You come up with the creative concepts and designs behind the finished items, fashion lines, or other end-products that people see. You conceptualize, communicate, collaborate, and keep things moving with your understanding of the materials and tools necessary to execute your vision.
But how can you share your depth of knowledge when creating a cover letter and complementary designer resume? How do you optimize your cover letter for the recruiter who’s going to read it?
It’s okay, we’ve got this! Years of helping designers in various roles have enabled us to provide you with our designer cover letter examples. And don’t miss our handy tips and AI cover letter generator to nail down that final polish!
Why this cover letter works
- Picture two designers on a level playing field with almost identical experiences. Who truly hits the mark? Well, the answer might lie in an industry-specific credential like the Adobe Certified Professional certification.
- Amara doesn’t shy away from mentioning her SEO certification in her designer cover letter. She simply lets the potential employer know that she can create stunning graphics and also help with SEO optimization. Wouldn’t any employer fancy such a powerful combination?
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Why this cover letter works
- You can’t afford to overlook the importance of interests and hobbies when gunning for your dream job. Such highlights are a smart move to express your passion for the industry and your commitment to continuous improvement.
- A relevant pastime to spotlight in your fashion design cover letter could be honing your sewing techniques, experimenting with patterns, or even exploring local and international fashion trends. Combine those personal interests with evidence of professional success for added flair.
Why this cover letter works
- If you think compelling product designer experiences are all about responsibilities, skills applied, and tangible results generated, you’re wrong! Familiarity with relevant software applications can make all the difference amidst the tight competition.
- Take Amara’s product designer cover letter. She goes the extra mile to narrate her proficiency in using Adobe Creative Suite and Sketch for visual content development and Asana for project management. That illustrates technical expertise and ability to streamline processes—vital qualities for a well-rounded pro.
Related cover letter examples
How to Format a Designer Cover Letter
The designer’s role is a versatile one! You could be designing for anything from a new headphone case to a new runway outfit . . . so make sure your cover letter matches up with the job description!
In other words, look for what the job listing seeks and think of areas where your own experiences and abilities overlap. Those are the key points you’ll want to include in your cover letter to align yourself with this particular designer role!
Designer cover letter greeting and introduction
You wouldn’t dream of walking into a studio without learning the names of those you’ll be working with, so don’t leave the name out on your cover letter! There are many ways to research the recruiter’s name, hiring manager, or potential new employer.
Once you’ve greeted someone by name, open your cover letter with a paragraph stating why you want this designer job, and provide a couple of qualifying traits or abilities that will make them want to give you the job, too!
Don’t forget to connect with the company, not only through the skills you open with but through a personal connection with their values as well. And don’t go overboard by laying out all your skills at once. List just a couple to hook your reader and make them wonder what other awesome things you can do!
Don’t write an opener like this, which is way too generic and informal, providing no examples of qualifications or any hook whatsoever:
Oh . . . no.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I’d totally be a great designer to work for your company. I can do all kinds of stuff to help make new things so let’s talk about that.
This opener is way better. We have a greeting with a name, plus specific examples of qualifying traits and a clear connection to the organization:
Now that looks way snazzier!
Dear Ms. Edwards:
Motivated by Entrescan’s dynamic approach to harnessing next-generation technology in 3D printing and design services. I’m confident in bringing my expertise and skills in content creation, community management, and live streaming to the table as your product designer. I’m thrilled by the prospect of working with other passionate professionals and offering innovative solutions to enhance productivity and drive revenue.
Designer cover letter body
Now it’s time to get into all that good stuff you alluded to with your opening hook! Recruiters want to be able to read each body paragraph and see one cohesive main point, along with the quantifiable data and metrics to back everything up.
Tailor these points to the job description. Is your potential employer looking for someone to bring an innovative new edge to their products or someone who can integrate smoothly with their existing design team to stay on brand? Make sure your focal points match theirs!
Think of compelling work experiences and times you’ve solved obstacles the company is currently facing. Share experience points that answer the job requirements with relevant success stories to create a memorable and compelling designer cover letter.
Now there’s a compelling body paragraph:
At Designs by U, I mastered the art of garment construction while working on bespoke clothing for high-demand clientele. My implementation of Gerber AccuMark for customized pattern-making earned the company an 11% increase in client satisfaction ratings.
Designer cover letter closing
Don’t leave your reader hanging any sooner than you’d send a half-finished fashion piece down the runway! Your cover letter needs a good closing paragraph and signoff.
Summarize how you connect with the company and what you have to offer them if you’re hired for the open designer role. You really want to emphasize your alignment with the company but avoid repeating yourself. Present your job skills and connection with fresh wording.
Make sure you include a call to action that invites further contact! That way, you can provide more details and qualifications that could earn you the job. Always thank the reader for their time, too (you can do this either in the closer or your signoff).
Just like the final touch on a new product you designed, make sure your signoff is professional and formal no matter where you put your thank-you! And always sign with your real, full name.
This closer is an example of what not to do. It’s too informal, there’s no actual summarizing information, and we don’t even have a full name.
Oof!
Yeah so there are all the reasons why I should work for your company. Let me know.
-Jim
This closer is way better since it connects with the company and cites qualifying traits alongside relevant professional goals. Nice!
This one’s a winner!
The collaborative culture at Honolulu Design Center intrigues me, and in addition to my seasoned skills, I feel I can contribute fresh insights and effective design solutions. I’m confident that I can further the center’s design objectives and make significant contributions toward its continued growth. Thank you for considering my application.
Sincerely,
Amara Kim
If you have them, include them! It’s simple: Just write “Enclosures:” at the bottom of your cover letter and then list any additional application material like professional letters of recommendation or copies of your relevant certifications.
If you can’t find the name of your designer cover letter recipient in the original job description, it’s off to the company website! And if you still can’t find them there, try checking professional social media pages like LinkedIn or Facebook.
Keep those tabs open from when you researched the hiring manager or recruiter! Stuff like a company about page, organization mission statement, and recent campaign runs on social media can all help you get a feel for the company culture you’re fitting into.
