Put In Motion Your Career In Motion Graphics
You get 7700+ vacancies if you search for jobs for motion graphics designers on Naukri.com.
What does that tell you?
A career in motion graphics has become increasingly important in the past few years. And just in the last two, with the pandemic gluing us to our phone and laptop screens, it has become even more so.
Artists, illustrators, and motion designers have been in demand because the lockdown forced companies to go digital. And 3D and 2D graphics are an excellent way to catch anyone’s eye.
So, if you’ve been thinking of pursuing a profession in it, now is a great time to join a motion graphics course.
What is a motion graphics designer?
Animation means bringing something to life. That’s exactly what motion graphic designers do. They add life to static images using 2D and 3D animation or through visual effects and other cinematic techniques.
What sort of work do motion graphics include?
Live videos, graphics, and animations for films, TV, video games, mobile platforms or web apps – a motion graphic designer can make anything. Think of the opening clip of a smartphone app or a trailer for a big Hollywood movie or graphics for a website. It all includes motion graphics.
While these are the most common applications, there are plenty more opportunities out there. And once 5G is used every day, you’ll even see them in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
What is the difference between graphic design and motion graphics?
Both fields are extremely creative and artistic, but they do differ. Motion graphic is a subset of graphic design. So, if you are a graphic designer, you would make static art and visual graphics for web, mobile, print, television and more.
However, if you pick a career in motion graphics, you will be using the principles of animation along with graphical skills. And that’s where the difference lies.
A motion designer has to use 2D, 3D or other animation elements to create something. Whereas a graphic designer doesn’t even need to know anything about animation to do his or her job.
What skills do you need for a career in motion graphics?
If you want a motion graphics job, then look for a course that teaches you the following tools:
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Premiere Pro CC
- Adobe After Effects CC
- Adobe Audition
Corel Draw and Dreamweaver are two other software that motion designers should have knowledge of. Besides this, you must be able to communicate, present your ideas and interact with other team members.
Concepts of animation and modelling
Motion graphics require movement. So, the essential skill to learn is how light impacts motion or how the view of the camera moves. These are the basics of cinematography that every motion designer should master.
Texturing and lighting effects
The surface of motion graphics can be rough, shiny, refractive, transparent, reflective or even translucent. It can simulate a photo-realistic texture or show exaggerated movement. There are endless possibilities in effects, and a motion graphic designer must be aware of all of them.
Timing of the movement
A crucial skill in motion graphics is timing. Even the most fantastic 3D graphic will fall flat if the rhythm and flow are not natural. Think audio moving too slow for the graphic in the video or the pacing of a man a little too fast.
Understanding the context
A grasp of where and how the motion graphic will be used is another important skill. Without the big-picture context, your design won’t make an impact. For example, a video playing as the start screen of a mobile game makes aesthetic sense and therefore is more effective than a static image.
What are the responsibilities of a motion graphic job?
A typical day for a motion graphic designer will differ based on experience. For beginners working on their very first job, it would include:
- Understand the creative brief.
- Preparing draft to pitch ideas with seniors.
- Creating graphics that convey the right message.
- Designing the overall look and feel of the motion graphic.
- Work with animation artists, copywriters, and others to keep the design in line with the objectives.
As your experience increases, your job would include managing multiple projects at the same time. Most of it would be collaborating with people to create innovative videos. That would mean you must be a master of audio and video editing and have an eye for stunning designs. Other duties of more experienced motion designers could be:
- Create thought-provoking storyboards in a fast-paced environment.
- Translate ideas into presentations, videos, infographics, posters, banners, etc., based on which industry they work in.
How do you kickstart your career in motion graphics?
It doesn’t matter if you just passed class 12th or completed a bachelor’s degree. You can always put into motion your career in motion graphics. All it takes is joining a motion graphic course from an institute with a proven track record.
They will teach you all the technical and soft skills needed to succeed as a motion designer. Plus, they will help you build a portfolio that stands out from the crowd and get you interview-ready. What’s more, you can enroll in a course while working or studying!
Follow motion graphics experts to learn
A certification in motion graphic design is a must. But you can do a lot more to land your dream job, one of which is to follow well-known motion graphic designers.
To get you started, here are three designers to keep an eye on. And yes, we purposely picked international motion designers so that you get exposure to what the entire world is doing in the field.
- Henrique Barone is a frame-by-frame artist that will definitely inspire you to become a better motion graphic designer. You can follow his Instagram for motivation and website to learn his technique.
- Pablo Rachot has worked with Netflix, Airbnb, Instagram and more. One look at his motion design work, and you’ll fall in love.
- Eleanor Ngai is a freelance designer and illustrator who has created motion designs for Coco Cola, Facebook, Red Bull, and other big names. We love her work because it bursts with energy. Take a look here!
