What does a motion graphics designer do?
A motion graphic designer specializes in producing artworks used in television, film, and web. Their responsibilities often revolve around submitting within a deadline, attending creative meetings, collaborating with fellow designers, following directives from clients, producing trial designs, and editing them in adherence to senior designers or clients' recommendations. There are also instances when a motion graphic designer must manage documentation, address inquiries and concerns, and report to higher-ranking personnel. Furthermore, one may choose to work for a company or independently.
Motion graphics designer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real motion graphics designer resumes:
- Lead team brainstorming sessions to solve creative problems.
- Lead team of motion designers which include brainstorming, mood boards, creation of mock-ups and presentations to clients and stakeholders.
- Train & supervise newly appoint employee in achieving realistic looking effects and help integrating the effects in compositing with cg elements.
- Design and build interactive digital content for musicians including photography, video and custom HTML, CSS & JavaScript development.
- Create brochures, fliers, posters, and other print materials for conferences, special events, and non-profit functions.
- Code flash banners with XML, HTML, and ActionScript.
- Deliver production ready graphics in HTML and CSS for all marketing assets.
- Provide post VFX when necessary.
- Update client websites using HTML.
- Design websites for clients using WordPress.
- Monitor and run reports for all departments.
- Design interactive UI for kiosks and interactive CD-ROMS.
- Produce showfronts using CSS templates and Photoshop CS4.
- Create and edit WordPress themes and page functionality.
- Work directly with marketing managers on special POS projects.
Motion graphics designer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 23% of Motion Graphics Designers are proficient in Animation, Style Frames, and Cinema. They’re also known for soft skills such as Artistic talent, Computer skills, and Time-management skills.
We break down the percentage of Motion Graphics Designers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Animation, 23%
Delivered brand-consistent messages through the design/production of animation, video and interactive media.
- Style Frames, 15%
Created style frames and storyboards for project guidance on show opens and trade show loops.
- Cinema, 7%
Create organized Cinema 4D and After Effects templates that can easily be used by any member of the design team.
- Adobe Creative Suite, 4%
Designed exhibits at dams in four-state area utilizing expertise in design principles and Adobe Creative Suite software.
- Sketch, 4%
Conceptualized, wrote, produced, shot, and edited comedy sketch videos, overseeing concept through completion.
- Video Content, 3%
Created Facebook video content to commemorate important dates and anniversaries in popular culture, ensuring the company s social media presence.
Most motion graphics designers use their skills in "animation," "style frames," and "cinema" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential motion graphics designer responsibilities here:
Computer skills. Another essential skill to perform motion graphics designer duties is computer skills. Motion graphics designers responsibilities require that "most graphic designers use specialized graphic design software to prepare their designs." Motion graphics designers also use computer skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "job duties: creating professional computer graphics and animation, presentations, 3d design and visualizations. "
Time-management skills. motion graphics designers are also known for time-management skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to motion graphics designer responsibilities, because "graphic designers often work simultaneously on multiple projects, each with a different deadline." A motion graphics designer resume example shows how time-management skills is used in the workplace: "work independently to prioritize animation deliverables to clients in efficient and timely manner to meet client deadlines and expectations. "
Creativity. A big part of what motion graphics designers do relies on "creativity." You can see how essential it is to motion graphics designer responsibilities because "graphic designers must be able to think of new approaches to communicating ideas to consumers." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical motion graphics designer tasks: "head of video production for san diego's largest creative digital agency. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in motion graphics designer job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what motion graphics designers do. Motion graphics designer responsibilities rely on this skill because "graphic designers must communicate with clients, customers, and other designers to ensure that their designs accurately and effectively convey information." You can also see how motion graphics designer duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "produced video productions that helped connect platforms and generate business as well as internal video communications and event highlights. "
Analytical skills. While "analytical skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to motion graphics designer responsibilities. Much of what a motion graphics designer does relies on this skill, seeing as "graphic designers must be able to perceive their work from their consumers’ point of view to ensure that the designs convey the client’s message." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of motion graphics designers: "served as poc for animation jobs utilizing flash 4.0 used mysql as a database for creating advanced action scripts. "
The three companies that hire the most motion graphics designers are:
- Social Driver8 motion graphics designers jobs
- WMSN FOX 47 News, Madison7 motion graphics designers jobs
- The Walt Disney Company6 motion graphics designers jobs
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Compare different motion graphics designers
Motion graphics designer vs. Designer
A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences. Designers are creative thinkers with a great eye to configure the skeletal and structural properties of the targeted output. They work in several fields, such as fashion, architecture, web graphics, and user experience. In spite of the variety of professionals in the design industry, all of them are artistic, passionate, inspiring, and emotionally connected to their projects and brands.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a motion graphics designer are more likely to require skills like "animation," "style frames," "filmmaking," and "cinema." On the other hand, a job as a designer requires skills like "customer service," "graphic design," "javascript," and "revit." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Designers earn the highest salaries when working in the technology industry, with an average yearly salary of $87,754. On the other hand, motion graphics designers are paid more in the technology industry with an average salary of $66,825.designers tend to reach similar levels of education than motion graphics designers. In fact, designers are 2.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Motion graphics designer vs. Interactive designer
An Interactive Designer takes the business product and transforms it into a product that the user interacts with perfectly. They support engineering efforts to develop designs and get the details right.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that motion graphics designer responsibilities requires skills like "style frames," "filmmaking," "cinema," and "video content." But an interactive designer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "interaction design," "invision," "visual design," and "prototyping."
On average, interactive designers earn a higher salary than motion graphics designers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, interactive designers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $126,017. Whereas motion graphics designers have higher pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $66,825.interactive designers earn similar levels of education than motion graphics designers in general. They're 4.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Motion graphics designer vs. Web designer
A web designer is a creative professional responsible for creating and redesigning the content and layout of websites. Web designers are required to meet clients and users to discuss the needs and goals of their clients. To create graphics, colors, and fonts, web designers usually use HTML coding to alter the website's layout. Web designers must build their portfolio by taking on unique projects for themselves and the people they know.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from motion graphics designer resumes include skills like "animation," "style frames," "filmmaking," and "cinema," whereas a web designer is more likely to list skills in "wordpress," "javascript," "graphic design," and "html5. "
Web designers make a very good living in the internet industry with an average annual salary of $81,039. On the other hand, motion graphics designers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $66,825.When it comes to education, web designers tend to earn similar degree levels compared to motion graphics designers. In fact, they're 2.5% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Motion graphics designer vs. Freelance designer
Freelance designers are creative, independent contractors who create visual and graphic designs for their clients. They develop text and illustrated versions of brands, messages, and communications with strong visible influence with their clients. Typical activities include networking, seeking projects, and negotiating prices to their customers. They manage client proposals, develop concepts, present solutions, and ensure the timely completion of projects. Freelance visual and graphic designers are creative, self-motivated as well as result and deadline oriented.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between motion graphics designers and freelance designers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a motion graphics designer might have more use for skills like "animation," "style frames," "filmmaking," and "cinema." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of freelance designers require skills like "website design," "design concepts," "business cards," and "posters. "
The average resume of freelance designers showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to motion graphics designers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 4.2% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.0%.Types of motion graphics designer
Updated January 8, 2025
