Writing a strong cover letter requires close attention to detail, from the tone of voice to avoiding those pesky spelling or grammar mistakes.
Overlooking similar small details can weaken your application.
Many candidates also struggle with how to address the letter, often opting for 'Dear Sir or Madam' when they can’t find the correct contact. This can make your cover letter feel impersonal.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to perfect these crucial elements, ensuring your cover letter is polished and professional without relying on clichés.
Cover letter examples for designer
By Experience
Senior Interior Designer
- Highlighting Relevant Experience: The cover letter effectively details over 7 years of experience in hospitality design and successfully demonstrates a record of increasing guest satisfaction and enhancing brand image.
- Showcasing Certifications and Courses: It mentions specialised courses such as 'Sustainable Interior Design Practices' and 'Advanced CAD for Interior Designers', which underline relevant skills and continuous education.
- Quantifying Achievements: The letter makes use of specific metrics, like a 25% increase in guest satisfaction, showcasing tangible achievements that add credibility and demonstrate value.
- Emphasising Passion: It reflects a genuine passion for sustainable architecture and local art and crafts, aligning personal interests with professional goals, which adds depth to the applicant’s profile.
Junior Web Designer
- Relevant Experience and Achievements: The cover letter effectively highlights Lucas Adam's two-year experience as a Junior Web Designer, emphasizing specific achievements such as a 25% improvement in page loading time and a 30% increase in user engagement through revamped client websites. These metrics provide tangible evidence of his capabilities.
- Technical Proficiency: Lucas Adams showcases his expertise in essential tools and technologies like HTML/CSS and the Adobe Suite. This is complemented by mentioning relevant courses, such as "Adobe Creative Suite Mastery" and "Advanced HTML5 & CSS3 Techniques," demonstrating continuous skill development and relevance to the web design role.
- Cross-Functional Skills and Contributions: The ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams and improve workflow efficiency by 35% indicates strong teamwork capabilities and project management skills. These are crucial attributes for a Junior Web Designer, who must often collaborate with various departments to execute projects.
- Emphasis on Creativity and Design Quality: By mentioning how he developed consistent website branding and enhanced brand recognition, Lucas Adams highlights his creative talent. Additionally, the focus on improving design output quality by 15% reflects a commitment to high standards and attention to detail in web design projects.
Lead Designer
- Highlighting extensive experience in luxury brand design, featured prominently through tenure at prestigious companies such as Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and Bentley Motors.
- Emphasising leadership skills through examples of successfully leading cross-functional teams to enhance brand engagement and achieving significant project milestones like user engagement increase.
- Showcasing educational background with advanced degrees in Graphic and Industrial Design, aligning perfectly with the requirements of a creative lead designer role.
- Detailing key achievements in cost reduction and product launch success, illustrating a well-rounded capability in both creative excellence and strategic business planning.
Assistant Designer
- Emphasising certifications such as the Advanced Adobe Creative Cloud helps demonstrate proficiency in crucial tools required for the role of a Design/Production Specialist.
- Highlighting measurable achievements, such as a "20% increase in lead engagement" or "increased productivity by 20%" underscores the candidate's ability to drive tangible results, which is vital for roles focused on both creativity and business outcomes.
- Showcasing experience with notable financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and J.P. Morgan lends credibility and demonstrates the candidate's ability to thrive in high-impact environments.
- Mentioning language skills, particularly the proficiency in English and French, adds value, especially in international firms or roles requiring cross-cultural communication.
By Role
Graphic Designer
- Emphasise Experience in Brand Identity: Highlight the candidate's extensive experience in brand identity, as it demonstrates their expertise in creating cohesive and recognisable visual brands.
- Quantify Achievements: Include specific metrics, such as a 30% increase in customer engagement or a 40% boost in digital campaign engagement, to illustrate the tangible impact of the candidate's work.
- Leverage Team Leadership Abilities: Showcase leadership experiences, such as leading design teams and conducting training seminars, which are crucial for a senior-level role that requires guiding others and managing projects.
- Highlight Relevant Software Proficiency: Mention skills in Adobe Suite and Video Editing, which are crucial tools in graphic design and an asset for executing advanced creative projects.
Fashion Designer
- Specific Experience: The cover letter highlights Ava's adeptness in pattern making and garment construction, emphasising a 20% increase in efficiency through workflow optimisation, demonstrating direct relevance to precision and efficiency in the fashion manufacturing sector.
- Quantifiable Achievements: It details specific accomplishments such as enhancing seasonal collection sales by 25% and reducing production costs by 15%, showcasing measurable impacts that are attractive to potential employers.
- Diverse Skill Set: Ava mentions proficiency in CAD software and quality control, along with team leadership, which are vital for a Pattern Maker role that requires both technical and supervisory expertise.
- Passion and Continuous Improvement: Ava's earnest interest in sustainable fashion development and textile innovation, along with advanced courses, indicates a commitment to continuous learning and relevance in current fashion industry trends.
Industrial Designer
- Highlighting Critical Achievements: The cover letter effectively details significant achievements like leading a design project that boosted product sales by 35%, capturing the attention of potential employers with tangible success.
- Emphasising Key Skills and Tools: It proficiently underscores essential skills such as proficiency in Solidworks, Adobe Creative Suite, and KeyShot, which are crucial for the industrial design roles featured.
- Showcasing Leadership and Mentorship: Experience in mentoring junior designers and leading teams on successful projects demonstrates leadership qualities, appealing to companies seeking team-oriented candidates.
- Detailing Relevant Experience and Impact: The cover letter succinctly outlines past roles and specific contributions like achieving a 25% reduction in prototyping time, highlighting the candidate’s impact and efficiency in previous positions.
UX Designer
- Specific Achievements: The cover letter effectively highlights specific achievements such as a 50% increase in user engagement and a 30% improvement in net promoter score, which are essential for showcasing a candidate’s impact in the UX field.
- Leadership Experience: Demonstrating leadership skills by mentioning leading cross-functional teams and mentoring junior designers, which is crucial for senior roles where management and teamwork are valued.
- Relevant Education and Certifications: The inclusion of a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction and certifications, such as the UX Certification Program from the Interaction Design Foundation, underscores the candidate’s expertise and commitment to professional development.
- Technical and Soft Skills: The cover letter details a balance of technical skills like UI Design and Usability Testing, alongside soft skills such as collaboration and mentoring, which are pivotal in UX design roles.
UI Designer
- Demonstrated Leadership: The cover letter effectively highlights Isabella's leadership skills, particularly through her roles in leading redesign projects and design teams, which are crucial for a Principal UI Designer role focused on leadership and innovation.
- Quantifiable Outcomes: The letter provides specific metrics, such as increasing user engagement by 40% and achieving a 25% gain in efficiency, showcasing Isabella's impact and effectiveness in the roles she has held.
- Relevant Skills and Tools: It emphasises Isabella's proficiency in essential tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, which are pivotal for the UI design space, along with her skills in user-centred design and collaboration.
- Educational Background: Isabella's educational qualifications in Human-Computer Interaction and Graphic Design are well-aligned with the UI Designer role, providing a strong foundation in both technical and creative aspects of design.
Product Designer
- Emphasising Certifications: Highlight the "Web Accessibility Certification" from W3C, which is crucial for a role focused on inclusive design and accessibility.
- Specific Skills Highlight: Proficiency in Figma and experience developing mobile-responsive design systems point to important technical skills for product design roles.
- Measurable Achievements: Citing percentage improvements, such as a 40% increase in website accessibility scores or a 30% uptick in user engagement, provides tangible evidence of impact and success.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Example of working across teams to implement inclusive design practices is crucial for showing ability to lead and collaborate effectively in multi-disciplinary settings.
Motion Graphics Designer
- Highlighting Key Achievements: The cover letter effectively emphasises specific achievements like a 30% increase in user interaction through innovative design solutions, showcasing the impact of the candidate's work.
- Experience with Relevant Tools: The mention of proficiency in After Effects and Figma directly targets essential tools for motion design and UX roles, reinforcing the applicant's technical expertise.
- Collaboration Skills: The frequent mention of collaboration with cross-functional teams and UX designers underscores the candidate's ability to work well in a team environment, which is crucial for a Motion Designer role.
- Quantifiable Results: Using metrics to demonstrate success, such as reducing bounce rates by 25% and improving product usability by 20%, provides concrete evidence of the candidate's effectiveness.
Jewellery Designer
- Highlighting relevant certifications and courses, such as "Advanced CAD for Jewelry Designers," demonstrates Evie's specialized skills in using CAD for jewellery design, which is essential for a technical and creative role.
- The mention of specific achievements, like the "Trend-Setter Award" and spearheading a "jewelry line revamp" with quantifiable results, effectively showcases Evie's proven track record in innovative design and revenue enhancement.
- Including leadership and mentoring experience, as indicated by roles like "Lead Jewellery Designer" at Swarovski, reinforces Evie's ability to guide teams and contribute to high-quality outputs in design projects.
- Emphasizing a passion for sustainable fashion aligns with current industry trends and demonstrates Evie's commitment to eco-friendly design practices, which can be appealing to brands seeking modern, environmentally responsible talents.
Landscape Designer
- Highlighting achievements such as a 30% increase in visitor satisfaction for an urban park revitalisation project underscores the candidate's impact in enhancing outdoor spaces and community engagement, which is crucial for a Landscape Designer role.
- Emphasising expertise in tools like AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite is vital, given their role in creating detailed design plans and improving client presentations, making these skills indispensable for effective landscape design.
- Showcasing leadership in managing multiple projects ahead of schedule by at least two weeks demonstrates strong project management skills and the ability to deliver results under pressure.
- Including certifications like Certified Irrigation Design Specialist from the British Academy of Garden Design reinforces the candidate's commitment to sustainable design practices, crucial for modern landscape design that focuses on environmental sustainability.
Textile Designer
- The cover letter effectively highlights the candidate's expertise in sustainable fabric design, showcasing their alignment with industry trends in sustainability, which is crucial for the role of a Textile Designer in an eco-conscious market.
- Key accomplishments such as increasing sales through innovative patterns and reducing waste by 30% are quantified, demonstrating tangible results and contributions to company goals in previous roles.
- The inclusion of advanced skills like Shima Apex 4 proficiency, trend analysis, and collaboration skills reflects a well-rounded candidate capable of meeting both technical and creative demands of the position.
- The candidate's recognition and awards in industry-leading publications are highlighted, emphasising their impact and reputation in the textile design field, which adds an authoritative touch to their application.
Automotive Designer
- Highlight Relevant Experience: The cover letter effectively outlines Lucas Adams' experience in creative automotive design roles, showcasing achievements such as a market share increase and improved customer satisfaction at Jaguar Land Rover.
- Emphasise Skills in 3D Modelling and Sustainable Design: The letter mentions skills in 3D Modelling and Sustainable Design, critical for a position focused on automotive innovation.
- Acknowledge Academic Background and Certifications: Highlighting Lucas's Master's degree in Automotive Design and certifications in advanced 3D techniques and sustainable mobility demonstrates a strong educational foundation and commitment to professional development.
- Focus on Achievements and Impact: The cover letter effectively communicates Lucas's accomplishments through quantifiable outcomes, such as cost reduction, increased market share, and enhanced design ergonomics, providing clear evidence of his capabilities.
3D Designer
- Highlighting the most relevant achievements and experiences, such as the 40% increase in fan engagement due to the design of a 3D avatar, effectively demonstrates the candidate's impact and success in similar roles.
- Emphasising specific software proficiencies like Maya, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine positions the candidate as well-equipped with industry-standard tools, which is crucial for a 3D Designer role.
- Aligning professional experience with job requirements by detailing collaboration with influential partners like Twitch influencers highlights the candidate's experience in enhancing brand identity and reach.
- Mentioning advanced certifications and courses, such as those from Gnomon School of Visual Effects and Udacity, reinforces the candidate's commitment to ongoing learning and mastery of relevant, specialised skills.
Digital Designer
- Emphasising Relevant Experience: Highlighting roles in digital design, such as leading interactive advertising campaigns at KidTech Innovators and Youth Connect Media, directly showcases expertise and success in the field.
- Certifications and Courses: Noting qualifications like the Celtra Certification for Dynamic Creatives demonstrates specialised knowledge crucial for crafting dynamic digital content.
- Key Achievements: Listing tangible results, such as enhancing campaign engagement and improving team efficiency, provides concrete evidence of capability and impact in previous roles.
- Skills Aligned with Job Requirements: Showcasing proficiency in tools like Adobe Suite and Celtra, paired with A/B testing experience, aligns with core competencies needed for a digital campaign designer role.
Game Designer
- Highlighting Achievements: The cover letter effectively spotlights significant achievements, such as launching a triple-A game and winning prestigious awards, which are directly relevant to the game design industry and demonstrate a proven track record of success.
- Relevant Experience: Extensive experience across multiple renowned companies like Ubisoft and Electronic Arts is emphasised, showcasing the candidate's adaptability and capability to work in varied environments and successfully contribute to high-profile projects.
- Technical Skills: The letter mentions crucial technical proficiencies like Unity, Unreal Engine, C#, and Python, along with hands-on experience with visual scripting tools, which are integral to game design roles and appealing to potential employers.
- Passion and Interests: It integrates personal interests such as interactive storytelling and experimental game design, which align closely with the role and suggest a personal drive to innovate and create engaging gaming experiences.
Furniture Designer
- The cover letter effectively highlights Charlie Thomas's extensive experience in product design and development, showcasing a track record of increasing sales and improving customer satisfaction, which is crucial for a Designer role focused on creativity and product development.
- Including specific achievements, such as a 25% increase in sales through new product lines or a 20% boost in sales revenue from designing over 100 furniture items, demonstrates measurable success and results-oriented skills, appealing to potential employers.
- Mentioning certifications and courses such as "Advanced 3D Modelling with SolidWorks" and "Creative Trend Forecasting" reinforces Charlie's commitment to continuous professional development and suitability for roles that require staying current with industry trends and advanced technical skills.
- Showcasing key design competencies, such as CAD Modelling, Technical Drawing, and Photoshop, alongside industry-relevant experience, strengthens Charlie's candidacy by aligning skills with the technical requirements of a Designer role in new product development.
Packaging Designer
- Expertise in Sustainable Development: Emphasising experience in sustainable packaging innovation is crucial as it aligns with the increasing demand for eco-friendly practices in the product design industry.
- Quantifiable Results: Including statistical achievements like increasing recycled materials usage by 25% or improving production efficiency by 30% provides concrete evidence of value addition to potential employers.
- Highly Relevant Skills: Showcasing proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and UX design is pertinent for product/packaging designer roles as it demonstrates the capability to create innovative and user-friendly packaging solutions.
- Integration of Cross-disciplinary Skills: Highlighting the ability to collaborate with engineering teams and leading cross-departmental workshops shows strong interpersonal skills valuable for executing complex projects successfully.
Designer cover letter example
Elsie Murray
Brighton and Hove
+44 1234 567890
help@enhancv.com
- Emphasize leadership and team management skills, particularly in executing high-impact visual strategies, as these are crucial for a managerial role in creative design.
- Highlight specific achievements, such as improving client satisfaction and user engagement, to demonstrate measurable success and outcomes in previous positions.
- Show alignment with the company’s values and vision, indicating genuine interest and understanding of the company’s goals to convey cultural fit.
- Mention experience with innovative approaches, like A/B testing for content, which are relevant to the role and illustrate forward-thinking and adaptability.
Importance of cover letters in the United Kingdom
Cover letters are a crucial part of your application, offering additional details beyond your CV.
Here’s why they’re essential:
- Supporting your CV: Now's your opportunity to provide some context for your experience, with more information on your key achievements and how your profile could benefit the position and organisation to which you're applying.
- Showcases your character: Taking the time to write a cover letter demonstrates that you’re proactive, organised, ambitious, and genuinely interested in the role.
- Reflects your career goals: Use the cover letter to outline your long-term career career aspirations and how this role aligns with your broader plans.
What UK employers expect from a cover letter
You only have one chance to impress your potential UK employers, so be wise about writing your cover letter.
When doing so, follow these three simple but essential steps:
- Do your research: Begin by researching the company and the role you're applying for. Check their website, social media pages, and relevant news to understand what drives their business.
- Highlight company values: Identify the company's core beliefs and explain how your personal and professional experiences resonate with them. For instance, if the organisation prioritises innovation, provide examples where you've demonstrated creative thinking.
- Match your skills to the job: Analyse the job description carefully and pick out the most important skills or qualifications they’re seeking. Be sure to mention your relevant achievements that prove you're the perfect fit for the position.
How to format a designer cover letter
Have you ever wondered about the formatting and structure of your cover letter?
Read on to discover some guidance from industry-leading professionals:
- Within the header, include your address and contact details, the employer's name and address, and the date, followed up by a personalised salutation.
- The body should should consist of an opening paragraph, middle paragraphs expanding on your unique experience and skills, and a closing paragraph.
- End with a formal sign-off and your signature.
- Choose modern fonts such as Volkhov, Chivo, or Bitter instead of the more traditional Arial or Times New Roman.
- All of ENhancv's templates maintain single-spacing with approximately 1-inch (2.5 cm) margins on all sides to ensure a neat presentation.
- Always send your cover letter as a PDF to keep the formatting intact and prevent any edits once submitted.
Your CV and cover letter maintain consistent formatting. Use the same fonts, margins, and style to create a professional and cohesive look for your application.
Finally, remember that Applicant Tracking Systems (the software some companies use to align job keywords to your experience, also known as ATS) do not read cover letters–it's intended solely for recruiters. Make it stand out by highlighting your achievements and relevant skills for the role.
How to write your designer cover letter salutation
Imagine you're a hiring manager reading through countless cover letters—which would catch your attention: being addressed directly by name, or reading 'Dear Sir or Madam'?
The first option shows you've made the effort to learn about the company and the role.
To find the hiring manager's name, try LinkedIn, check the company's website, or even reach out to the organisation on social media.
How to write your designer cover letter intro
A great option to begin your cover letter is by showing recruiters you've done your homework or research.
If the company has won an award or made headlines, congratulate them in your opening sentence, or express how impressed you are.
Provide this achievement as a reason why you admire the company, ensuring your tone remains genuine, sincere, and authentic.
How to write your designer cover letter body
Which makes for a stronger cover letter body: a long-winded account of everything you’ve ever done, or a focused achievement that’s directly relevant to the job?
Hint: recruiters prefer the second.
When writing your cover letter, select your most impressive achievement that:
- Directly aligns with the job description and role.
- Is quantifiable with tangible metrics like numbers or percentages.
- Maps out your hard and soft skills, showcasing what makes you unique.
- Tells the story of the impact you could have on the organisation.
How to write a closing paragraph
Looking to leave a lasting impression with your cover letter closing?
Then, you should certainly end with a promise—one that outlines what you aim to achieve in the role. Ensure your goals are realistic and align with the company’s needs.
You might also include a call to action, enquiring when you can expect to hear back and what the next steps in the hiring process will be.
Conclusion
Creating a compelling cover letter is vital in making a positive first impression on potential employers. Personalise your letter by addressing the hiring manager directly and ensuring your skills align with the job description.
Highlight specific achievements that demonstrate your suitability for the role, and express genuine enthusiasm for the opportunity. Finally, maintain a professional format that complements your CV for a cohesive application.