Interior designer CV

How to Write an Impactful Interior Designer CV in 5 Easy Steps

Interior design is the ultimate challenge of creativity, communication, vision and organisation. Across the UK, interior designers work in homes, hospitality, offices, restaurants and retail. It’s about creating environments that are functional, beautiful and made to last.

You’ll need to create a strong portfolio and write a well-structured CV that is application tracking system (ATS)-friendly. But that doesn’t mean you need years of experience. Whether you’re just starting or looking for your next role, we show you how to stand out.

In this article, we cover:

• 5 steps for the best interior design CV

• Examples you can use for your interior design CV

• Tips and tricks to make a lasting impression

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Interior designer CV example

Download this Interior Designer CV sample in PDF

Amina utilised space and clarity to maximum effect with the Hopkins CV template. She immediately draws the eye to her key skills and personal profile while leaving plenty of room for personal attributes, a full work history, relevant achievements and skills.

What to include in an interior designer CV?

• Personal details on a CV: Your full name, phone number, professional email address, LinkedIn profile and current location. Not sure if you need to include your address? Read more about best practices for an address on a CV.

• Personal profile: A short paragraph highlighting your design focus, key achievements and career goals.

• Key skills: Add a designated skills section to include technical or hard skills and weave soft skills in your personal profile, such as space planning, CAD software, client communication and project coordination.

• Work experience: List relevant roles in reverse chronological order, focusing on design projects, responsibilities and outcomes. Use this section to show you're a pro at sustainable design or you're effectiveness at completing design projects in a timely manner.

• Education: Include your degree(s), certifications or design training, especially if related to interior architecture or spatial design.

• Portfolio link: Add a clickable link to your online portfolio. Add a clickable link to your online portfolio. Popular options include Behance, Adobe Portfolio, Squarespace or a personal website.

• Software proficiency: Mention tools like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, 3ds Max, Rhino, V-Ray, and Adobe Creative Suite tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

We always suggest creating a master CV with all your experience, education and skills. This will be edited down and customised for each application you make. A master CV should include:

• Personal details

• Personal profile

• Skills

• Work experience

• Education.

Optional:

• References

• Courses and certificates

• Language skills

• Career accomplishments

• Awards.

5 steps to creating a professional interior design CV

Interior designers, like architects, engineers and fashion designers, work in competitive, detail-driven industries. An eye-catching CV quickly shows a creative mindset and clear communication, especially if you send your CV via email. Building a modern CV with a strategic approach makes highlighting your strengths and experiences easy for maximum impact.

Get more inspiration with these similar CV examples:

• Architect CV

• Engineer CV

• Fashion designer CV.

1) Introduce your interior designer CV with a personal profile

Your CV personal profile is the first section employers see. It’s a short, punchy intro at the top of your CV that summarises your strengths, focus and career goals. For interior designers, this means highlighting your creative skills, industry knowledge and ability to deliver functional, attractive spaces, whilst prioritising client satisfaction.

If you’re writing a CV for your first job, it’s a great opportunity to show your enthusiasm, transferable skills and career potential. Employers are looking for technical ability combined with valuable soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving and communication. You can read more about these in our guide to top soft skills employers look for in 2025.

A great personal profile should:

• Be 3–5 sentences long

• Focus on what you can offer the employer

• Include your experience level (where applicable)

• Mention relevant skills, tools or design specialisations

• Use confident, professional language

• Avoid personal pronouns such as 'I'.

For more tips, check out our full guide on how to write a personal profile for a CV.

2) Showcase your skills effectively on your interior designer CV

Including skills effectively on your CV helps hiring managers quickly understand your strengths and how you work. It plays an important role in how they assess your suitability for the role.

Soft skills like communication, creativity and attention to detail are best shown in your personal profile and work experience demonstrated in context. Hard skills such as design software, space planning or technical knowledge should be listed under a dedicated heading, making your core abilities easy to find.

Five essential interior design skills

1. Space planning: The ability to organise interiors to optimise flow, function and comfort.

2. Design software proficiency: Skilled use of tools like AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit and Adobe Creative Suite to visualise and present ideas.

3. Material and finishes knowledge: Understanding of textiles, surfaces, lighting and sustainability options to meet both aesthetic and practical needs.

4. Client communication: The ability to understand briefs, manage expectations and present ideas clearly throughout the project lifecycle.

5. Project coordination: Managing timelines, budgets and teams to deliver projects from concept to completion.Include a strong portfolio for an interior designer CV.

Learn more about how to effectively list communication skills on a CV and computer skills on a CV.

3) Feature your design experience for an interior designer CV

Your work experience is another essential component of your CV, showing your professional background and achievements. Whether you have commercial sector experience or hospitality sector experience, this section needs to show you can get the job done.

As with other client-facing creative jobs like photographer, videographer and musician, hiring managers need to be able to scan your document for the right experience and keywords in seconds. Increase your chances of success by knowing the optimal length for your CV, which font is best for your CV, and how to list your work experience correctly.

• List your experience in reverse chronological order, starting with your current or most recent role or project.

• Use CV action verbs, such as designed, created, managed or delivered, to describe what you did, aiming for 3-5 bullet points per role or project.

• Use numbers, percentages or awards to quantify your achievements while showing what you did versus what you achieved.

Examples of work experience

Interior Design Manager, Foster + Partners Studio, 2019 - Present

Designed and delivered bespoke interior design solutions for various clients in residential, commercial and public clients. Managed budgets, timelines and client expectations while ensuring creative excellence and innovation/ Collaborated with architects, contractors and suppliers to ensure smooth project execution and completion.

• Promoted from Interior Designer to Interior Designer Manager within a year.

• Developed and implemented design strategies that led to a 30% increase in client referrals and a 25% growth in repeat business.

• Honoured with the prestigious Best Interior Design Award at the Annual Design Awards in 2020.

Junior interior designer | Atelier & Co. | 2022 – Present

Supported senior designers on residential and hospitality projects, assisting with layout plans, mood boards and client presentations. Developed digital visualisations using SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop. Liaised with suppliers to source materials and manage sample libraries.

• Contributed to four successful client pitches, supporting concept development.

• Created 3D visuals and sample boards for a boutique hotel redesign.

• Took ownership of the studio's material archive, streamlining access for the design team.

Senior interior designer | Element Design Group | 2015 – 2023

Led the design and delivery of complex interior projects across hospitality, workplace, retail and high-end residential sectors. Oversaw concept development, spatial planning, FF&E selection and site coordination. Maintained close client relationships, ensured smooth collaboration with external consultants, and upheld design quality throughout all project phases.

• Oversaw the complete interior transformation of a 5-star hotel, on time and budget.

• Mentored three junior designers, two of whom progressed to lead roles.

• Spearheaded a move towards sustainable materials across all studio projects.

Freelance interior designer | Self-employed | 2018 – Present

Provided full-service design for private clients and small businesses, from concept development and space planning to sourcing and project management. Delivered flexible solutions tailored to budget, timeline and client lifestyle.

• Completed 15+ residential projects, including loft conversions, kitchen redesigns and whole-home makeovers.

• Built a client base through referrals, growing year-on-year revenue by 40%.

• Collaborated with local tradespeople to deliver custom-built storage and furniture.

A well-structured CV showcases your eye for layout and detail

Start my CV

4) How to list education on an interior designer CV

Clearly list your education on a CV helps demonstrate your qualifications and commitment to interior or spatial design.

List your most recent and relevant qualifications;

• including the name of the course,

• institution and,

• year of completion.

While there is no minimum educational requirement to become an interior designer in the UK, it is generally accepted that you will have completed some form of higher education. This could be a university degree, college diploma or apprenticeship.

University degree

BA (Hons) Interior Design | University of the Arts London | 2023

MA Interior Design | University of Westminster | 2024 (expected)

College diploma

Level 4 HNC in Interior Design | City of Bristol College | 2022

Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design | Manchester School of Art | 2021

Apprenticeship

Interior Design Assistant Apprenticeship | DesignMasters Studio, London | 2021 – 2023

Creative Design Apprentice, Artistry Designs Ltd, Manchester, 2018-2020

School leaver

• A-Levels | Durham Sixth Form Centre | 2018 – 2020

Art (A), Design Technology (B), English Literature (B)

• GCSEs | St. Anne’s High School | 2016 – 2018

9 GCSEs including Art (A/8), Maths (B/6), English (B/6)

Need more guidance? Check out the following CV examples to help get you started with your first CV:

• Apprenticeship CV

• School leaver CV

• Undergraduate CV.

5) Enhance your interior designer CV with additional sections

Interior design is a competitive landscape where you need to show your best work, latest qualifications and up-to-date knowledge. There’s no better way to show this quickly on your CV than by including brief pieces of additional information in a structured way.

Link to an up-to-date interior designer portfolio

Creating a well-presented portfolio is the core of your CV. It puts your interior design skills into context and shows employers what you’re capable of. The key is careful editing. Choose your best, most relevant work and don’t be afraid to be selective. The strength of your portfolio is in the editing. Each project should reflect your style, strengths and achievements.

• Use an online platform or website to display your portfolio, such as Behance or Squarespace, making it easy for employers to access and view your work.

• Include a link to your portfolio or website in your CV. Make sure the link is clear, visible and working. You can also include a QR code for convenience.

• Choose quality over quantity, aiming for 10-15 projects showcasing your best work and diverse transferable skills.

How to format your portfolio:

• Include the project name, date, location, client and brief.

• Then explain your role, responsibilities, the skills you used and the results achieved.

• Use bullet points to make key details easy to scan.

Adding courses and certificates

Listing courses and certificates in your CV can help you stand out, especially if you're new to the industry or changing careers. They show commitment to learning and can fill gaps in education or experience.

• List the course name, provider and completion date.

• Briefly highlight key topics, tools or techniques learned

• Include any standout achievements.

Examples:

Interior Design Course | Dazzle Design Institute | 2023

Covered colour theory, space planning, lighting and materials. Final project: living room design for a private client.

AutoCAD Certificate | Horizon Tech Training Hub | 2022

Trained in 2D and 3D drawing techniques. Scored 95/100 on final exam.

For more guidance and to see the best courses to take in the UK, visit the British Academy of Interior Design for accredited certifications.

How to write a CV with no experience as an interior designer CV

If you’re new to interior design or switching careers, you might not have much experience to list. There are still plenty of ways to show your potential and create a CV even if you have little to no experience.

1. Use a skills-based CV format (also known as a functional CV) to focus on your strengths, training and transferable skills.

2. Include relevant projects or assignments from your education or training, especially those with standout results, awards or recognition.

3. Mention any volunteer work or internships that involved design-related tasks. If you received positive feedback, include it.

4. Add hobbies or personal projects that reflect your interest in design such as a blog, Instagram page or DIY renovation to show your creativity and passion.

Want to learn more about how to

Key takeaways

This guide equips you with the tools to stand out in this competitive field. Embrace these insights, build your unique narrative, and embark on your journey to success in the ever-evolving field. As a testament to your skills and passion, your CV can open doors to the UK job market, transforming spaces and making dreams a reality. Include a direct link to your online portfolio or personal website. This lets employers view your style, process and results right away. Focus on core interior design skills like space planning, software proficiency and project coordination. Use your CV layout to make these easy to spot. Where possible, add numbers to show results – such as project size, budget handled or increase in client referrals. A clean, well-structured CV shows your eye for layout and detail. While your portfolio holds the visuals, your CV should reflect strong presentation skills.

Next steps?

Give your CV the introduction it deserves. Explore our cover letter templates and get step-by-step guidance on how to write a winning cover letter, especially if you’re sending your CV via email. Leave nothing to chance and connect with our professional CV Writing Service for an expert seal of approval. Then check out our top tips for tracking your job applications.

FAQs

Are interior designers in demand in the UK?

Yes, demand has grown due to the UK’s booming home renovation and design market, now worth over £6.4 billion. Refer to the for current data.

What does an interior designer put on a CV?

Use your CV to show your design skills, experience and achievements. Include a clear summary, key projects, education and any relevant courses or certifications.

Is interior design a good career in the UK?

Yes, especially for creative individuals who enjoy working on diverse projects. Interior designers can work independently or in teams and earn an average salary of £37,304.

Why is a CV important for an interior designer?

A strong CV highlights your skills, portfolio and professional value. It helps you stand out, apply for jobs or projects and show you're the right fit for the role.