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Head graphic designer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Brockett Horne,
Samantha Osborne
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical head graphic designer skills. We ranked the top skills for head graphic designers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 16.8% of head graphic designer resumes contained graphic design as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a head graphic designer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 head graphic designer skills for your resume and career

1. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how head graphic designers use graphic design:
  • Introduced leading-edge graphic design and production methods, modernizing company image and receiving enormous boost of in-house graphic productivity.
  • Head Graphic Designer / Production Manager

2. Adobe Photoshop

Here's how head graphic designers use adobe photoshop:
  • Worked as an artist specializing in spot color separation using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.
  • Created advertisements in Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.

3. Adobe Illustrator

Here's how head graphic designers use adobe illustrator:
  • Designed labels and original artwork with Adobe Illustrator and InDesign.
  • Produced coloring sheet for youth using Adobe Illustrator.

4. Graphic Art

Here's how head graphic designers use graphic art:
  • Collaborate with graphic artists, editors and writers to produce master copies according to design specifications.
  • Managed a staff of 4 graphic artists and 2 production artists.

5. Photography

Here's how head graphic designers use photography:
  • Helped manage e-commerce website with adding new product to the site and uploading of website banners, and photography.
  • Directed all styling, prep and product photography and post production editing for on-line store of consumer-based products.

6. Layout Design

Here's how head graphic designers use layout design:
  • Detail-oriented with a strong emphasis on print layout design, editing and production skills and have knowledge of the printing process.
  • Coordinated and drafted personnel announcements, involving layout design and editing using InDesign.

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7. Posters

Typically, a poster refers to a large printed notice or image that you put up on a board or wall in a public place to advertise or promote something.

Here's how head graphic designers use posters:
  • Designed posters and marketing material to promote on-campus events.
  • Created promotional posters for various radio sponsored events.

8. Business Cards

Here's how head graphic designers use business cards:
  • Produced designs for a range of materials including business cards, mailers, banners, and promotional material.
  • Illustrate identity and branding through design of logos, banners, business cards, and other pieces.

9. Apparel

Apparel is anything worn especially formal clothes; outerwear; garments; attire; raiment worn on an important occasion to protect, wrap, adorn or beautify the body. Apparel also refers to clothing of a specific type that is sold in stores. Product categories include everything from basic items like underwear, badges, jewelry to luxury items. The general classification of clothing is as follows: men's wear, women's wear, children's wear, and others.

Here's how head graphic designers use apparel:
  • Design graphics and apparel for various clients including: JIMMY Z, Wet Seal and Vanity.
  • Designed and supervised production of all artwork for printed apparel.

10. Adobe Indesign

Here's how head graphic designers use adobe indesign:
  • Created appealing designs and promotional material to attract attention to the university station using Adobe InDesign
  • Created print and digital marketing collateral for external publication using Adobe InDesign.

11. Brochures

A template, leaflet, or pamphlet which carries particulars about a certain company or an organization is called a brochure. Brochures are informative documents that are mostly used for advertisement purposes. These informative papers are organized in the form of booklets that act as promotional documents.

Here's how head graphic designers use brochures:
  • Produced video cassette labels, brochures, newsletters and advertisements.
  • Design and development of website, special event campaigns which include: direct mailers, banners, flyers and brochures.

12. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how head graphic designers use customer service:
  • Manage customer service, production, design and shipping/receiving in the absence of the owner.
  • Created company forms for sales, customer service, and purchasing departments.

13. Promotional Materials

Promotional material is any document or article - written, printed, graphic, electronic, audio, or video presentation, distributed or made available in whole or in part on behalf of a product, cause, idea, person, or business for promotion, advertisement, announcement or direction. Promotional materials are used to make a business stand out from its competitors and to engage the target audience.

Here's how head graphic designers use promotional materials:
  • Designed retail advertising campaigns-elements included; direct mail, newspaper, magazine ads, store collateral and promotional materials.
  • Designed and produced packaging, documentation, advertising, media art and promotional materials for major computer entertainment company.

14. Art Direction

Art direction is an essential job in the activities related to theatre, advertising, fashion, publishing as well the film industry. All of these fields have a direct or indirect connection with art and therefore require direction and supervision regarding this very aspect of the job. The art director is responsible for how a product turns out visually..

Here's how head graphic designers use art direction:
  • Performed other responsibilities including photographic art direction, corporate photography, print purchasing, forms typesetting, and overseeing production employees.
  • Freelance design studio creatively enhancing clientele organizations by providing art direction, graphic design and print consultation services.

15. Design Projects

Design projects are used to create a product or service to serve a specific customer or client need. They may entail thinking about the ideas, materials necessary for the idea and the steps that will be followed to realize the idea.

Here's how head graphic designers use design projects:
  • Scanned and manipulated photographs to incorporate into design projects.
  • Worked with educational departments including Mathematics, Reading/Language Arts, Science and Social Studies to deliver design projects on time.
top-skills

What skills help Head Graphic Designers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on head graphic designer resumes?

Brockett HorneBrockett Horne LinkedIn profile

Professor, Maryland Institute College of Art

UI/UX expertise, motion graphics, and ability to self-teach new skills

What soft skills should all head graphic designers possess?

Samantha Osborne

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne Design, Eastern Illinois University

Three soft skills stand out most: an ability to see the big picture, an ability to "read" people, and an ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s).
i. An ability to see big picture: there are an infinite number of details in graphic design, whether you work in website design on the front or back end, or in print media with physical outputs. It's easy to get caught up on the details, especially when clients are making specific demands about things such as paper type. A skilled designer must be able to see beyond the details and look at the big picture for an effective design solution. For example, a client may be asking for an invitation design for an up-coming event. A skilled designer will ask questions and dig in, eventually uncovering that perhaps for a successful event, the client also needs a splash page and social media, either in place of or in addition to an invitation. A skilled designer addresses design problems holistically, rather than minutely.
ii. An ability to "read" people: designers are trained in art-specific vocabulary. Hue, saturation, pixels, gestalt...most non-art folks don't use or speak that language. When clients are describing their goals, they aren't using art-vocabulary. It's a designer's job to translate what the client is saying into an advanced and effective creative solution. They must be able to speak and understand the language of non-creative folks, as well as the language of the broader creative industry.
iii. An ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s): many young and inexperienced designer tend to get their hearts broken when a client smashes one of their [very well thought-out] ideas. Rather than rolling over, a designer must learn to navigate how best to build support for their idea(s). That might mean in some instances you work more fluidly with the client throughout the design process, so that they feel they have ownership in the development of the solution. In other instances it might mean that the designer is presenting options, rather than a single solution, so that the client feels empowered to make choices throughout the design process. And in some instances, it might be a matter of better explaining and presenting your idea to a client; perhaps the designer needs to push back more, perhaps they need to provide more research as to why their solution is best, or maybe they simply need to present it with more excitement and enthusiasm.

What hard/technical skills are most important for head graphic designers?

Samantha Osborne

Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne Design, Eastern Illinois University

This completely depends on which sector of the graphic design industry you're involved in. Generally speaking, a working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite is essential, with expertise in other software as it applies to your field. I also find it refreshing and highly effective when designers can begin exploring and developing solutions in an more analog fashion on the front-end of projects, before jumping to the computer. For example, it's easier to visually organize complex ideas via a post-it/mood board wall in which you can physically move ideas around, especially when you're working with a team, which is more common than not.

What head graphic designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Scott FosterScott Foster LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Studio Art, Chair of Creative Arts Department, Siena College

Working on a team. The exact project might not matter much, although it's better if it dovetails with your interests or career goals. This could be as simple as volunteering at a non-profit to revamp a website or build an app to measure outcomes.

What type of skills will young head graphic designers need?

Michel BalasisMichel Balasis LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Loyola University Chicago

The field of Graphic Design is constantly evolving regarding the use of technology. New graduates must be up-to-date on the latest trends in Web-Based design applications. The shift in design outcomes from print-oriented deliverables to screen-oriented continues to accelerate and has only been enhanced by Covid-19 protocols. The ability to self-manage their work from home is a key element for recent graduates who will work remotely. Being prepared to align themselves with creative directors and colleagues ,who may not be as prepared to communicate remotely, is a task that will take some on-the-job training.

What technical skills for a head graphic designer stand out to employers?

Reginald ReynoldsReginald Reynolds LinkedIn profile

Professor, Angelina College

It is certainly no secret that we are living in disruptive times, both wonderful and terrible. The pandemic has accelerated our ability to work remotely. There is no replacement for being on-location, in the lab or classroom; however, this has given students and professors, opportunity to develop virtual skill. Presenting a professional "face" as a designer may be one of the most important skills a student will develop. We will not go back to things as normal, normal was never that good anyway. We are looking forward to new ways of working and interacting within the world as designers at Angelina College.

List of head graphic designer skills to add to your resume

Head graphic designer skills

The most important skills for a head graphic designer resume and required skills for a head graphic designer to have include:

  • Graphic Design
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Graphic Art
  • Photography
  • Layout Design
  • Posters
  • Business Cards
  • Apparel
  • Adobe Indesign
  • Brochures
  • Customer Service
  • Promotional Materials
  • Art Direction
  • Design Projects
  • HTML
  • Company Logo
  • Brand Development
  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • Mac
  • Corporate Identity
  • Fine Arts
  • Embroidery
  • PowerPoint
  • Design Concepts
  • Web Design
  • Web Development
  • Copywriting
  • Print Design
  • Computer Software
  • Design Programs
  • Rebranding
  • CAD
  • Vehicle Wraps
  • PC
  • Facebook
  • Logo Design
  • Photo Shoots
  • SEO
  • Typesetting
  • Event Planning
  • Web Site
  • Corel Draw
  • Graphic Elements
  • Computer Graphics

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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