Motion Graphics & Video Editing Portfolio Development

So You Want a Job in Motion Graphics or Video Editing, But Aren't Sure Where to Start?

Everyone wants to have a cool video for their presentation, website, or social media channel. YouTube is the most popular social media platform with 81% of adults in the United States as users. While TikTok (a platform devoted entirely to video) may only count 21% of U.S. adults as users, that's still almost 60 million people. Video, whether live or animated, is the most engaging way to get your message to as many people as possible. And this is where video editors and motion graphics designers come in.

Learn Motion Design & Video Editing Principles

Video editing and motion graphics design are growing industries. Creating engaging and meaningful videos or designs requires a technical knowledge of the software programs involved, as well as a knowledge of workflow, an awareness of current and past visual styles and trends, and an ability to critique our own work and those of our collaborators.

You'll learn the principles of motion graphics and the best practices to create unique motion graphics from concept to completion, resulting in projects worthy of including in your demo reel to show potential clients.

Build Your Demo Reel

In this in-depth portfolio course, you'll create several projects for your demo reel. This course is a self-driven, project-based course designed to support you and enhance your skill set as you work to develop original, high-quality projects for your demo reel. Students receive ample one-on-one support from the instructor as well as targeted lessons that are centered upon the projects that they are creating. 

Each day, the instructor sets high-level goals and provides inspiration and guidance, but much of the learning takes place through discovery, as determined by each student’s individual goals and creative direction. Assignments will be critiqued by both the instructor and during group critiques. You'll then revise your work as needed, and finish the assignment either in class or outside of class as homework (you should expect to work outside of class). The instructor is available throughout the course duration, to provide feedback and advice, both during and outside of class.

Learn Where It All Came From

Modern video editing grew out of the professions of film and television editors. With the explosive growth of the internet and the affordability of video-making equipment starting in the 1990s, knowledgeable video editors have become more necessary than ever.  Motion graphics (also called motion design, mograph) is a growing profession with its roots in animation and graphic design for film titles. Creating engaging and meaningful moving images from live video or animated graphics requires technical knowledge of the software programs involved, as well as a knowledge of efficient workflows, an awareness of current and past visual styles and trends, an ability to critique your own work and those of your collaborators, and above all, the ability to craft an engaging story for the viewer.

Why Should You Take This Class?

This class will prepare you for a career in the video editing and motion graphics industries. While they are separate specialties, motion graphics artists and video editors often find themselves working in the same shops and on the same projects. Even when not working together directly, they have a lot of similar workflows and software tools in common. In this instructor-led informational course, you will learn the skills necessary to create a portfolio and function as a working professional who makes a living creating video. 

What Will You Learn?

This course teaches you fundamental motion design and video editing concepts, as well as how the industry works. You'll learn the types of projects you will work on, the opportunities available, and how to market yourself and find a job as a motion graphics artist or video editor. And perhaps just as importantly, you'll learn what red flags to look out for while looking for your next gig.