Create a job-winning art & design cover letter
Art & design professionals are responsible for major contributions to our culture, media, and more. Whether you realize it or not, art affects so many aspects of our daily lives. To become an art & design professional, you will need to go beyond crafting a beautiful portfolio – you will also need a cover letter that showcases not just your artistic talent but also your passion for and experience in the industry.
In this guide, we will discuss 5 key elements to creating the ideal art & design cover letter. Keep reading to learn all about how to:
- Format your art & design cover letter header & headline correctly
- Create a personalized greeting on your art & design cover letter
- Write an attention-grabbing art & design cover letter introduction
- Show your value and accomplishments as an art & design professional
- End your art & design cover letter with a strong closing statement
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1. Format your art & design cover letter header & headline correctly
The first key components of any well-written cover letter are a properly formatted header and headline.
A cover letter header is a concise block of text typically found within the top left corner of the document. In this header, you will include details on the company you are applying for and your professional information.
As for the cover letter headline, this is a short, one-sentence statement that serves as a title and lead-in for the introduction and body of your cover letter.
To help illustrate how to properly write and format each of these elements, check out the examples below:
Formatting the header
A header can vary in formatting and order of information, but should always include:
- The name of the company and company department you are applying to
- Your name and professional title
- Your contact information (phone number, email address, etc.)
When you put all of these details together, it should look similar to this example
To: The Art Institute, Interior Design Department
From: Jane Doe, Art & Design Professional
(123) 456-7890 | janedoe@email.com | linkedin.com/in/jane-doe
Writing the headline
When writing an art & design cover letter headline, you should consider how news outlets and magazines structure their headlines. It should be eye-catching and compelling, encouraging employers to read further into your cover letter.
In any headline you write, you should always use a keyword related to the position, an eye-catching number or trigger word, a powerful adjective or verb, and a promise.
Here is an example of an effective art & design cover letter headline, followed by a breakdown of its components
My 3 Key Skills in Art & Design and How I Can Apply These at Your Company
Trigger Word/Number: 3 Key Skills
Keyword: Art & Design
Adjective/Verb: Key, Apply
Promise: At Your Company – by adding in this detail, you confirm to the employer your intention to commit to their company.
2. Create a personalized greeting on your art & design cover letter
In between the headline and introduction of your cover letter should be a personalized greeting.
Unlike using a vague or generalized greeting – like “To Whom It May Concern” – personalized greetings show employers you have taken the time to research their company and that you have great attention to detail. Ideally, you should address your cover letter to a specific person, such as the head of the department you are applying to or the company’s recruiter.
If you are unable to uncover the exact person who will be reviewing your cover letter, try out one of these alternatives:
To the [Company Name] Team
Or
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager
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3. Write an attention-grabbing art & design cover letter introduction
After you have squared away your header, headline, and greeting, it’s time to write your cover letter introduction.
At this point in your cover letter, you should have already hooked the reader’s attention with the preceding elements on the document. As such, to retain their attention with your introduction, you should immediately begin describing your professional experience and notable connections you have to the company.
A strong art & design cover letter will include:
- A brief overview of your professional history and goals
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Here is an example to help demonstrate how to write an art & design cover letter introduction
To the [Company Name] Hiring Manager,
I am an Art & Design Professional with 3+ years of experience working as a highly-rated interior designer for [Former Employer]. After collaborating with your Design Department Chair, Joe Smith, on an official design project, he encouraged me to apply for this position.
By stating that an established member of the employer’s current staff encouraged them to apply for the position, the applicant gives the employer an immediate professional reference within their own company.
4. Show your value and accomplishments as an art & design professional
Following the introduction of your cover letter come the body paragraphs. Generally, you should aim for between 2 to 4 body paragraphs total detailing why you are a great fit for the company and vice versa.
In these paragraphs, try to answer each of the following questions:
- What excites you about working at this company?
- What do you hope to learn from working at this company?
- What accomplishments or qualifications make you stand out as an applicant?
- What key skills do you possess that are relevant to the position?
For accomplishments specifically, choose your best and most relevant ones that convey your professional value to employers. As you describe these accomplishments, include as many specific and quantifiable details as possible.
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in an art & design cover letter
In my position as an Assistant Art & Design Director at [Former Employer], I assisted in the development and execution of a state-wide student arts program that increased K-12 involvement in the arts by an average of 45% per school district.
5. End your art & design cover letter with a strong closing statement
The final element of any excellent art & design cover letter is a strong closing statement.
In this statement, you should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of a well-written closing statement on an art & design cover letter
As a member of your team, I am certain I can apply my skills to help create and execute impactful Art & Design projects that go above and beyond client and company expectations. I look forward to hearing from you and hope to connect either via phone call or in-person within the next two weeks. The best way to reach me is at (123) 456-7890, or by connecting with me on LinkedIn.
Yours Truly,
[Applicant Name]
Follow this cover letter outline for maximum success.
