First used in the 1940s, motion graphics is a type of animation. Motion graphics artists take static design elements and give them animation and movement. Motion graphics are in many media types, including video games, websites, and television. Most Motion Graphics Designers use computer applications such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator. If you are still determining if learning motion graphics is right for you, consider reading on to learn more about the myriad uses of motion graphics tools and techniques. Not only will learning motion graphics open up a number of new career opportunities, but it also has a lot of potential personal uses.

What is Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics refers to the field of visual design concerned with digital animation and film editing. In motion graphics, students learn the tools that will allow them to create animated images that can be layered onto designs in applications like Photoshop and Illustrator, giving motion to otherwise static images. Motion graphics training also serves as an entry into the world of film editing, as motion graphics classes teach students how to use the tools that are used in the film and television industry to create special effects and post-production edits. Motion graphics tools create animated web assets, digital logos, responsive and interactive infographics, and other animated visual content.

Motion graphic artists use Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Cinema 4D to build animated designs and assets. Using these tools, motion design artists can produce vibrant animations that fully utilize the digital canvas. Motion design also relates closely to video editing, so motion graphics training covers how creatives use digital tools to both cut and mix film clips. Additionally, the training covers how to edit those clips using tools to correct colors, how to use green screens, and how to replace cell phone displays. These skills will allow creatives to take static designs and enhance them with dynamic motion animations that give life to their visions.

While some people think that motion graphics and animation are the same things, the two are quite distinct. Animation is a term that covers all types of moving images, from cartoons to clay animation. In contrast, motion graphics is a type of animation that is focused on giving movement to static graphic design elements. Another major difference between the two is that animation typically tells a story, while motion graphics is more focused on communicating a specific message to the audience.

Read more about what motion graphics is and why you should learn it.

Professional Uses for Motion Graphics

Motion graphics skills help to create content for a wide variety of industries, including web design, social media marketing, digital advertising, gaming, and film and television. Researchers have discovered that motion design attracts viewers, makes information easier to understand, and is more memorable. In recent years it has become popular to incorporate it into almost every type of media. As a result, motion graphics design has become a sought-after skill.

Design Animated Logos

Almost every business has a logo, which is a visual representation that tells customers who that business is, and separates it from its competition. An increasing number of companies are opting for animated logos, which Motion Graphics Designers often create. Animated logos have movement and effects, and an animated logo is a great way to get people’s attention. This type of logo can also impart a more complex message than a static logo. Animated logos have become so common that in 2020, Los Angeles, the host of the 2028 Olympic Games, revealed that it would use the first-ever animated logo for the games. 

Create Kinetic Typography

Motion Designers also create kinetic typography, which simply means animated text. This is commonly used for websites, social media, and online ads. Typography is an integral part of design, and designers have long utilized it to help convey their messages. However, more and more designers have begun to utilize kinetic typography in recent years. This is because research shows that most people have a short attention span when reading content online. Text that moves is more likely to stand out and keep users’ attention for longer. Kinetic typography can also communicate a more complex message than static text.

Craft Explainer Videos

Explainer videos are short videos that teach people about particular products or services, and they often contain moving graphics that a Motion Designer created. These types of videos are prevalent because researchers have found that they effectively explain complex ideas and hold viewers’ attention. Some explainer videos are created through animation. However, animation often has a cartoon-like appearance, and many professional companies prefer motion graphics for explainer videos because these tend to look more professional.

Generate Web Content

Many Motion Graphics Designers can be found working in web design because motion graphics are an integral part of almost every website. Motion design has become so prevalent online that sites not incorporating it seems outdated. Using motion graphics, websites can attract users and entice them to stay longer. Motion graphics can even help distract users when a site takes longer to load.

Other Uses for Motion Graphics

Motion graphics skills aren’t just a way to get ahead professionally; they can also be used outside work. For instance, some people use their motion graphics skills to work on their own creative projects. Motion graphics knowledge can also be helpful for anyone opening an ecommerce store or trying to develop an online presence.

Personal Enrichment

Working on motion graphics is a creative process, and some people do it in their free time, just for fun. In addition to being fun, there is evidence that working on motion graphics can actually improve people’s health and mental well-being. Researchers have found that doing something creative, such as motion graphics, can reduce stress and anxiety and make people feel happier.

Ecommerce

Anyone who wants to open an ecommerce store must provide information about the products they are selling. Motion graphics can be an excellent way to do this. Motion graphics can provide detailed product information in a format that is easy to understand. They can also help a product stand out from its competition. Wyzowl conducts an annual survey on video marketing. It reports that 91 percent of marketers say video marketing has helped them increase traffic, and 87 percent say it has helped them increase sales.

Develop an Online Presence

Motion graphics can also be an effective way to develop an online presence. As the online space becomes increasingly crowded, it can be challenging to stand out. Motion graphics can help because they are engaging and memorable.

Learn Motion Graphics Skills with Noble Desktop

Students looking to learn motion design skills should consider the hands-on training options available through Noble Desktop. Noble offers courses for experienced and novice designers covering specific skills like After Effects alongside more career-focused bootcamps like the Motion Graphics Certificate program. Available both in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus and online, these courses are taught by experienced instructors who are there to help provide students with feedback and assistance on their designs. Even online, class sizes are small, ensuring that students won’t have to fight for their instructors' attention. Plus, all these courses offer a free retake option for students, letting them retake the course within one year. This gives students a chance to go back over skills they had difficulty with, attend missed lessons, or get more hands-on experience with motion graphics tools.

For students who have some design experience or who just want to learn a new tool to add to their creative toolkit, Noble offers several skills bootcamps designed to teach students how to use Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D. These courses are designed to introduce novice users to the basic functions of these essential design tools. Students will learn how to build simple animated images and layer them onto Photoshop and Illustrator designs. Then, students seeking more training can take Noble’s After Effects Advanced course to learn how to composite video footage, animate shape and text layers, and learn practical chroma key skills. These courses don’t require knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop, but some proficiency is very helpful. Students interested in receiving this background training should look at the graphic design courses offered through Noble.

Students seeking a more career-focused training course may wish to consider Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate program. In this course, students will learn how to use Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Cinema 4D to create motion graphic designs and edit video clips. Students will get hands-on experience working on the kinds of creative projects they will work on when they enter the workforce. A part of their training will be a professionalization seminar designed to teach them how to get involved in the motion graphics and video editing industry. In addition, students will receive one-on-one career mentorship from Noble’s career professionals and dedicate substantial time to building a practical demo reel that students can bring onto the job market.

Students interested in learning more about these courses or looking into their other training opportunities should consider Noble's motion graphics design courses.

Key Takeaways

• Motion graphics skills can be used in many different ways, both professionally and personally.
• An increasing number of companies are opting for animated logos, a type of motion graphic.
• Motion Graphics Designers create kinetic typography to help certain words and phrases stand out in digital media.
• Explainer videos use motion graphics to teach people about products or services.
• Motion graphics are an integral part of almost every website.
• Some people work on motion graphics as a hobby.
• Motion graphics can be a good tool in ecommerce or for developing an online presence.
• Learning motion graphics is easy with Noble Desktop motion graphics classes. Noble offers comprehensive training, either in-person or online, to fit a variety of different schedules.