Anyone looking for training to learn motion graphics or who wants to demonstrate a high level of skills with tools related to the approach to graphic design animation can seek out certificate programs available for learning the software or certifications that can authenticate an individual’s aptitude with a specific graphic design application. A certification typically involves passing an exam supervised by an industry-recognized association. Whether a particular job requires certifications or not, a certification will likely enhance the chances of getting that job. Additionally, certificate programs may not only help with learning skills for landing a job related to motion graphics but can also contribute to passing a certification exam. The information provided below offers solutions with either choosing the right certificate program training in motion graphics or pursuing certifications related to working with related technology.
What is Motion Graphics?
Motion graphics is an area of graphic design that involves developing animated digital graphics for webpage layouts, apps, film, television, and online content. Motion graphics includes using software like Adobe After Effects, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop to create dynamic graphic designs that can help with finding work in today’s competitive digital marketplace. Skills with motion graphics have become vital in several industries, including digital advertising and web design. Training to learn motion graphics can also help young tech talent with finding a career path from possessing knowledge for using a variety of design software.
For anyone who has seen an animated film, television program, or commercial and wondered to themselves–“How is that made?”–working in animation through learning skills in motion graphics could create a new career path. Motion graphics provides options for working in a variety of areas related to animation and graphic design. Think about it. Skills in motion graphics can be used with finding work in entertainment, information media, and education.
Motion graphics involves producing animated graphic designs that combine text, audio, motion, animation, and visual effects that can be used on social media, YouTube, film, television, or commercials. Motion graphics contribute to creating content for movies, television shows, advertising, and video games. Skills in motion graphics can be used for working at film studios, TV stations, marketing agencies, or on social media platforms as well as jobs that provide flexibility that allows professional designers to work as part of a team, part-time, or as freelancers.
For anyone who has considered learning motion graphics or who would like to demonstrate a high level of skills in related software, there are certificate programs for training or certifications that verify aptitude in areas of graphic design. Whether a specific job requires certifications or not, a certification enhances the likelihood of getting any job. Certificate programs can not only help with the goal of learning motion graphics but can also contribute to passing a certification exam. Certifications or certificate programs associated with motion graphics provide the skills for working in animation, graphic effects, or video editing for finding work as Motion Graphics Animators, Graphic Designers, Video Editors, or Animators.
Motion graphics takes working in graphic design to another level. Animation can tell a story in ways that can create a connection with audiences more quickly than static visual design. Motion graphics can vary from a small animated accent to an elaborate visual effect. Learning how to create motion graphics can set any ambitious Graphic Designer apart from competitors with finding a career in animation or visual effects.
Read more about what motion graphics is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Motion Graphics?
Learning motion graphics can open doors to new careers as well as providing individuals with creative growth. Training in tools for motion graphics can lead to employment in a variety of industries and professions such as web design, video games, television, film, and online advertising.
Through learning motion graphics, prospective Graphic Designers can create engaging animations that can be included in their portfolios for appealing to potential employers. Tools for working with motion graphics include Adobe products After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator. By learning these applications, students can learn how to work in designing complex, animated graphics for creating digital animations, animated logos, and infographics. Many of these design tools allow Graphic Designers and related professionals to create elaborate animations with the skills needed for working in a variety of capacities.
Skills in motion graphics can lead to working in areas including film editing, especially with digital technology used in today’s film and television industries. Knowledge with motion graphics can contribute to finding work as Special Effects Artists or Film Editors with effects-related content. Motion graphics professionals can also find work as members of a design team tasked with developing animated effects or other elements for film, television, or social media. Skills with motion graphics can also help in expanding any ambitious Graphic Designer’s skill set in designing and developing kinetic graphics.
Media Content
Motion graphics can help in generating content in a variety of media. Designers use motion graphics for making websites more dynamic, which has become a routine aspect for any web design. Simply stated, motion graphics can be used to attract users as well as encouraging those users to stay on that site.
Motion graphics is related to visual design that includes digital animation and film editing. Learning motion graphics also helps students in developing animated graphics that can be layered onto images using applications like Photoshop and Illustrator that give motion to static images. Training in motion graphics includes learning about film editing, visual effects, and post-production for working in the film and television industries. Motion graphics software helps in developing animate web content, digital logos, responsive and interactive infographics along with a variety of other animated visual content.
Motion Graphics Designers work with software that includes Adobe After Effects and Premiere as well as the Cinema 4D software suite for creating animated designs and content. Motion Graphics Designers can create engaging animations by using a variety of digital applications for work involving video editing, which includes cutting and mixing visual footage. Training in motion graphics includes learning about how to edit visual content using design applications for correcting color, removing visual distractions, applying green screen elements, or replacing cell phone displays. Skills in motion graphics can facilitate creativity for taking static images and converting those images into dynamic animations.
It should be noted that motion graphics and animation are not the same but do overlap. Animation defines any type of moving image, which includes anything from cartoons to Claymation. Specifically, motion graphics refers to a specific type of animation that gives motion to otherwise static graphic designs. Additionally, while filmmakers and producers often use animation to tell stories, Graphics Designers use motion graphics to simply convey a direct and specific message that connects with audiences.
Working with Motion Graphics
Skills with motion graphics can be used for working in a variety of industries and purposes, including web design, social media marketing, digital advertising, video game development, film, and television. Many use motion graphics to attract audiences by conveying information visually that can be easily comprehended and retained. Motion graphics has become popular in all types of media for reaching and connecting with potential customers.
Animated Logos
Animated logos refer to adding motion graphics to an organization’s logo design. Any company’s logo is part of its brand, which represents the personality an organization wants to project to the public in an effort to attract potential customers and clients. A logo is a symbol that organizations used to represent their image, values, and history. By animating a company’s logo, a Graphic Designer has to maintain the integrity and purpose of what that symbol possesses and must strive to translate those values through the animation. The word animation itself means life. An animated logo brings a brand to life, which helps people connect with that logo since the brand now comes across as something that is alive. Because nearly every successful business has a logo, an animated logo can help separate a specific brand from its competitors.
Kinetic Typography
Kinetic typography is a form of animation that uses moving text to draw in an audience. Typography is a vital element with any graphic design, and kinetic typography is a technique that has been used since the development of motion pictures back in the 1890s and is still used nowadays in film, television, commercials, music videos, smartphone apps, and websites. Kinetic typography involves making text more dynamic for attracting the eyes of potential customers.
Training in motion graphics provides skills for creating kinetic typography, which gets commonly used with websites, social media platforms, and online ads in addition to more traditional media. Graphic Designers often use kinetic typography as a tool for grabbing the attention of users who typically may have short attention spans, especially when sorting through an abundance of online noise. When competing for the eyes of potential customers on the Web, anything that can grab people’s attention could be the edge for beating out competitors. The concept for kinetic typography is fairly simple: words that move usually stand out and draw attention. Kinetic typography helps in communicating a message that cuts through a sea of visual clutter more effectively than static text.
Explainer Videos
Explainer videos are short visual narratives used to connect with audiences more directly about products or concepts. While these types of videos often use narrators to explain something to viewers, animation and kinetic typography can be used as part of a method for grabbing an audience’s attention in explaining a concept. Explainer videos are typically brief, well-paced, and conversational with the aim of duplicating an elevator pitch in conveying an idea in a tight timeframe in a compact environment. Using motion graphics with animated images or text could be an effective way of informing and educating potential customers or clients about a product, topic, or service. While animation runs the risk of coming off as cartoony, motion graphics in explainer videos should be presented more discreetly in order for the information to be taken seriously.
Motion Graphics Careers and Industries
Will I Need Certificate Training or Certification for a Career in Motion Graphics?
Students looking to develop skills with motion graphics for expanding opportunities for working in graphic design can enroll for certificate training like, for example, Noble Desktop’s Motion Graphics Certificate program or gain certification with related software. Certificate programs can provide students with hands-on training for working with motion graphics related applications like After Effects and Premiere Pro for handling tasks including animated projects. While certificate programs and acquiring certification are not the same things, certificate training can help with passing a certification exam.
How Will Certification Help Me Get a Career?
Developing skills in motion graphics can expand options for working in graphic design. Motion graphics is a form of animation offering different ways for telling stories that may help with connecting a targeted message to audiences or potential customers more effectively than other marketing approaches. Motion graphics can vary from subtle animated accents to elaborate visual effects. Training in motion graphics could help upcoming Graphic Designers find careers involving animation and special effects.
Motion Graphics in Industries
Motion graphics facilitates producing animated graphic designs that combine text, sound, motion, animation, and visual effects to be used in social media, YouTube, and commercials as well as movies and television shows. Skills with motion graphics can facilitate developing material used in movies, television shows, commercials, and video games. Training to learn motion graphics can lead to working in any number of industries, including marketing agencies, tech companies, film studios, or television stations.
Film and Television
The film and television industries look for Graphic Designers, Video Editors, and other digital professionals who know how to apply motion graphics. Skills with motion graphics can be used to create graphics or special effects for commercials, movies, TV episodes, and online videos. Motion graphics can also be used for animating graphics and typography for movie titles or credits, creating visual effects in music videos, adding graphics to a news program, or creating an infographic to use in a documentary.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook with motion graphics-related occupations such as Special Effects Artists or Animators is projected to increase by eight percent between 2022 and 2032 with finding work in the film or television industries.
Web Design
Web Designers develop websites as well as working with graphic design, including motion graphics, as part of their jobs. Motion graphics involves adding dynamic elements to text or graphics on websites or visual media for attracting and engaging visitors and audiences. Websites, for instance, have become a major way of conducting business throughout the world, which has resulted in many companies employing Web Designers who can help them in establishing a brand identity that sets them apart from competitors. Using motion graphics, Web Designers are able to create animated images and text that may pull in potential customers or clients by making an organization stand out against the internet’s cluttered sea of content.
Advertising
Marketing and advertising agencies have to develop tons of digital content for promoting clients, products, or services to a variety of consumers. While written content is vital in communicating detailed information on a product or service, visual design is essential for attracting eyes that create opportunities for leading potential customers to that information. Motion graphics helps with grabbing the attention of audiences by presenting dynamic text and graphics. Graphic Designers often use motion graphics to create animated logos, text, and videos that help organizations develop an identifiable brand. Motion graphics allows Graphic Designers to create content used for marketing and advertising on television, online, social media, and smartphone apps.
Video Games
Motion graphics can be used for creating animation and special effects in video games. Additionally, motion graphics also gets used with video games indirectly with developing screensavers or in ads for promoting a particular game.
Careers with Motion Graphics
Working with motion graphics requires skills in graphic design and video editing, which can open the door for working as a freelancer or full-time employee at a television station, film studio, or marketing agency among several options. Skills in motion graphics could lead to becoming an Animator earning an annual income of about $46,000 on average in the United States. Professions associated with motion graphics and animation include working as a Graphic Designer, which can bring in an income of around $58,000 or a 3D Animator earning about $63,000.
Graphic Design
Graphic Designers are able to apply skills in graphic design, which includes motion graphics, for making visual elements more dynamic. Motion graphics can be used in animating text, web design layouts, or video presentations with content in a variety of media. Training to learn motion graphics can open areas for visual communication on the Web, television, or social media. Graphic Designers can help with bringing any client’s visual concepts to life for attracting and engaging audiences or potential customers.
Motion Graphics Designer
A Motion Graphics Designer creates animated text and graphics for use with a variety of media, including websites, social media platforms, and online videos as well as in film and television. Motion Graphics Designers are able to use skills in editing to enhance visuals with graphics, alter speed with frame rates, or add sound effects. Motion Graphics Designers also possess skills in special effects and are able to work on a variety of digital media for adding accents that introduce or exit from a visual presentation.
Motion Graphics Designers use software like After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro for creating visual effects and animation for websites, apps, movies, television shows, video games, and music videos. With skills in animation graphics or creating visual effects, Motion Graphics Designers are able to work with video content involving a variety of media and are able to work in a variety of capacities and situations for helping organizations enhance their visual presentations.
Motion Graphics Designers can provide skills for designing dynamic graphics for websites, social media platforms, television, and film for purposes that include promotions, developing clips, trailers, commercials, or title sequences. Skills associated with motion graphics include knowledge for developing visual effects, animation, and other cinema-related techniques involving graphics in motion.
Animator
Animators must create lively and visually engaging graphics for a variety of media, including websites, film, video games, television, social media, and advertising by designing and manipulating text and graphics in animations or 3D models that make static images come alive. Animators must collaborate with Art Directors, Storyboard Artists, Directors, and Producers for developing characters and scenery that engage audiences and potential customers.
Specifically, 2D Animators often design and develop animations for smartphones, video games, television shows, movies, and marketing. 2D Animators typically work with other Animators, Art Directors, Editors, and Storyboard Artists in bringing any client’s creative vision to life by using design applications like Photoshop and Illustrator.
Similarly, 3D Animators work in turning digital graphics into textured animated content for display in a variety of visual media. 3D Animators focus on building immersive and realistic graphic designs. 3D Animators strive to make animated effects look realistic with depth that gives the work an impression of weight and movement that should feel lifelike for any viewer.
Web Designer
Web Designers work in a variety of industries by creating designs for websites that attract users with an appealing visual appearance. Web Designers have to understand basic design principles and functional aesthetics, including how to apply motion graphics for making static graphics dynamics and appealing to attract the eyes of online users or television viewers.
Video Editor
With the prevalence of video streaming available nowadays, there is a high demand for Video Editors and related professionals who are able to shape that content into something appealing. Any Video Editor’s skill set must include working with motion graphics for enhancing visual content into a more appealing presentation for posting on YouTube or other online video platforms. Training with video editing applications like Premiere Pro or visual effects software like After Effects can provide Video Editors with skills in motion graphics, which provides opportunities for work in making video content look more professional and appealing.
Where to Find Work with Skills in Motion Graphics
With the prevalence of digital media affecting everything everywhere nowadays, there is a high demand for people with skills in a variety of technologies, including professionals who are able to shape graphic content into something appealing. Among these skills, training to learn motion graphics could provide the ability for handling animation, graphic effects, and video editing that can lead to finding employment in a variety of professions across the country for working with digital media, the internet, and social media. There are several industries and cities providing career opportunities for people with skills in motion graphics for working in the film industry, television, streaming providers, and social media platforms in places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, Austin, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, or Seattle.
Skills with motion graphics can lead to working as Video Editors, Video Managers, or Graphic Designers. Today’s abundance of online outlets has created a need for people with skills for crafting visual material into eye-catching presentations for viewing on websites, YouTube, or social media as well as television and streaming media from training in tools like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers a variety of employment opportunities for people with skills in motion graphics and training in applications like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. Working as a Graphic Designer can earn a person an annual income of around $67,000 in the city. Other professions for those with knowledge and experience in motion graphics include becoming a Video Editor, which can bring in a salary of as much as $75,000 a year with skills for enhancing content by adding dynamic visual elements to a variety of media. Training in motion graphics can also lead to work as a 3D Animator in Los Angeles, where a person can earn as much as $94,000 a year working on film projects, video games, websites, and social media.
New York City
Skills with motion graphics can lead to becoming a Video Editor in New York City, earning an annual salary of around $70,000. Those skills with motion graphics can also help to find work as a Video Manager earning an income of about $77,000 a year for handling storyboards, scripts, and integrating graphic content into a variety of media. There are also options with work as a 3D Animator earning a salary of as much as $159,000 a year for working on movies, television shows, video games, websites, and social media.
Atlanta
Atlanta is looking for individuals who have experience in motion graphics for pulling together graphic content to include with a variety of media. These skills can lead to finding work in the city as a Graphic Designer, which can earn someone an annual income of about $73,000. Motion graphics skills could also lead to working as a 3D Animator, which can bring in a yearly salary of as much as $121,000 for developing textured and realistic three-dimensional animated graphics for use in a variety of media.
Seattle
Possessing skills with motion graphics along with having instincts for storytelling can be combined to create a portfolio and resume that should appeal to potential media employers throughout Seattle. For example, working as a Video Editor can earn someone an annual income of around $52,000. Skills with motion graphics can also help with becoming a Videographer, which can earn a person a salary of as much as $145,000 a year. Seattle also offers career opportunities for Graphic Designers, who can earn around $75,000 a year for working with film, video games, or websites.
Is It Worth It to Become Motion Graphics Certified?
Graphic Designers who are looking to change jobs or improve on skills at their current positions may be interested in certificate training in motion graphics. Certificate programs in motion graphics can provide a skill for experienced Graphic Designers and related professionals for working in film, television as well as working on websites, online videos, or social media. Skills with motion graphics can lead to finding work as an independent contractor or as part of a design team working full-time or part-time at a company or agency. Motion graphics facilitates designing animations and graphic effects or contributing to video editing that can help in securing a career as Graphic Designers, Motion Graphic Designers, Animators, 3D Animators, or Video Editors.
What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning Motion Graphics?
For Graphic Designers new to motion graphics, getting comfortable with the software for applying the techniques might represent the highest hurdle. However, training with user-friendly applications like Adobe After Effects for learning motion graphics can help with easing newcomers along their way to mastering skills for making static graphics and text come alive. Learning motion graphics offers various methods for developing simple animated graphics such as moving titles, spinning shapes, and animated logos along with designing complex digital animations for television shows, movies, commercials, and YouTube used by professional organizations and amateurs for developing video content. Learning anything new may not be easy, but techniques associated with motion graphics for using tools like After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator should provide a smooth transition with picking up a new set of skills.
How Does Learning Motion Graphics Compare to Other Skills?
While skills for motion graphics are commonly associated with online graphics, the technique is also closely associated with video editing because of editing software like Premiere Pro or visual effects applications like After Effects that both facilitate working with motion graphics. Basically, motion graphics can be approached as a graphic design skill or a video effects technique that can be applied with digital media for web development or online video content. The point is that learning motion graphics to use in videos or with web design can be approached like cross-pollination that provides flexibility with skills for working in a variety of industries.
Training in motion graphics focuses on adding motion to static images and text in layouts and design through layering. Motion graphics bring life to what would have been a static graphic like a logo, title, or digital element. By learning software like After Effects and Premiere Pro, Graphic Designers can apply motion graphics that include adding digital effects and animation that can help graphics or text stand out in today’s crowded sea of information.
Using motion graphics with Adobe After Effects, a video effects application, allows Video Editors and Graphic Designers to work in post-production with compositing, visual effects, and animation for creating animated works for videos, movies, television, websites, YouTube, and social media platforms. Training in After Effects provides skills for creating and controlling animation, applying special effects, and producing visual results that will attract an audience. After Effects offers versatility for effects editing that includes a green screen compositing tools as well as software for creating 2D and 3D animation.
Anyone interested in learning motion graphics can also train in Premiere Pro for working in the film and television industries equipped with knowledge with this industry-standard video editing tool. Premiere Pro facilitates applying motion graphics as well as editing video for social media posts, YouTube videos, or online advertising that can give digital material a professional appearance for making results stand out when compared to other videos. Through training to learn Premiere Pro, Designers can apply motion graphics along with basic editing and visual editing concepts, including frame rates, video resolutions, and aspect ratios along with how to import and organize various types of media.
Practice Makes Perfect
While motion graphics can be viewed as simply another graphic design technique, its versatility may lead to some difficulties for getting comfortable with using the new skill. As with any skill, practice makes perfect. Learning motion graphics can open up options for careers related to animation and graphic design for working in entertainment, information media, or education.
Motion Graphics As a Design Skill
Learning motion graphics provides Graphic Designers and similar professionals with skills for using animation as a way to tell stories visually to create a connection with audiences more effectively. Motion graphics can vary from a small animated accent to an elaborate visual effect. Learning how to create motion graphics can set a Graphic Designer apart from the crowd for establishing a career involving animation and visual effects.
Certifications Vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?
Anyone thinking about a career working in graphic design, animation, or video should consider certificate training or getting certification in motion graphics. Enrolling in a certificate program or passing a certification exam provides individuals with not only skills for finding work in today’s competitive job market but may put them ahead of competitors vying for the same positions. Prospective Graphic Designers can improve their skill set by learning motion graphics through certificate programs focused on training them in how to animate text and graphics that will attract the eyes of audiences by combining visual elements with music or voice-over audio in television commercials or online ads. Designers can also pass certification exams to authenticate skills for using Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro.
Whether a particular job requires certifications, a certification will likely enhance the chances of getting any job. Additionally, certificate programs may not only help with learning the skills for landing a desired job related to motion graphics but may also contribute to passing a certification exam.