Motion Designer vs. Motion Graphics Designer: Is There Really a Difference?
If you’ve been looking to hire someone to make an animation, you’ve probably noticed the job titles don’t seem to agree with each other: motion designer, motion graphics designer, motion graphics freelancer, animator, explainer video freelancer. Are these all different jobs, or the same one wearing different hats?
Short answer: they're the same job
I’m a freelance motion designer by trade, but motion designer and motion graphics designer describe the same work - the terms get used interchangeably across the industry, and I use both myself depending on who I’m talking to. If someone’s searching for a motion graphics designer and finds a motion designer’s portfolio, they haven’t found the wrong person.
Where the two terms come from
“Motion graphics” is the older term, rooted in broadcast titles and graphic design principles applied to video - text, shapes, and graphic elements set in motion. “Motion design” is the newer, broader umbrella that’s grown to cover everything from character animation to UI animation to full explainer videos. In practice, most people doing this work today, myself included, sit across both, so the distinction has mostly stopped mattering in day-to-day use.
What about "animator"?
“Animator” is the broadest term of the three, and gets used as a catch-all for anyone creating movement, whether that’s 2D character animation, 3D animation, or motion graphics. You’ll also see “freelance animator” and “motion graphics freelancer” used as near-identical alternatives to “motion designer” - again, largely the same pool of people and skills.
Does the title actually matter when you're hiring?
Not really, and I’d say this to anyone regardless of whose site they land on: look at the portfolio, not the job title. A specific title tells you very little about whether someone’s style and experience fit your project - the work does. If you like the kind of animation someone’s already produced, the label on their business card matters a lot less than whether they can do it again for you.
The terms you'll see used for the same thing
| Term | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Motion designer | Broad umbrella covering animation, motion graphics, and related video work |
| Motion graphics designer | Same work, more rooted in the graphic-design side of the term |
| Motion graphics freelancer | A freelancer working independently rather than through an agency |
| Freelance animator | Broadest catch-all, sometimes leaning more toward character animation |
| Explainer video freelancer | Someone specialising in animated explainer videos specifically |
Whatever term brought you here, if you’re after animation, motion graphics, or an explainer video, get in touch and let’s talk about your project.
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