The field of design is quite broad and can be divided into several more specialized disciplines – from graphic and web design to user experience and user interface design. Motion design is the youngest branch of graphic design created under the direct influence of advanced digital technologies.
Motion design is the most widely used in film and television. Its graphics are constantly evolving and developing as the market demands more advanced approaches to video production. Without motion graphics, your favorite movies and TV shows would not look the same, so the need for designers for this profile is constant.
But what is precisely motion design? What skills should a designer have to reach this prestigious (and highly paid) profession? Below we provide answers to all questions related to motion design that you may be interested in.
What is motion design?
Motion graphic design, or simply motion design, is a sub-discipline that uses graphic design principles, animations, and video effects to create materials for video production. These materials include movies, short videos, advertisements, web animations, and applications.
Motion design adds the dimension of time to its creations and thus conveys impressive and memorable messages. Combining carefully selected images or videos with solid headlines and text is unique and ensures your message will reach your target audience.
In motion design processes, designers have entire sets of advanced tools. The most commonly used are Adobe After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, Cinema 4D, and Mocha AE.
What does a motion designer do?
Motion graphic designers, just as the name of the profession suggests, create motion graphics. These can be web, film, television, or advertising materials, including trailers, announcements and jingles, commercials, film clips, and many others. To bring these materials to life, motion designers use animations and the tools listed above, which enable them to work smoothly.
They most frequently work in these five areas:
- Film and tv title creation
- Marketing videos and infographics
- Animated logos
- Kinetic typography
- Advertising
If a motion designer works as a freelancer, he can take care of all stages of the work, but in digital agencies, the work is distributed. Team members hold meetings to exchange task-related information, check progress, and meet deadlines. If working as part of a larger team, the motion designer might meet with clients to understand their wishes, requirements, and scope of work.
Motion design includes various tasks, and in agreement with other team members, the motion designer decides what he will work on. He can design 2D or 3D characters, computer-generated graphics, animate typography, draw motion illustrations, procedural animations, and more.
What skills are required to become a motion designer?
A successful motion designer must possess a range of hard and soft skills.
Technical skills include graphic design, artistic skills, animation, 2D and 3D design, and typography. Soft skills refer to creativity, organizational skills, and teamwork.
Do motion designers need to draw?
Motion designers must know how to draw because every animation starts with a sketch, that is, a drawing. Drawing skills don’t have to be perfect – it’s enough to know how to make a rough sketch, and you’ll improve over time. Just look at the tutorial for this horse drawing step by step – you can draw almost anything using the same technique.
Once the drawing is complete, the designer will use his animation skills to turn the static drawing into a motion picture.
Work opportunities for motion designers
The choice of jobs for motion designers is varied – from working on Hollywood A production films to creating intros for phone applications – the choice will depend on the designer’s affinities. They can work as animators, colorists, UI/UX designers, or special effects designers.
Statistics of the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that motion designers often work in film studios, advertising agencies, and software companies. At the same time, a significant number are also self-employed – owning their agency or freelancing.
Even when agencies employ, motion designers often work remotely to manage their time and release maximum creativity.
Average Salary in motion design
According to the BLS, motion designers earn an average of $24.38 per hour or $50,710 per year.
The salary can vary from 40 to 83,000 dollars, depending on the job the motion designer is engaged in and his experience. The more knowledge and skills a designer has, the more money he can make.
Interesting fact: The cities where motion designers earn the most are San Francisco (an average of $85,000 per year), Los Angeles ($64,000 per year), and New York City (the same average amount as LA).
Is motion design a promising career?
Animation is no longer reserved for films, television, commercials, and cartoons. It is becoming more and more common in other industries that have realized that moving images allow them to convey their desired messages more impressively. Therefore, motion design teams are more often represented in-house in large companies, while they decide to hire agencies somewhat less frequently.
The BLS predicts that the demand for motion design will increase by 16% by 2030, which makes this profession very attractive – the chance to find a dynamic and well-paying job is excellent.
Tip: When you look for a motion designer job, the first step you should take is to create a portfolio with your work and publish it on your personal website or a platform like Behance. A CV is fine, but a portfolio shows potential employers what you’ve done so far, so they can decide whether you fit their requirements.
The next step is to network with people in the same niche. Surround yourself with LinkedIn colleagues and share your work experiences and concerns. Attend seminars and similar social gatherings where you can meet other designers and spread the word that you’re looking for work, but do so naturally and positively.
How to become a successful motion designer?
There is not only one path to the career of a motion graphic designer, and that is both a good and a bad side. We can’t tell you, “finish that college, and you’ll get a job,” as with most other professions. But the advantage is that you can choose the path that suits you best.
The BLS reports that most employers prefer candidates with bachelor’s degrees in computer graphics, animation, fine arts, or a related field. In these studies, candidates learn how to draw, paint, sculpt, do animation, and film, which are necessary skills for every motion designer. Candidates are expected to be good at teamwork and have developed time-management skills.
Motion designers can acquire other necessary skills through self-study in various courses, tutorials, or practice.
Another way to become a motion designer, which excludes formal education, involves self-study and self-improvement. You always have the option of self-employment or working on popular freelance platforms. With an effective portfolio with evidence that speaks in favor of your abilities, some employers will be willing to hire you even without a degree.
Takeaway
The demand for motion designers exists, and it will continue to grow. If you aspire to become a motion designer, meet the requirements – master the necessary skills and knowledge and put it into practice. The work is exciting and dynamic, and the innovations in this field are constant, so you can expect a career that will keep you awake and improve daily.
Author bio:
Tomas is a digital marketing specialist and a freelance blogger. His work is focusing on new web tech trends and digital voice distribution across different channels.
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