Graphic design skills: tools and how to show them
Graphic design is creating visual material such as layouts, logos, images and interfaces to communicate a message. O*NET lists Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, Figma, Adobe After Effects and WordPress among technology skills for graphic designers, with active listening and speaking among top skills.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Skill | Graphic design |
| Source of the occupation data | O*NET OnLine (US Department of Labor), accessed 31 October 2026 |
| Occupations in this guide that list it | 2 |
| Where to learn more | Our career guides and the O*NET pages linked below |
What is Graphic design?
Employers judge a portfolio first. Your resume should name tools and the kinds of work, and link the portfolio.
Which jobs use it?
The occupation pages on O*NET OnLine list technology skills and top essential skills. These occupations from our career guides include this skill or closely related ones:
- Graphic Designers (O*NET 27-1024.00): Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Creative Cloud, Canva, Figma, After Effects, Dreamweaver and WordPress.
- Web Developers (O*NET 15-1254.00): web page creation and editing tools such as Adobe Dreamweaver and WordPress.
O*NET examples are illustrative, not a requirement for every employer. Read the postings for the role you want.
How do I show it on a resume?
- Link a portfolio with brief case notes.
- Name tools per project.
- Say what you designed and what was given.
- Get permission before showing client work.
See the customer service resume example for layout, and our guide to an ATS-friendly resume.
On LiveRec, employers who find candidates for a job see up to five of your skills on your card, with the ones that match the job first. Use the exact name of the skill, as in which skills to put on a profile.
Where can I learn it?
We link only official sources we could verify. The O*NET Skills Search shows skills and examples, and each career guide above explains typical education from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ask your employer or school what training it offers, then add what you complete to your profile.
Frequently asked questions
Which tools do graphic designers use? O*NET names Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Creative Cloud, Canva and Figma, among others.
Do I need a portfolio? Yes, it is the main evidence.
Can I use Canva? O*NET lists Canva. Name it with what you made.
Related guides
When you are ready, search jobs on LiveRec.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine, Graphic Designers, 27-1024.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1024.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Web Developers, 15-1254.00: https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1254.00 (accessed 31 October 2026)
- O*NET OnLine, Skills Search: https://www.onetonline.org/skills/ (accessed 31 October 2026)