Motion Designer
Also advertised as: 2D Animator, Animator, Junior Motion Designer, Motion Designer, Motion Graphic Artist, Motion Graphics Designer
Animates graphics and text to create moving visuals for adverts, apps and video content.
What the job involves
Motion designers bring static designs to life, animating logos, infographics and titles for use in adverts, apps and social video. You work in software such as After Effects, translating a brand's visual style into movement that holds attention. It sits at the crossroads of graphic design and video production.
Typical responsibilities
- Animate graphics, titles and infographics
- Translate brand style guides into motion
- Collaborate with editors and designers on final cuts
- Prepare exports to technical specifications
- Storyboard animation sequences from a brief
Common employers
- Advertising agencies
- Production companies
- In-house marketing and brand teams
- Freelance clients
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£22,000 – £28,000 a year
With experience
£34,000 – £50,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, freelance hours vary
Working environment
Studio, office or home based
Remote working
hybrid
Demand for this work
steady
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Motion graphics software
- Animation principles
- Graphic design fundamentals
- Storyboarding
- Attention to detail
Transferable skills you may already have
- Graphic design or illustration experience
- Video editing
- Visual storytelling
Requirements employers ask for
- Motion graphics software
- Animation principles
- Graphic design fundamentals
- Storyboarding
- Attention to detail
- No formal qualification required; a showreel is essential
Useful but not essential
- Graphic design or illustration experience
- Video editing
- Visual storytelling
- Degree or diploma in motion graphics or animation
- After Effects certification
Helpful qualifications
- Degree or diploma in motion graphics or animation
- After Effects certification
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Content Creator (Level 3)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Graphic design
- Related subject: Animation
- Related subject: Media studies
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Motion Designer
next
Animation Lead
next
Creative Director
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- High demand for short-form video animation
- Strong freelance day rates for experienced designers
- Creative, varied brief-to-brief work
What people find hard
- Software skills need constant updating
- Client revisions can be extensive
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a motion designer?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a motion designer earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £22,000 to £28,000 a year, rising towards £50,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include Graphic design or illustration experience, Video editing, Visual storytelling.
Related careers
Graphic Designer
Creates visual work for brands, campaigns, packaging and digital products.
Copywriter
Writes the words used in adverts, websites and marketing materials to persuade and inform.
Video Editor
Cuts raw footage into finished videos for advertising, social media, TV or corporate use.
Photographer
Plans and shoots photography for clients, ranging from products and events to portraits.
Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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