Graphic Designer Cover Letter Examples
BrainStation’s Graphic Designer career guide is intended to help you take the first steps toward a career in graphic design. Read on for a guide to writing graphic design cover letters that will help you land a job interview.
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What Are Graphic Designer Cover Letters?
Graphic Designer cover letters are an important part of the job application process for graphic design positions. They are one of the first ways you connect with a company. These brief documents are sent to potential employers along with your resume. The graphic design cover letter goes beyond your resume—it expands on your top design projects and successes. Your cover letter should outline your skills, experiences, and passion for design.
The goal of your cover letter is to convince employers that you have the knowledge, technical capability, and creativity needed to succeed in a specific design position.
Graphic Designer Cover Letters – a Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s how to write a Graphic Designer cover letter:
- Address your letter to the Hiring Manager by name
- Discuss your graphic design experiences and achievements
- Outline your relevant design skills
- Express your excitement for the role
- Explain how you would be an asset to the company
- End with a call to action
To create a Graphic Designer cover letter that will make you stand out, follow these best practices.
Personalize your cover letter
Create a new cover letter for each graphic design job you apply to. Your cover letter is a first impression, so show the company you have taken the time to learn about their work and needs. Generic graphic design cover letters are easy to spot and indicate a lack of enthusiasm for the role.
Start with research
In order to tailor your cover letter, you will need to understand what the company does and what challenges they are facing. Take some time to research their work, values, and mission. Think about how you can help them achieve their goals.
Strike the right tone
During your research, pay attention to the company’s tone throughout their communication materials. Go through their website and social media to get a better sense of the language they use. Aim for a similar tone and style in your cover letter. Generally, your cover letter should be professional but friendly.
Keep it brief
Your cover letter should be around 200-400 words and no longer than one page. Focus on a few of your most relevant projects and skills. Avoid superfluous descriptions and clichés.
Consider your design
Your job application, which includes your cover letter and resume, is your first chance to impress employers with your design skills. Graphic Designers have to understand the importance of consistency, so it’s important to create a cohesive application package by using the same colors, fonts, and structure in both documents. Don’t go overboard—your design should not distract from your content—but show your design sensibility and skills.
Edit and proofread
Before submitting, review your cover letter several times for spelling/grammar errors, awkward phrasing, and typos.
Getting Started – What Is the Purpose of the Cover Letter?
The cover letter is a way of opening a conversation with a potential employer. It highlights the value you can bring as a Graphic Designer. While a resume is structured with bullet points and facts and figures, your cover letter can show a bit more personality. Your cover letter should tell your story. Explain why your passion, training, and experiences make you an excellent Graphic Designer. In your cover letter, you can also explain a switch in career goals or a gap in your resume. Overall, the cover letter is a tool to introduce yourself and explain why you would be an asset to the company.
How to Create an Outline for a Graphic Designer Cover Letter
Follow this outline to create a strong Graphic Designer cover letter.
- Header, including your name and contact information
- Date
- The Hiring Manager’s name and title, and the company’s name and address
- Personal greeting
- An introductory paragraph that hooks the reader
- Body paragraph(s) that covers your graphic design experience and achievements
- Body paragraph that expresses your enthusiasm for the role
- Closing paragraph with a call to action
- Sign off
What to Include in Your Graphic Designer Cover Letter?
Your Graphic Designer cover letter should include an overview of your relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications. Relate your past design accomplishments with what the company is seeking. Express your enthusiasm for the position and the company. In addition, you should include a header, personal greeting, engaging introduction, and polite closing.
Header
List your name, email address, and phone number. You can also include a link to your portfolio/website and LinkedIn page. Your header should match the header of your resume.
Greeting
Avoid generic openings like “To Whom It May Concern”. Look up the Hiring Manager’s name—this may involve a little digging, but check the job posting, company website, Google, LinkedIn, or call the company’s front office.
Introduction
Open with an introduction that grabs the Hiring Manager’s attention right away. Express your passion for design, describe one of your top successes or share what excites you about the role.
Relevant skills
Mention a few of your most relevant design skills, including your experience with top graphic design tools like Adobe Creative Suite. You can refer back to the job posting to see exactly what Graphic Designer skills the company is looking for.
Design experience
Describe some of your most successful projects. Remember to frame the cover letter around what you can do for the company. Add in facts and figures where possible. Explain how the projects you worked on and the skills you gained are relevant for the company’s needs. If you are a Senior Graphic Designer, you will have to be selective about which projects or even job roles to include.
Reasons for applying
What excites you about the role? Why are you applying? Express your enthusiasm and passion. Mention specific projects or values to show the employer you have done your research.
Closing
Reiterate your interest and skills and thank the Hiring Manager for their time. End by inviting the Hiring Manager to review your resume and portfolio and to further engage with you.
Graphic Designer Cover Letter Examples
Refer to these Graphic Designer cover letter examples to get you started.
Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example #1
Dear [Hiring Manager’s Name],
I am passionate about creating visually stunning designs that help brands grow. With more than 3 years of experience designing memorable advertising campaigns, I think I could be a great addition to XYZ Company as a Graphic Designer.
I have experience as a freelance and in-house graphic designer, and I have worked on a range of print, interactive and digital design projects. Currently, I am the Graphic Designer at 123 Technology, where I design all communication materials and advertising campaigns. Our most recent campaign, which I worked with in conjunction with the marketing team, increased our sales by 20% since launch. The campaign was also shortlisted for a 2020 Design Award.
I have a BA in graphic design and expertise with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, HTML and CSS. I’m looking forward to bringing my background and experience to help XYZ Company develop award-winning campaigns for your clients. I love collaborating with clients and colleagues, and I am excited to deliver designs that will help your clients engage and grow their target market.
I am eager to chat more about my qualifications and skills. Please feel free to visit my portfolio at [portfolio link] and review my attached Graphic Designer resume. Feel free to contact me for an interview at any time. Thank you very much for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Full Name]
Graphic Designer Cover Letter Example #2
While earning my Graphic Design Certificate, I remember studying a lot of XYZ Company’s work. In fact, it inspired me to specialize in graphic art and animation. When I saw the opening for a Graphic Designer at XYZ Company, I knew I had to immediately apply.
As the Junior Graphic Designer at 123 Studio, I’ve worked on over 50 design projects for 20 clients across all industries. I am an expert in Illustrator, Photoshop and After Effects, and I have designed everything from logos and brochures to presentations and animation videos. My ability to efficiently turn around creative and eye-catching digital designs has helped increase our clients’ sales and engagement rates.
I’ve been a fan of XYZ Company’s work for a long time. I admire that your designs push the envelope, which is something I try to do in all my work as well. If given this great opportunity, I can help XYZ Company design graphics and animations that will exceed your clients’ expectations.
I’m looking forward to bringing my creativity, teamwork, and branding skills to XYZ Company. I would love to chat more about the Graphic Designer position. Please feel free to call me anytime to set up an interview.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
[Full Name]
Graphic Designer Cover Letter Template
- [Full Name]
- [Phone Number]
- [Email]
- [Portfolio]
- [LinkedIn]
[Date]
- [Hiring Manager’s Name]
- [Hiring Manager’s Job Title]
- [Company Name]
- [Company Address]
Dear [Hiring Manager Name],
I was so excited to see the [job title] opening at [company]. With my experience in graphic design and expertise in [list skill] and [list skill], I’m confident I can help [company] achieve its goals.
In my role as the [current/past job] at [current/previous company], I gained experience in [list main responsibilities]. I was able to achieve [discuss major accomplishments and impact as a designer]. I have learned valued skills in [list relevant skills] that I can bring to [company].
I’m eager to join [company] because [reasons you are interested in the role/company]. I’m impressed by [discuss one of the company’s projects or values]. With my enthusiasm and skills in [list relevant skills], I think I would be a great fit for your team.
I have attached my resume for you to learn more about my qualifications. Please feel free to browse through my portfolio at [link to portfolio] and contact me at [contact information] to set up a time to chat. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
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