
• 7 Corner Lane, Birmingham
• Mob: 07555 987 654       Email: [email protected]

Personal profile

Your CV’s personal profile is like a quick introduction to show employers who you are.

It’s vital because it’s the first thing they read and helps them decide if you’re a good fit for the role and the organisation.

In this section, tell them briefly about your key skills, experiences, and what kind of job you’re looking for.

Don’t make it too long or include irrelevant details. Keep it concise and focused on what makes you a great fit for the job. Also, avoid using jargon or buzzwords – be clear and straightforward in your language.

Product designer personal profile example:

As a seasoned Product Designer with a passion for user-centred design, I’ve successfully created intuitive interfaces and innovative products that have garnered high user satisfaction. My work on the redesign of our mobile app led to a 30% increase in user engagement. I’m excited to bring my skills and creativity to your team and contribute to crafting exceptional user experiences.

Achievements and awards

In the achievements and awards section of your CV, you highlight your key accomplishments in a clear, bullet-point format.

These accomplishments should showcase your successes, such as awards you’ve received, promotions, high grades or any notable contributions you’ve made in your previous roles.

Ensure that each achievement is specific, quantifiable, and relevant to the job you’re applying for. For instance, you could mention something like winning a design competition.

• Graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Product Design.
• Collaborated on a project that won a prestigious design award.
• Mentored junior designers, helping them develop their skills and grow in their careers.
• Volunteered for a non-profit organisation, designing products for people with disabilities.

Employment history

When writing the employment section of your CV, focus on showcasing your specific contributions and accomplishments in each role.

Start each bullet point with a strong action verb to grab the reader’s attention and describe how you added value to your previous employers.

Quantify your achievements with numbers wherever possible to demonstrate your impact and make it clear why you’re the right fit for the job you’re applying for.

Product designer duties to add to your CV

• Conducting user research to understand customer needs and preferences.
• Creating product design concepts and prototypes using tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams, including engineers and marketers, to develop and launch products.
• Iterating designs based on user feedback and usability testing.
• Ensuring that designs are user-centred and aligned with business objectives.
• Keeping up-to-date with design trends, tools and technologies.
• Managing multiple design projects simultaneously and meeting project deadlines.
• Applying design thinking methodologies to solve complex problems.
• Conducting design presentations and effectively communicating design concepts to stakeholders.

Education

The education section of your CV should be in reverse chronological order, listing your most recent qualifications first. Include all relevant qualifications you’ve earned, such as degrees, A-levels, GCSEs and diplomas.

Read more: How to write your degree on your CV.

Qualifications & training

The professional qualifications section of your CV contains details of qualifications, licenses or professional memberships that are relevant to your career and demonstrate your expertise in the field.

If you have no such qualifications, you can omit this section entirely.

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in 3D Modelling and Animation – Digital Arts Institute
• Adobe Certified Expert in Adobe XD – Adobe Systems
• SolidWorks Professional Certification – Dassault Systèmes
• Product Design and Innovation Diploma – Design Academy London

Core competencies

The core competencies section of your CV is where you directly highlight your key skills and abilities, making it easy for the reader to quickly grasp your strengths.

You should include a range of technical skills, such as proficiency in design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch), 3D modelling and rapid prototyping.

Additionally, emphasise your soft skills like creativity, problem-solving and strong communication, which are essential for collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and turning ideas into innovative products.

Read more: Examples of skills to put on a CV.

• Design software: Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe XD and Photoshop, to create interactive prototypes and visually compelling designs.
• 3D Modelling: Skilled in using software like SolidWorks and Rhino to develop detailed 3D models, as demonstrated in the successful redesign of our flagship product, resulting in a 20% increase in user satisfaction.
• Prototyping: Experienced in rapid prototyping using tools like InVision and Figma, facilitating efficient design iteration and quicker time-to-market, exemplified in the development of a prototype that secured a major client contract.
• Collaboration: Strong collaborative skills, evident in my ability to lead cross-functional teams, ensuring the alignment of design concepts with engineering and marketing teams for successful product launches.

Useful product designer skills to add to your CV

• User-centred design: Designing products with a strong focus on meeting user needs and enhancing user experiences.
• Prototyping: Creating tangible and interactive representations of design concepts to test and refine ideas.
• Sketching and conceptualisation: Translating ideas into hand-drawn sketches and concept illustrations.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in design software, such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Adobe XD, for graphic and interactive design.
• Materials and manufacturing knowledge: Understanding materials and production methods for practical design implementation.
• Usability testing: Conducting tests to evaluate the usability and effectiveness of product designs.
• Colour theory: Knowledge of colour psychology and design principles for aesthetic choices.

Personal interests and hobbies

In this section, you can include hobbies and interests that showcase your creativity, teamwork or problem-solving skills, such as participating in design competitions, volunteering for design-related events or engaging in artistic pursuits like painting or sculpting.

References

The references section of your CV is where you provide contact information for individuals who can vouch for your qualifications, character and work performance.

Referees can be former employers, colleagues, supervisors, managers, tutors, professors or other professional contacts who are familiar with your work.

You should include their full names, job titles, the name of the company or institution, their email addresses and phone numbers. It’s recommended to ask their permission before sharing their details with employers, it will prevent an awkward conversation about you!

Note: If you do not wish to disclose your references on your CV, you should write, “References are available upon request.”

Tips to make your CV more effective

• Tailor your CV: Customise your CV for each job application by emphasising skills and experiences relevant to the specific role, such as highlighting your expertise in UI/UX design for a job in web application design.
• Showcase your portfolio: Include a link to your online design portfolio, allowing employers to see your work first-hand, such as showcasing a project where you transformed a product from concept to market success. Also, consider adding a link to your LinkedIn profile.
• Volunteer and freelance work: Include freelance or volunteer design projects to demonstrate your commitment to the field and gain practical experience.
• Stay current: This is a rapidly changing industry. Mention any continuous learning, certifications or workshops you’ve undertaken, like “Completed a course in human-computer interaction.”
• Include a cover letter: Craft a compelling cover letter that elaborates on your motivation and enthusiasm for the role. A cover letter personalises your application, allowing you to share why you’re drawn to the position, your unique journey as a product designer and your excitement for the challenges the role offers.