Today I set about looking into existing creative CV designs. In this post I will compare and contrast a number of creative CVs to determine what makes a successful design.
The primary source for the designs featured in this post was
Pinterest.
The first CV that caught my eye did so due to it's pure simplicity. The layout is exceptionally tidy and well broken up to clearly denote different areas of the CV. The colour scheme is very reserved, which works in a way, however even the edition of some more very subdued colour would make the piece more eye-catching as a whole. the use of horizontal bars to indicate different skill levels works well and provides a much more clear interpretation of competency in each area than a brief description would. The amount of text is just right in this CV, there are no excessively lengthy paragraphs and all the text is broken up into manageable chunks.
This CV is slightly less minimalistic than the first CV I looked at, yet shows how the use of slightly more colour can make a design more eye-catching. The addition of an earthy brown tone also makes the CV feel more warm and inviting - which may or may not be appropriate depending on the recipient. A more casual company may take well to a CV that feels warm and inviting, whereas a corporation might view colder tones as more professional.
Moving onto a different design entirely, this CV incorporates imagery much more strongly. While this definitely reiterates the applicant's status as a designer, I'm not sure the imagery has been used to the best effect in terms of layout etc. and have a tendency to make the CV look quite claustrophobic and cluttered. The use of a large block of unbroken text at a small font size right at the beginning of the CV also makes the design feel cluttered and cramped. The info-graphic style is however quite eyecatching.
I particularly enjoy the use of texture in this CV, it adds substance to the CV and makes it feel less clinical, without having to incorporate a lot of colour into the design. That said, the subtle implementation of colour in the skill wheel really makes the design pop, and directs the eye immediately to the skills of the applicant, instantly enabling an employer to ascertain how talented the individual is in different areas.
From this exercise I have learned that in creating my creative CV I should:
- Use a reserved amount of subdued colour
- Incorporate a subtle texture to in the design if appropriate
- Use images, but not too much
- Avoid blocks of unbroken text
- Break up information into clear, easily definable sections
