Motion Designer/Animator (Temporary/Freelance)

The Motion Designer/Animator is responsible for generating impactful design solutions for diverse interdisciplinary projects within physical environments. With skills and experience in both motion and graphic design, Motion Designers/Animators provide a progressive point of view on design excellence. They support projects' creative vision and collaborate with various teams to generate cutting-edge visual experiences. This role requires a strong blend of artistic vision, technical proficiency, and a passion for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the world of motion design.

This role is for mid to senior-level designers/animators or visual effects artists who design, create, and animate.

Film production designers and photography art directors should not apply.

Local Projects is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender-nonconforming candidates to apply.

Requirements

Conceptualize, Design, and Systematize:

• Work closely with project creative leads and teammates to conceptualize and generate motion graphics that align with objectives and client expectations.
• Translate creative briefs and brand guidelines into innovative and motion design concepts.
• Propose and generate creative solutions showing how motion graphics and qualities expand cohesively from an established design concept and visual system.
• Effectively communicate design rationales to teammates across disciplines and to clients.
• Create working files, templates, and guidelines as needed per project brief.

Animation and Visual Storytelling:

• Create captivating designs, animations, and visual stories that enhance the user experience across digital platforms within spatial environments.
• Develop motion graphics to convey and distill complex ideas, narratives, and emotions related to content assets and script outlines or draft scripts.
• Generate clear and compelling sketches with relevant style and motion references.
• Propose ideas and create user-friendly and highly accessible work; generate work with a sense of "spatial empathy" across various physical interfaces and environments.
• Design and animation production - from concept to installation.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate across all LP disciplines to integrate motion design seamlessly into UI, UX, physical, and digital experiences.
• If CG artist/generalist, Unity skills, and/or pipeline knowledge are a plus
• Provide input and feedback (written and verbal) during the creative process to ensure that cohesive and compelling design solutions are communicated to teammates and ultimately realized.
  

Technical Proficiency:

• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging motion design and graphic design technologies.
• Utilize industry-standard software and tools to execute high-quality motion graphics, keeping up with best practices and advancements.
• Maintain a highly organized and user-friendly working file structure, aligning with LP best practices and standards established by the Director of Media Production.
  

Project Management:

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met, and deliverables are of the highest quality.
• Communicate effectively with team members and clients to present and refine design concepts.
• Maintain proactive communication with teammates and leadership throughout a project's duration; raise flags and allow the team to course correct and offer support as needed.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe After Effects (2D animation), Photoshop, Illustrator
• and/or Advanced proficiency in Cinema 4D and/or 3D software skills are preferred
• Ability to visualize core design principles (layout, typography, color) cohesively across deliverables
• Ability to design and animate dynamic and compelling motion graphics using various assets, mixed media, and other elements in collaboration with other disciplines at LP.
• Organize and creatively manage assets e.g. animation elements, run timings, audio, etc.
• Build compelling and clear storyboards
• Proactive communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative environment with aforementioned co-discipline oversight.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Highly organized with a rigorous attention to detail.
• Effective time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to design with a generative working methodology; iterative and explores dynamic solutions
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and delegate them when appropriate
• Illustration and/or 2D/cel character animation skills are a plus or CG generalist with CG character animation skills a plus.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Motion Design, Animation, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Motion Designer with a strong portfolio showcasing creative and technical proficiency.
• 35+ years experience

Additional Requirements:

• Travel may be required (domestic and global)
• Must be able to work on-site in our NYC Studio (hybrid)
• Primary residence in the NY/Tristate (NY/CT/NJ) or DC areas
• Eligible to work in the United States

Rate: Commensurate with expereince

$75 - $100 per hour

Benefits

Local Projects offers to its Full-Time staff Health/Dental/Vision, FSA, 401k, access to short-term and Long Term Disability Insurance and Life Insurance as well as a generous PTO package.

Local Projects is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our collaboration with each other and the experiences we create together greatly benefit from a range of perspectives, which can only come from diversity of all types, across all disciplines, at all levels of the studio. Achieving true diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing for our business. So we strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender nonconforming candidates to apply.

Local Projects is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.