Creating a designer resume that shines in 2025 is not just about what you include — it’s about what you leave out.
With competition high and industry expectations evolving, knowing how to keep your resume concise, modern, and relevant is essential.
Below, we explore common elements that should be omitted to ensure your resume stays professional and impactful.
1. Hyper-Specific Job Titles
To ensure your resume or professional profile passes both recruiter and ATS screenings, avoid using niche or overly creative job titles like “Pixel Sorcerer,” even if they reflect your personality. Instead, opt for industry-standard titles such as “UI Designer” or “Digital Product Designer,” which are instantly recognizable and effective.
Pro tip: If you’re targeting a specific industry or product, consider a title like “UI Designer | Specialized in Edtech and SaaS” to clearly convey your expertise.
2. Exhaustive Lists of Team Projects
If you were part of a large collaborative effort, don’t just list it as “Worked on redesign of X app.”
Highlight your unique contribution. For example, “Led the UI development for a high-traffic app that reached 500,000 daily active users.”
Pro tip: Include a “Contribution Percentage” next to each team project, like “My Role: 30% — UI/UX strategy and prototyping.”
3. Detailed Technical Jargon Without Context
Simply listing technical terms like “Wireframing, Prototyping, User Research” without explaining their application in your design work is ineffective. Hiring managers aren’t interested in a laundry list — they want to understand how your skills contributed to impactful results.
Pro Tip: Instead of saying “Skilled in Prototyping,” try, “Developed interactive prototypes that streamlined user testing, reducing feedback cycles by 20%.”
4. College Details if You’ve Been Working for Over 5 Years
If you’ve been in the field for over five years, your education section should be succinct. Instead of listing your college GPA or courses, showcase relevant certifications or recent workshops.
Pro Tip: List a niche online course or recent skill development program that’s relevant, like, “2024 Interaction Design Certification — Nielsen Norman Group.”
5. Complex and Overly Artistic Layouts
While your resume should reflect your design skills, overly elaborate designs can hinder readability. Recruiters prefer clean, straightforward resumes that are easy to scan.
Pro Tip: Prioritize simplicity with clear fonts, well-organized headers, and plenty of white space. Save intricate designs for your portfolio.
5. Comprehensive Lists of Software Skills
Listing every software tool you’ve ever touched clutters your resume. Employers expect designers to know industry-standard tools, so highlight only those most relevant to the role and showcase how you used them effectively.
Pro Tip: Instead of “Proficient in Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch,” say, “Utilized Figma to create prototypes that reduced development feedback loops by 25%.”
6. Unrelated Work Experience
While having a diverse background can be beneficial, listing jobs unrelated to design can distract from your core qualifications. Include only positions that add value by showcasing relevant skills.
Pro Tip: Mention transferable skills from unrelated roles only when they enhance your design career, such as leadership or project management capabilities.
7. The Phrase “References Available Upon Request”
This phrase is outdated and redundant. Recruiters know they can request references if needed, so using this space for more valuable content is wiser.
Pro Tip: Use this space to highlight a major achievement, such as, “Managed a project that improved product adoption by 20%.”
8. Personal Photos
Including a photo on your resume is often unnecessary and could introduce bias. Additionally, photos can disrupt the function of applicant tracking systems (ATS), making it harder for your resume to be read accurately.
Pro Tip: Keep your LinkedIn profile updated and include a link in your contact section. Recruiters can view your professional photo there if needed.
9. Every Project You’ve Ever Worked On
Listing too many projects makes your resume lengthy and unfocused. Choose a few standout projects that align with the job description and best showcase your skills.
Pro Tip: Direct hiring managers to your online portfolio for a comprehensive view of your work. Keep your resume concise with only the most impressive highlights.
10. Interests’ Section Without Strategic Relevance
Listing hobbies like “Travel” or “Reading” can feel generic and take up space. Instead, include interests that tie into your design work or show your adaptability and curiosity, such as “Creative coding challenges” or “Public speaking at local UX meetups.”
Pro tip: Include an “Interest Tie-In” explaining why it’s relevant, like, “Public speaking — enhanced my client communication skills and confidence in presentations.
11. Generic Portfolio Link
If your portfolio link is just a plain URL with no additional context, it’s a missed opportunity. Designers should tailor their portfolio link on their resume to direct attention to relevant work.
Pro tip: Customize your portfolio URL label to highlight specific projects, such as “Explore my recent SaaS redesigns” or “View my top UX case studies.”
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Summing up 👍🏼 Prioritize Clarity and Relevance
A well-crafted designer resume in 2025 should be clear, concise, and tailored to showcase your most relevant skills and experiences.
By removing outdated and unnecessary details, you create a stronger, more modern resume that effectively highlights your capabilities and leaves recruiters eager to learn more.
What Not to Include on your Designer Resume in 2025 was originally published in UX Planet on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.