Motion Design is a new field: there are not many professionals, and the demand for specialists in this field continues to grow - designers are needed for television, video production, and film studios. Specialists in this field combine many skills: graphic design, animation, basic dramaturgy, directing, storytelling, ability to work with graphic, 3D and video editors. What exactly a motion designer does depends on where they work and what a particular task looks like on their desk:
- Motion design specialists create headline sequences, interface;
- Create promotional materials, animations;
- Work for major brands on the design team;
- develop games;
- collaborate with sound designers;
- work on special effects in a television production studio.
It turns out to be a fascinating picture of where a filmmaker can find his or her application! The need for high-quality video content is growing every day, and moving design is an integral component of the digital art industry, so skilled designers will find a use in dozens of promising places.
How much do filmmakers make? In Russia, for example, the average is $864; in the U.S., it's $6,000. Required specialists can participate in several projects in parallel and earn much more. Still, this profession opens up opportunities to work on a project/part-time, so it's great for those who want to stay freelance and regulate their own work.
What is Motion Design
Motion Graphics is a style of digital animation that allows you to create moving images that come from any digital source: original drawings, photos, vectors - the type of digital image you can use as a starting point. The magic lies in manipulating images - turning a face into a moving character, photos into a dynamic video clip. The designer creates videos, commercials, short films.
The main advantage is that the artist can create high-quality animation on his computer, using an ordinary PC with decent performance. Moving images are used in commercials, movies, explainer videos, technical videos, TV commercials - every media company is in great need of Motion Graphics content.
Skills required for a future motion designer
A motion designer combines knowledge from several fields, these are versatile professionals:
- Understanding of the basic principles of animation.
- Knowledge of the basics of fine art, illustration - the presence of taste, familiarity, knowledge of composition, the ability to maximize the use of textures, lines, contrast and color.
- Graphic Design. Knowing the rules of design will come in handy, even if you break those rules to tell a story.
- 3D design - knowledge of modeling, rigging, and rendering will help you in your work.
- You should have specific software in your arsenal: Cinema 4D, After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite to Maya, Houdini and Nuke.
- Based on the breadth of skills required, it's safe to say that the industry prefers generalists over narrow specialists. This is a key factor that allows you to cope with many problems, saving yourself and the company from having to hire additional specialists.
If you aspire to become an expert and manage your projects, it is better to get not only practical skills but also special education.
Where to study motion design
Academic education and university design courses provide cutting-edge knowledge from industry experts, additional competencies. Do thorough research on a potential college before you apply. Are there successful designers among the graduates? How relevant is the curriculum? Do teachers work for video production companies, what are their projects?
- Brunel University offers the study of Visual Effects and Motion Graphics in the UK. Brunel University is ranked in the top 50 universities in the UK, the top 10 universities in London according to the 2018 Complete Guide to Universities rankings. Brunel University is a research and education center, ranked in the top 25% of universities. In this category: students at the university receive knowledge from the world's leading experts in a variety of fields. Research Assessment (RAE) has ranked 82% of the university's staff work as research at the international level.
Brunel combines the study of visual effects with moving graphics, so students can learn a wide range of creative and technical skills needed to create high-quality visual resources for film, television, the Internet and games. They will study VFX, motion design, computer, digital graphics, digital photography, and video. Tuition costs from £15,700 per year.
- To get an education at Istituto Marangoni, not only aspiring designers, but also already working professionals in the field of creativity, business, brand managers and photographers are sought. All this creates a great professional community: more often than not students find jobs even before they graduate, constantly communicating with colleagues and making useful business contacts. The Marangoni Institute campus in Milan offers a variety of design programs, including short-term professional digital animation programs (at a cost of 4,100 euro / 3 weeks).
Internships, practical training
Practical training is an important part of preparing for future employment: by applying for an internship at an existing company, you can gain invaluable experience by actually learning on the job. Internships, LinkedIn searches, and contacts with agencies can help build a portfolio that confirms in-demand professional competencies.
Average Filmmaker Salary Abroad
Salaries range from $19,000 to $36,000 depending on the position, company and location. This figure can go up to about $50,000 to $60,000 if you are in a management position.
Tips for Beginners
- Don't try to apply tips and advice from professionals for at least the first 3 months. They only work in certain situations, but you need to learn the basics first. You should have an idea of what's really behind the advice, and then you'll get to the point where you can give your own.
- Don't take orders right after learning the basics: it's easy to feel like a pro by putting together a few good animations. At the beginning you will only get orders of low quality, projects from clients who want to save on payment. You will always be on the lookout for clients, you will meet a lot of clients who promise recommendations or an opportunity to get a good experience in exchange for your work. But usually the really interesting orders come from companies that are willing to pay for work even for newbies.
- Don't overestimate yourself - don't try to take classes for advanced animators. You'll want to quit the education because it will seem too difficult. Give yourself time and be patient.
- Many beginners think that plug-ins and scripts will help you get the job done quickly and efficiently. But the truth is that nothing replaces knowing the basics: that doesn't mean you should avoid them, but it's better to hone your knowledge of the base first.
Self-help, online resources, books for beginners
The design movement is a new industry: it is constantly evolving, so self-development is the foundation of success. It is important to properly navigate the endless stream of information presented on the Internet: online tutorials, communities, subscriptions, and webinars. Activities are at your disposal.
The main thing you need for independent work is discipline, motivation, and a passion for experimentation. Create your own animations: choose a static character, work on his movements.
Online resources:
- motionographer.com
- videocopilot.net
- lynda.com
- skillhare.com
- schoolofmotion.com.
Books:
- "Disney Animation: The Illusion of Life. This book was created by Disney animators Ollie Johnston and Frank Thomas. The book covers the 12 basics of animation and was written long before animated graphics, but it is one of the most important books ever written for any animator, including animated graphics.
- "Animator. Survival Kit. Secrets and Techniques for Creating Animation, 3D Graphics and Computer Games" by Richard Williams is one of the most important books on animation you can read. He details the basics of animation and demonstrates it step by step.
How to start a job search
At the very beginning of your journey, look for an assistant motion designer position. Don't be discouraged when you see what work experience is required in the job description-it's usually just guidance. During the interview, it will be more important to show that you can inspire confidence that you will manage the task list. Creative industries are less linear: professionals are evaluated on personal, professional and practical skills; a portfolio is always required. Degrees and references also matter, but most employers want to see evidence of applicants' skills.
What else is a film designer? There are several "official choices" (that employers use) for the profession:
- Graphic Designer.
- Graphic Designer
- Designer
- Digital animator
- Cartoonist
- Illustrator.
