Design Manager CV example

Managing design means juggling deadlines, people, and ideas – writing a CV needs to show you can do the same on paper. Whether you’re leading a studio or scaling a product design team, your CV should communicate your creative authority and operational precision.

This guide will walk you through how to structure your experience, present your impact clearly, and highlight the combination of creativity and leadership that defines a strong design manager.

Design managers are expected to bring order to the creative process – and your CV should show you know how to do exactly that. Employers and agencies want to see a layout that communicates your experience and leadership with clarity, not clutter. That means a clean structure, and a logical flow free from mistakes.

Here’s the structure to follow:

• Name and contact details – Keep your name and personal details front and centre at the top. Whether or not to include a photo is your decision.
• Profile – Start with a snapshot of your skills, career highlights, and professional aspirations.
• Core skills – List a selection of relevant leadership, design, and technical proficiencies.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education & certifications – Highlight your academic achievements, such as degrees and certifications, that demonstrate your expertise.
• Additional info – This section is optional, but it’s a good place for hobbies that complement your CV.

Use bullet points to break down text so your CV is easy to scan. Stick to a clean and modern font, and make sure the layout reflects the same aesthetic judgement you’d bring to any design brief. Keep your CV within two pages – long enough to show substance, short enough to keep a hiring manager engaged. The format itself should demonstrate your eye for hierarchy, balance, and usability – making full use of these tips will ensure it does.

Think of this section as your creative pitch. Your CV profile should give hiring managers a sense of your approach to creative strategy and the kind of impact you’ve had across teams or campaigns. Don’t just summarise your career – summarise your value. This is the first thing recruiters will see, so make it count: convince them that hiring you would benefit them.

Here’s what to include:

• Where you’ve worked – In-house brands, design studios, agencies, or product companies.
• Top qualifications – Design degrees, leadership courses, or project management training.
• Essential strengths – Creative direction, stakeholder alignment, design strategy.
• Design disciplines – Digital, branding, UI/UX, product, or print.
• Leadership style – Collaborative, feedback-driven, deadline-focused, and scalable.
  
  

As a design manager, you’re not just executing visuals – you’re guiding vision. This section should reflect that balance between creative instinct and operational thinking. Think of it as a quick insight into your approach to leading projects and ensuring the final product hits both the brief and the brand.

Tailor this section to match the kind of roles you’re aiming for. If the focus is digital, showcase your comfort with agile environments. If it’s brand-heavy, lean into identity systems and visual consistency, along with similar CV skills. Either way, let your personality and leadership style come through – not just your tools or buzzwords.

This is where you show how you’ve taken creative direction from concept to delivery – on time, on budget, and aligned with brand or product goals. You’ll want to show more than just what your team created: focus on your leadership, how you coordinated cross-functional teams, handled feedback, and solved problems under pressure.

Start with your most recent work experience, include the job title, employer, and dates, and then list bullet points that highlight your biggest responsibilities and wins. Focus on outcomes: how your leadership shaped the final product, improved processes, or supported business objectives.

• Outline – Summarise the company, team structure, and creative focus.
• Responsibilities – Use action words like “led,” “directed,” “collaborated,” or “delivered.”
• Achievements – Show real results: “Reduced production time by 30%,” “Launched rebrand across 4 markets,” or “Improved UX flow in a high-traffic app.”

Design experience is key – but formal education still matters. List your most recent or relevant qualifications, such as a BA in Graphic Design, a diploma in Visual Communication, or postgraduate training in digital media, creative strategy, or design thinking.

You can also include any certificates or workshops in UX, Agile, software, or leadership – especially if you’ve moved into more senior or cross-functional roles.