What does a layout designer do?
A layout designer is responsible for designing and creating attractive layouts for publications and marketing materials. Layout designers utilize various software design applications and systems, requiring them to have excellent computer skills for efficient navigation. They work closely with the whole design and graphic teams for content consistency and adherence to quality standards and requirements. A layout designer evaluates the current market trends to identify media elements and modify designs that meet public demands and interests.
Layout designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real layout designer resumes:
- Lead development team to manage CMOS projects to meet short time frames, keep schedules sharp with excellent time management practices.
- Accomplish number of I/O libraries for use in many successfully products.
- Lead efforts for debugging DRC, ERC and LVS layout and verification issues.
- Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
- Perform reliability verification, DRC, ERC and LVS.
- Debug DRC, LVS, and DFM errors in device-level and block-level layout.
- Work with diodes, capacitors, resistors and guard rings.
- Work with DFM design rules requiring unique device layout and drawn layer usage.
- Work with data path and register file (RF) FUB for several microprocessors.
- Analyze engineering design schematics and supporting documents, such as logic diagrams and design rules to plan layout of IC.
- Create component & SMT library.
- Used unix and linux operating system.
- Lead family/IO level VLSI full chip integration.
- Scan and organize cad drawings in proper location.
- Complete custom standard cell blocks for IP block.
Layout designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Layout Designers are proficient in CAD, CMOS, and Layout Design. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Artistic ability, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Layout Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CAD, 11%
Participated in screening resumes and interviewing potential candidates for CAD layout positions.
- CMOS, 7%
Established strong schematic to layout translation skills needed to produce fully custom digital layouts used in CMOS and SOI advanced technology.
- Layout Design, 7%
Authored four custom layout design guideline documents (microprocessor and memory)
- Cadence Virtuoso, 7%
Utilized Cadence Virtuoso and Diva technologies during design and verification.
- Virtuoso, 5%
Designed using Cadence Opus Virtuoso Diva and Hercules verification !
- Analog Circuits, 4%
Worked closely with designers to layout both digital and analog circuits.
Common skills that a layout designer uses to do their job include "cad," "cmos," and "layout design." You can find details on the most important layout designer responsibilities below.
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a layout designer to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what layout designers do because "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Additionally, a layout designer resume shows how layout designers use analytical skills: "analyzed engineering design schematics and supporting documents, such as logic diagrams and design rules to plan layout of ic. "
Artistic ability. Another essential skill to perform layout designer duties is artistic ability. Layout designers responsibilities require that "graphic designers must be able to create designs that are artistically interesting and appealing to clients and consumers." Layout designers also use artistic ability in their role according to a real resume snippet: "used creative and artistic skills to bring additional innovation to design processes. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for layout designers to perform their duties. For an example of how layout designer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a layout designer: "utilize autocad to create detailed and to scale drawings for direct communication with cnc and plasma burning equipment. ".
Computer skills. A big part of what layout designers do relies on "computer skills." You can see how essential it is to layout designer responsibilities because "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical layout designer tasks: "increased computer knowledge in autocad software from autocad 2009 to 2011. "
Creativity. Another common skill required for layout designer responsibilities is "creativity." This skill comes up in the duties of layout designers all the time, as "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." An excerpt from a real layout designer resume shows how this skill is central to what a layout designer does: "utilized autocad r2014 & inventor 2014 to design 2d & 3d mechanical & structural assemblies. "
Time-management skills. Another skill commonly found on layout designer job descriptions is "time-management skills." It can come up quite often in layout designer duties, since "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day layout designer responsibilities: "worked on two test chips from scratch and delivered on time. "
The three companies that hire the most layout designers are:
- Apple13 layout designers jobs
- Micron Technology11 layout designers jobs
- Qualcomm11 layout designers jobs
Choose from 10+ customizable layout designer resume templates
Build a professional layout designer resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your layout designer resume.
Compare different layout designers
Layout designer vs. User experience designer
A User Experience (UX) designer is an individual who measures and optimizes applications to improve the experience of end-users. His/Her or her duties and responsibilities include considering a design's human-computer interaction element, defining interaction models, and working with creative directors and designers. The key skills for UX designers include strong mathematical and problem-solving skills and excellent information technology and programming skills. Having a bachelor's degree in a design or computing-related subject is an advantage to qualify for the UX designer position.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, layout designer responsibilities require skills like "cad," "cmos," "layout design," and "cadence virtuoso." Meanwhile a typical user experience designer has skills in areas such as "sketch," "ui," "user research," and "visual design." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
User experience designers tend to reach higher levels of education than layout designers. In fact, user experience designers are 12.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Layout designer vs. Graphic designer, marketing
A graphic designer of marketing specializes in developing creative imagery as part of a company's marketing efforts. Their responsibilities typically revolve around coordinating with the marketing team to share insights and strategies, conceptualizing designs in adherence to objectives and deadlines, and preparing presentations. One may also subject designs into various revisions and edits as needed. Furthermore, as a graphic designer, it is also essential to keep abreast of the latest trends and have an understanding of the target audience.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, layout designer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "cad," "cmos," "layout design," and "cadence virtuoso." Meanwhile, a graphic designer, marketing has duties that require skills in areas such as "adobe creative suite," "brochures," "blog posts," and "graphic design." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Graphic designers, marketing earn similar levels of education than layout designers in general. They're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for layout designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood
Associate Professor, Graphic Design Art, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Layout designer vs. Graphic designer/production
A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, layout designers are more likely to have skills like "cad," "cmos," "cadence virtuoso," and "virtuoso." But a graphic designer/production is more likely to have skills like "graphic design," "art direction," "signage," and "adobe creative suite."
When it comes to education, graphic designer/productions tend to earn similar degree levels compared to layout designers. In fact, they're 2.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Layout designer vs. Graphic designer internship
In a graphic design internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to accomplish tasks while under the supervision of more experienced colleagues. An aspiring graphic designer may use this opportunity to observe and participate in designing for various industries, handle different clients, participate in creative meetings, and learn strategies from experts. Furthermore, there may also be technical tasks involving research and analysis, gathering materials, coordinating with vendors, and producing reports and other necessary documentation. They may also be responsible for maintaining a database and responding to calls and inquires.
Types of layout designer
Updated January 8, 2025
