Motion Graphic Designer Job Descriptions, Salary, and All Things Hiring
WORKING NOT WORKING
If you’re sitting down to write a motion graphic designer job description, browse portfolios, or write cold emails to talented designers, then this post has everything you need to get started.
If you’ve never hired a motion designer before, we have some introductory content for you. But experienced hirers can skip to the good stuff — motion designer salary information, job description examples, portfolio examples, and more. In this article, we cover:
What is motion design, anyways? And what differentiates it from animation? This is the place to start if you know little about motion design.
The qualifications that great motion designers have. Plus, we spotlight a sample job description that you can use for your own hiring process.
The market rates for creatives based on experience. How much should you pay your next motion graphic designer?
The motion design portfolios of top talent.
And finally, how to attract great motion graphic designers to work for you.
You can use this table of contents to navigate to whichever section suits your needs. (Note: “motion design” is short for “motion graphic design.” They refer to the same discipline, so we use them interchangeably.)
Table of Contents
What Makes a Great Motion Designer?
Motion Graphic Designer Job Description
Motion Designer Salaries: What Should You Pay?
Note: If you’re new to our site and don’t know what we do, check out our founding story. We talk about why we think hiring in creative industries is broken — and what we’re doing to fix it.
So, What Are Motion Graphics?
Motion graphic design is the creation of moving visuals that would otherwise be stationery. It’s most useful when explaining complicated ideas.
Ever seen a logo, graph, or chart come to life through movement? Of course you have. These are examples of motion design at work. For an example, see how the Netflix logo incorporates motion design:
Or, dive through the archives of Google Doodles. Google often commemorates special events or people on its homepage with these special modifications to its logo. Often, these Doodles incorporate elements of motion design.
Motion Graphic Design vs. Animation: What’s the Difference?
The line between these two is often blurred because they're related: Animation is the parent category that motion design falls under.
The main difference is that motion, unlike animation, doesn’t involve as much storytelling. Other subcategories of animation, like CGI and claymation, need a narrative. Motion design, meanwhile, doesn’t have to tell a story to accomplish its goal.
That said, motion graphic design can involve some character animation — for example, you might have a cute brand video with animals or one or two illustrated people talking (typically very simple) actions. Motion graphic designers typically use 2D animations, but more experienced artists may offer 3D animation as well.
To reiterate, the distinction between motion design and animation isn’t black and white. There are many cases in which motion design does help tell a story (for example, an animated video for your brand). You’ll see a few examples in the motion designer portfolios we’ll highlight later in this piece.
What Makes a Great Motion Designer?
What should you look for when on the hunt for motion design talent? Here are some qualifications to consider:
Education: Institutional and Self-Taught
Good candidates can have formal education in graphic design from a prestigious institution. You’re in the right place if your candidates come from programs like the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
But it’s also important to consider motion designers who value self-education. Motion designers without degrees from esteemed programs can compensate with their curiosity, taste, and talent. Candidates who stretch their creative boundaries often make the best hires.
Take WNW Member and motion designer Markus Magnusson for example. His talent has earned him work from brands like Google and ESPN. But before attracting big clients, Magnusson got his start through experimentation.
“I started goofing around with Macromedia Flash (now known as Adobe Animate) back in the early 2000s and the rest is history."
- Markus Magnusson (Source)
Keeping Up with Trends
The world of design is changing fast. Those who can’t keep up are left behind. Meanwhile, those who stay ahead of the curve thrive.
Good motion designers pay attention to trends in the industry and in culture. Good ones consider evolving tastes in aesthetics and visuals. They look at emerging technologies like augmented reality or virtual reality. They imagine how to make their work come alive through those platforms.
It’s important that motion designers know where to look for inspiration. When it comes to sourcing information, research skills are a must. Good designers synthesize ideas from a variety of sources. They transform those concepts into work that's aligned with your brand.
“I spend a lot of time thinking before I actually begin working. I usually mull through possible concepts for illustrations and animations, then spend time flipping through my book collection and ephemera I’ve collected to break through existing thinking patterns plus knee-jerk reactions and let my mind wander. A fair amount of watching sci-fi, trash TV, and Russian cartoons also happens; then sketching ideas by hand. When I’m ready, I completely dive in and make a whole mess of digital explorations and then pull back.”
- WNW Member and motion designer Maria Chimishkyan (Source)
Grasp of Brand Style and Aesthetics
When screening for brand style and aesthetics, there are two routes you can take. One way is by finding someone whose style is an exact match for your brand. This kind of motion designer has a creative and visual identity that's in line with yours.
The second way is to look for motion designers who have eclectic design tastes. They’re chameleons who shift in and out of different aesthetics. Regardless of your brand's style, these kinds of motion designers show they can adapt.
There’s no going wrong with either approach. What’s most important is that you establish creative standards before hiring someone. Having a creative director at the helm of your design efforts can help.
Able to Communicate Through Design
Remember, motion designs often serve as visual aids. Good motion design takes an idea and illustrates it through moving graphics. With that in mind, it’s important that a motion designer be capable of the following:
Understanding and processing complex concepts
Simplifying and communicating those ideas through their motion graphics.
The motion designer you hire should also be able to grasp your company’s strategy. Knowing the why behind the motion graphics they create is key. Look for designers who are eager to learn how motion design helps you achieve your goals.
Good motion designers embrace company insights to inform their creative process.
Knowledge and Experience with Motion Design Tools
Great motion graphics artists have principles built on solid design thinking. They know how to use those principles with the tools they have at their disposal.
When hiring, screen for candidates with experience in current technology. Many of the hirers on our platform screen for experience with Adobe After Effects and/or Cinema 4D (Maxon).
If they have experience with any other relevant applications, that's ideal, too. Motion designers with knowledge of Illustrator, Premiere, and Photoshop can make great candidates. It’s a bonus if they can work with some or all of the following tools, too:
Processing
Blender
Keynote
Resolume Arena
Google Sketchup
Houdini
Unity
Maya
Premiere Pro.
That said, it’s most important to consider whether their skill set fits into your strategy. As long your next motion designer can help you achieve your goals, the exact tools they use shouldn’t matter (unless you need their designs to play nice with an existing tech stack at your company).
Motion Design Capability Across Different Mediums
Most platforms can incorporate motion graphic design. When hunting for a motion graphic designer, it can be valuable to eye talent who create for a variety of channels.
In particular, motion design has become prevalent in social media. Since social content is short, a good motion graphic can drive strong engagement. Good motion designers understand what works on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. They look out for what works on emerging channels like Tik Tok, too.
The one caveat to consider is whether you’re hiring a full-time motion designer or freelancer. If you’re making a permanent hire, finding a versatile designer can be more valuable. But if you’re hiring for a one-off gig, it’s useful to screen for an expert in your desired format.
Investment in Additional Skill Sets
If you want someone with a well-rounded skill set, look for experience in areas that are complementary to the basic typography, graphic design, and animating abilities that every motion designer should have.
Do their services include video editing or any other post-production work? Can they do voiceovers? Do they have any VFX (visual effects) experience? Can they do anything else related to video production?
If not, that doesn’t mean you should rule them out — these aren’t core skills, after all. But if you’re hoping to hire someone who can fill more than one need on your design team, pay attention to the extra skills you want them to bring to the table.
Ability to Lead (for Senior Motion Designers)
If you’re in the market for a senior motion designer, find out what experience they have managing others. Motion designers with six or more years of expertise often have leadership abilities. These kinds of motion designers might serve well as creative or art directors, too.
Motion Graphic Designer Job Description Template
Below is a template you can use in your own search for a motion graphic designer. It’s based on the qualifications listed above, as well as on job postings found here on Working Not Working. You can change and customize it based on your needs.
Subject: Motion Graphic Designer, *XYZ Company*, *Location*
Calling all motion designers for this [freelance or full-time] opportunity! Are you laid back, but also capable of working well under tight deadlines? *XYZ Company* needs a motion graphics designer who will create captivating visual assets. This position reports to [insert the type of role they’ll be reporting to].
Chief Responsibilities
- Create motion graphics based on design briefs for [key channels you use]
- Collaborate with graphic designers, sound designers, photographers, and marketing managers. Together, you'll develop and execute ideas.
We need someone who understands the latest trends and changes within design and popular culture. Being a motion designer who’s proficient in [key technologies; if you’re not sure which ones, see our list above] is a must. You should also be capable of creating design elements across [mediums you need; if many, can say, “a variety of mediums”].
We’d love someone with a fine arts education, but it’s not a must-have. It’s more important that we find someone who values curiosity and is always willing to learn. At least [desired years] of experience working at a design studio, agency, or in-house creative team is required.
About Us:
[Share a short description about your company and what you do].
Note: Are you looking for top-notch motion designers to join your team or elevate your next project? Get access to 1,700+ of the most respected motion designers around on Working Not Working today.
Motion Designer Salaries: What Should You Pay?
Hiring is tricky — offer too little and you can attract low-caliber motion designers. But you also have a budget to follow.
One source for salary information is the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS doesn’t have data on Motion Designers per se, but it does on Multimedia Artists and Animators. That said, motion designers would be included in the group they evaluated. In 2018, median pay (not average salary) for these kinds of creators was $72,520.
That figure varies depending on talent and experience. At Working Not Working, we’ve helped major brands (like Nike, for example) connect with creatives. As a result, our talent pool is a mix of seasoned creators who know how to deliver to influential campaigns.
For the purpose of this article, we’ve broken down experience categories to keep it simple. Based on our creative marketplace, here’s what Working Not Working motion design talent usually demand as freelancers (translated roughly to salary — keep in mind that freelancers often charge a higher hourly rate than what they would accept for a salary).
Junior-level motion designers are creatives with 0 to 3 years of experience. Most charge between $25 to $50 an hour. Assuming 40 hours of work for 52 weeks per year (2080 hours), that would cap at a $104,000 salary or total compensation, depending on your arrangement.
Mid-level motion designers are anyone with at least 3 to 6 years of experience. Pay for these kinds of creatives bumps up to at least $50 to $100 an hour. This translates to a $104,000 to $208,000 for 2080 hours of work.
And finally, senior-level motion designers are typically those with 6 or more years of experience. There is less variability between mid-level and senior motion designer salaries. In fact, many of the latter charge within the range of $50 to $100 an hour. But, a handful of them also charge $100 to $150 an hour.
Please note that the aforementioned graphic designer salary ranges are estimates. The rates that Working Not Working creatives share aren’t set in stone and are open to negotiation. What you pay ultimately depends on the value your next motion designer can bring to your team.
Also keep in mind that where your new hire falls on the pay scale depends on the job title and expectations (i.e., are you getting strictly motion graphics, or are you trying to get one person who can act as a motion designer and video editor?). If you’re looking for someone to take charge of projects and lead fellow creatives, expect to pay more.
If you’re asking them to relocate, take that and the cost of living in your area into consideration as well.
Motion Designer Portfolios: 12 Examples of Creative Talent
At this point, you now have some background on motion design as well as key qualifications and pay ranges. This next section takes a closer look at the actual output of talented motion designers.
We’ve used the same categories — junior-, mid-, and senior-level motion graphic designers — as defined in the section above.
Hiring Tip: When examining motion design talent, value quality over quantity. Look for someone who has a few great pieces of work, rather than a ton of “okay” examples.
Junior-Level Motion Designers
Yuval Haker
Yuval is a motion designer who’s worked on a variety of projects. He’s contributed to music videos, commercials, short films, and editorial illustrations. Yuval describes his style as funny, dynamic, and gritty.
Years of Experience: 3
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Netflix/Vox - “The Mind, Explained”
One of Yuval’s most recent projects was motion graphic design for “The Mind, Explained,” a Netflix show by Vox Media. Under the guidance of art director Rubab Shakir, Yuval lent his talent to three episodes.
Notable Brands Yuval Has Worked with:
Google
Spotify
Reebok
Delta
Rocket Mortgage.
Yonju Kim
Yonju is a motion designer based in New York City who sees magic in motion design. Yonju strives to give each piece an infusion of life.
Years of Experience: 2
Highlighted Motion Design Work: K Design Awards Logo (2018)
Yonju made the official logo for this international design competition.
Notable Brands Yonju Has Worked with:
MTV
Snapchat
Cosmopolitan
Nissan.
Alex Moy
Alex is a multidisciplinary designer. He's trained in motion design as well as illustration, publication, and animation. He works mostly in 2D, using a hand-drawn process. Alex prides his ability to transform “concepts into experiences.”
Years of Experience: 3
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Void of the Abstract
This was a collaboration Alex worked on for a fashion editorial project. In these GIFs, Alex incorporates 2D, 360 photos, and fashion illustrations.
Notable Brands Alex Has Worked with:
Facebook
Nature’s Way
SOCIAL Sparkling Wine.
“Hillary” Huong Vu
Hillary has done diverse work with ad agencies and production houses. She’s also lent her talents to short films and music videos as well as visual essays and commercials. Hillary considers herself a creative problem solver. She also has an intense interest in visual storytelling.
Years of Experience: 3
Highlighted Motion Design Work: BBC: Long-Termism How to Think Deep in Time
She handled motion design, art direction, and sound design for this project with the BBC. It incorporates elements of 2D as well as ambient and textural feels.
Notable Brands Hillary Has Worked with:
IHOP
McCain Foods
Netflix
BBC.
Note: Want to learn more about the Working Not Working community? Check out our founding story. We’re a platform built by creatives for creatives & the companies that hire them.
Mid-Level Motion Designers
Pon-Pon Yeh
Pon-Pon studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York, where she received her MFA degree in Computer Art. In particular, her studies concentrated on motion design. Pon-Pon also excels at creating 2D illustrated animation. She's skilled at retouching still and moving imagery, too.
Years of Experience: 4
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Wall Street Journal Original Stories
Pon-Pon worked on this piece for the Wall Street Journal. It explains how North Korea has bred some of the world’s most elite hackers. She contributed to design, storyboard, and animation.
Notable Brands Pon-Pon Has Worked with:
Hearst Corporation
Bloomberg
The Wall Street Journal
Overpass
Blacksmith.
Yahira Hernandez
Yahira is a motion designer based in Portland. She takes a patient, curious, and ambitious approach to her craft. Yahira loves exploring creative work that challenges her skills. She also enjoys opportunities that allow her to collaborate with others.
Years of Experience: 6
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Promo Video for the TV Show Shameless
Guided by creative director Rudy Jamies, Yahira worked on this lyrics video for Shameless. Collaborating with fellow animator Mark Auleta, she helped with design and art direction.
Notable Brands Yahira Has Worked with:
T-Mobile
Microsoft
Smithsonian
Facebook.
Marie Gosselin
Marie is a motion designer who spent five years freelancing in Melbourne, Australia. Marie has since moved back to France and continues to concentrate in industries like nature and food. Marie characterizes their motion design style as colorful, joyful, and poetic.
Years of Experience: 6
Highlighted Motion Design Work: French Presidential Election 2017
Marie helped with these motion graphics for French presidential candidate Benoît Hamon. Each graphic focused on seven specific themes of his campaign. Marie provided illustration and art direction to the project.
Notable Brands Marie Has Worked with:
Seat
Nestlé
BNP Paribas.
Taylor Vogel
Taylor works on a variety of projects in design, motion design, and UX design. Taylor has contributed creative such as client social content to agencies like Digitas. Taylor considers their design style as inspired, focused, and collected.
Years of Experience: 6
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Social @ Digitas
This is an example of a motion graphic Taylor designed for American Express while working with DigitasLBI’s Snackstory Studio.
Notable Brands Taylor Has Worked with:
American Express
HP
Lenovo
Delta
Accenture.
Note: Are you looking for top-notch motion designers to join your team or elevate your next project? Get access to 1,700+ of the most respected motion designers around on Working Not Working today.
Senior-Level Motion Designers
Erica Gorochow
Erica Gorochow is a creative director whose specialty is motion. She’s freelanced for creative studios like Buck and Brand New School. As the owner of her own studio (PepRally), she’s open to managing teams and liaising with clients.
Years of Experience: 13
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Financial Coach X IDEO.org
Erica helped IDEO develop the motion design for this financial chatbot coach. The digital avatar works alongside human advisors to help users learn personal finance. It also nudges them in the right directions related to their financial goals.
Notable Brands Erica Has Worked with:
Google
Red Bull
HBO
MTV
Etsy.
Magnus Atom
Magnus is an award-winning motion graphics designer, illustrator, and commercial artist. At VICE Media, he helped to establish VICE.VISUAL.STUDIO. It's the outlet's in-house motion graphics design studio. He's also developed branding and packaging for many shows on VICELAND.
Years of Experience: 8
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Life Is Beautiful
He provided art direction in motion design for this annual Las Vegas festival. Magnus and his team used animated brushstrokes as well as neon and pastels to give the logo a “fresh, fun vibe.”
Notable Brands Magnus Has Worked with:
VICE
Microsoft
MTV
Hyundai
NFL.
Kaitlin Kobs
Kaitlin is a multidisciplinary designer who focuses on motion and art direction. Kaitlin also sinks her teeth into other disciplines such as photography and set design. Kaitlin's passion is to find the “sweet spot of pushing creative limits.” Kaitlin also puts a premium on “maintaining a grasp on brand values/the big picture.”
Years of Experience: 6
Highlighted Motion Design Work: Kaitlin’s Video Reel
This is Kaitlin’s motion graphic demo reel for 2015 to 2019. It includes designs from some of the brands listed below.
Notable Brands Kaitlin Has Worked with:
MTV
NYLON
Global Citizen
Louis Vuitton
Viacom.
Chris Jung
Chris’s motto? Making shit move. In his career, Chris has freelanced for a variety of companies. Some include Laundry Service, VICE, and The New York Times. With 2D and 3D expertise, Chris has experience working in a variety of mediums.
Years of Experience: 7
Highlighted Motion Design Work: MTV Original Series
MTV wanted a fresh take on the logo sting that appears before the start of all its shows. Chris assisted with the concept, design, and animation of this project.
Notable Brands Chris Has Worked with:
Verizon
Nike
Intel
NBCUniversal
Vizio.
How to Attract Great Motion Design Candidates
The best motion designers are selective. They don’t take on just any project or job. Why?
Because great motion designers know how much creative energy goes into their work. They’re mindful about choosing projects they’re committed to finishing.
To attract these kinds of motion designers, it can help to understand their struggles. Having them in mind can help you create opportunities that tackle these problems head on. Being aware of these struggles will help you stand out among desirable candidates.
Below are common struggles along with a few recommended solutions:
Getting Paid on Time
Many brands, agencies, and studios rely on freelance motion designers. Sadly, they don’t always pay on time. This no doubt can frustrate many motion designers. On top of their creative work, they often also have to chase down companies for their paychecks.
Lesson to Learn? Have a system in place for paying your motion designers on time. When you do, you’ll earn a good reputation. And as a result, the great motion designers will come calling to work with you.
Getting Paid Their Worth
Despite increased demand for work, some motion designers feel underpaid. They report being frustrated when deliverables change, but the budget stays the same.
Lesson to Learn? You get what you pay for. If you have limited budget, set your expectations according to what you can afford. Plan for cost overruns, and pay motion designers for unanticipated, extra work.
Respect for Their Creative Process
Everyone wants today’s work done yesterday. Motion designers know they have to produce results at an ever-increasing speed. But at the same time, the creative process is still slow.
“A challenge I think the industry is facing now, especially in projects that are aimed for social media, is time. Because things move so fast on these platforms, companies and clients sometimes don't take into account the time it takes to design and produce what they want. I do think that this is a good challenge to face though because it flexes the way we work, changes the nature of the content we see on social, and informs the clients about the reality of making."
- Shira Inbar, motion designer and WNW Member (Source)
Lesson to Learn? Be mindful of how much time it takes motion designers to complete a project. Set firm deadlines, but make sure they fall under reasonable expectations.
Aside from addressing these struggles, remember to keep the work environment light. Like any creative discipline, motion design is playful by nature. Emphasize what’s fun about the task at hand. You’ll have an easier time attracting the best motion design talent when you do.
Motion design header by WNW Member Yonju Kim for K Design Awards