Would you love to become a motion graphic designer but are unsure how to go about it? Then you have come to the right place. This article covers everything you need to know about motion designers and what they do, as well as how to become one. Let’s get right into it.
Motion Designer
The Motion Designer produces motion graphics, using strategies to produce animated content within audiovisual setups. A motion designer can generate original and unedited video content from layouts or from assets such as logos or text, creating multimedia flags and short films, as well as special effects.
The major Motion Graphic techniques allow, in the context of CGI, to work on complicated compositions designed by various elements, both vector and illustrated. As a Motion Designer, you can animate illustrations, vector shapes, or 3D shapes using compositing to combine digital and real-life scenes, producing both abstract and photo-realistic designs.
What skills should a Motion Designer have?
Some of the various skills a motion designer must possess include the following:
- You must know how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software
- A motion designer must Know the 12 laws of animation
- He or she must have knowledge of the fundamental concepts of composition (layer, tracking, track matte, alpha channel)
- You must know the main concepts of image management (such as color theory, resolution, and formats)
- You must understand the basic concepts of photography (cameras, lenses, aperture, focus, etc.)
For you to be successful as a Motion Designer you must have technical awareness combined with a strong creativity mindset and a sharp eye on the real world for perfect management of timeline and movement in space and time.
Organize perspectives in a software setting and coordinate real elements, particularly lights and perspectives, with other items gotten from other images or created on request.
Graphic Motion Designer
Motion graphics designers are also referred to as motion designers, and they create artwork for the Internet, television, or film. Some examples of these include movie clips, trailers, advertisements, title sequences, etc. They use visual effects, animation, and other cinematic methods to bring life to their productions. They create images that are in motion, just as their title suggests.
By animating graphics and developing realistic visual effects, motion graphics designers bring films, websites, commercials, and more to a whole different dimension. With the increasing popularity of video content online, motion graphics designers could find themselves working on pretty much anything and everything on any digital platform.
Moreover, there may be opportunities outside of these more conventional applications of motion graphics. Depending on the kind of motion graphics you enjoy going after, you could end up working on a blockbuster movie in Hollywood that would fetch you big bucks or you could be freelancing the opening intro for a new iPhone application.
Animators and multimedia designers normally work in motion picture offices, computer systems, and software companies as well as advertising agencies. This industry also experienced a very high percentage (59%) of self-employed workers in 2018, indicating that remote work agreements are very possible in the field.
Bear in mind that there are disadvantages. Losing the convenience of collaboration is one drawback to the working online arrangement. Teamwork is usually more productive when creators are working face-to-face.
Motion Designer Job Description
Media such as television shows, movies, commercials, video games, and more rely on the work of motion designers to create animated graphics and visual effects. Motion designers use several software tools to develop these elements, from a simple plan to changing existing footage to suit the needs of their project.
You must be able to work alone on projects with tight deadlines. Motion designers also require strong communication skills to effectively communicate their plans and ideas to customers as well as to supervisors.
The following are among the many tasks that fall within the purview of motion designers:
- Developing animated graphics and videos with computer apps like Adobe After Effects or Adobe Premiere Pro
- Generating illustrations, designs, and other images used in marketing items such as brochures, flyers, and commercials.
- Creating graphic designs for several needs, such as book covers, newspapers, websites, and billboards,
- Creating motion graphics for use in television advertisements, video games, or other visual media creations.
- Using computer apps to develop animations and special effects for advertisements, movies, or other visual media productions
- Illustrating ideas into motion graphics that can be understood by a wide audience
- Creating motion graphics that communicate ideas clearly.
Motion Designer Salary
The average motion designer salary in the USA is $83,634 annually, or $40.21 every hour. Entry-level employees start at $65,000 per year, while most professional employees earn up to $132,916 a year.
How to Become a Motion Designer
We got you covered; below are some of the steps you can take to become a motion designer.
#1. Research About Motion Graphics Designer Education Requirements
At this junction, you must analyze how much educational background you require. Based on real motion graphics designer resumes, 74.3 percent of motion graphics designers own a bachelor’s degree. So you should consider getting at least a bachelor’s degree to stand out from the crowd and stand a better chance at being hired.
In terms of higher education degrees, 9.4 percent of motion graphics designers own master’s degrees. Even though a lot of motion graphics designers own a college degree, it’s also very possible to become a motion designer with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is a critical step in becoming a motion graphics designer. Analysis obtained from motion graphics designer resumes shows that the most popular majors are graphic design, photography, and animation.
#2. Start Building Specific Motion Graphics Designer Skills
As a prospective motion designer, you need certain fundamental motion graphics designer skills before starting your journey as a motion designer. In this article, we provide certain skills you need to become a motion designer.
#3. Complete Important Motion Graphics Designer Training And Internships
Usually, Accountants spend about one to three months taking training schools before they get employed, usually referred also to as on-the-job training. In the same way, new motion graphics designers learn the skills and techniques they need for their jobs and employers while taking this training.
#4. Check out Motion Graphics Designer Duties And Responsibilities
Motion graphics designer duties and responsibilities are the activities motion graphics designers do on a normal day. Outlined below are some of the main duties and responsibilities that appear on motion graphics designer job listings:
- Oversee team brainstorming meetings to figure out creative problems.
- Coordinate groups of motion designers, which include brainstorming, mood boards, and developing mock-ups and presentations for customers and stakeholders.
- Educate & supervise newly appointed workers in creating realistic-looking effects and help put together the effects in composing with CG elements.
- Create and build interactive digital content for musicians, such as photography, video, and custom HTML, CSS, and JavaScript development.
- Design brochures, flyers, and other print materials for meetings, special occasions, and non-profit functions.
- Code flash banners using XML, HTML, and ActionScript.
#5. Build Your Motion Graphics Designer Resume
When you have a solid background, you can start creating your motion graphics designer resume.
While you build your resume, you must ensure also that you include all the important information that hiring managers are on the lookout for when going through a motion graphics designer resume.
Look for resume tips, examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, that would help you build a solid motion designer resume.
#6. Apply For Motion Graphics Designer Jobs
At this stage, you need to start searching for a motion graphics designer job. Use the tips provided below for a successful job search:
- Search for job boards for relevant postings
- Review your professional network
- Contact companies you would love to work for directly
- Beware of job scams
What is the difference between an animator and a motion designer?
One of the fundamental differences between animators and motion designers is the kind of projects they work on. Animators are always dealing mostly with creating characters and environments, motion designers on the other hand work mostly on developing graphics and visual effects.
For instance, an animator could be responsible for developing the movements and actions of a cartoon character, while a motion designer on the other hand could be responsible for generating the visual effects that are used in a movie or television show.
Another notable difference between the two careers is the precise skills and techniques they use. Animators usually need to have a solid understanding of traditional animation techniques, some of which include solid drawing and staging, as well as a solid grasp of anatomy and character design.
In contrast, motion designers must be skilled in aspects like Typography and Visual Language, and they might also need to have experience in graphic design.
What is the career path for a motion designer?
In terms of career, the path to becoming a motion designer can be more flexible, and most motion designers begin this career path as graphic designers or other creative professionals before transitioning into this industry.
Motion designers may need to have some particular technical skills, such as having an understanding of motion graphics software, but they do not actually require a college degree.
The job labor market for motion designers is also booming, especially because businesses and companies increasingly use motion graphics in their marketing and publicity endeavors.
How do motion designers make money?
Most motion graphic designers work for design companies, production companies, or in-house creative companies. Full-time employment offers a constant income and benefits for your family, but you may have limited creative control and flexibility compared to when you choose to freelance, you just have to make a choice based on your lifestyle.
Are motion designers in demand?
Yes, Motion graphics designers are in high demand
These professionals possess a particular skill set in today’s largely digital world, therefore their skills are in high demand in different industries such as television production.
Conclusion
Working as a motion designer can be entertaining and fascinating for people who love creating captivating graphics. Don’t make the mistake of confusing the job of a graphics motion designer with that of an animator, they are two different positions, with different requirements.
Motion Designer FAQs
What is a motion designer?
A motion graphics designer focuses on animation, audio, and visual effects to develop moving content and graphics for various media, such as television, the web, and movies.
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