Graphic & Motion Designer

Whitebait Productions Ltd; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Whitebait Productions Ltd in Christchurch is seeking a talented Graphic and Motion Designer to join What Now, New Zealand's beloved children's series. You will create and evolve the show's visual identity across television, YouTube, social media, and promotional campaigns, collaborating with producers, editors and digital teams to deliver vibrant graphics and animations on tight weekly deadlines.

Ideal candidates will have a strong portfolio in broadcast graphics and motion design, expert use of

Qualifications

• Proven experience in graphic design and motion graphics with a strong portfolio.
• Experience creating thumbnail art for social platforms and YouTube is essential.
• Strong typography and layout skills across broadcast and digital formats.

Responsibilities

• Design, create and maintain graphics for weekly television and digital content.
• Develop motion graphics, animations and digital assets for YouTube and social media.
• Collaborate with producers, writers, hosts and editors to develop visual concepts.

Skills

Graphic design

Motion graphics

Thumbnail art

Typography

Layout

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

After Effects

Illustrator

Premiere Pro

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Whitebait Productions Ltd – Christchurch, South Island

Join us to be part of the What Now story. New Zealander’s much loved iconic children’s TV series is a weekly TVNZ Sunday morning show and also a YouTube channel.

Proudly made by WhitebaitMedia New Zealand’s leading children’s content creators based in Ōtautahi, Christchurch we are looking for a Graphic and Motion Designer to join our team.

We are passionate about telling stories that connect with our tamariki - brings them joy and laughter and remindsthem to dream big.

If you are a talented Graphic & Motion Designer who loves working with children and bringing their imagination to life on screen – we would love to hear from you.

Mō te whai waahi I About the opportunity

This is a varied, fast-paced creative role suited to someone who enjoys designing across multiple platforms and disciplines.

As the programme's Graphic & Motion Designer, you will be responsible for creating and maintaining the visual identity of What Now? across television, YouTube, social media, website content and promotional campaigns.

Working closely with producers, writers, presenters, editors and digital staff, you will take projects from concept through to final delivery, producing engaging graphics, motion design, animation and digital assets while meeting weekly television and YouTube production deadlines.

This role combines broadcast graphics, animation, motion design, print design and production support.

The Role

To develop, create and maintain the visual identity of What Now? across broadcast and digital platforms while ensuring all creative work reflects the programme's brand, audience and values.

The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering original creative work across weekly television production, YouTube content, social media, website content and promotional campaigns while collaborating with the wider production team.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

Design, create and maintain graphics for the weekly television programme which include titles, lower thirds, stings, transitions, credits and composite graphics into programme content where required.

Design graphics for studio screens and presenter interaction.

Maintain consistency of the show's visual identity across all broadcast content as required by the Series Producer.

Make use of and develop reusable motion graphic assets and templates.

Thoroughly check spelling and facts at all stages of the production process.

Create a weekly animation using children's drawings.

Split duties of thumbnail creation alongside the social media co-ordinator.

Create graphics for YouTube videos.

Create weekly social media posts and winner announcements for competition featured in the television show.

Maintain digital assets for Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other social platforms

Create pages and update weekly website graphics with promotional assets including competitions, polls and online audience engagement.

Design printed assets, props, promotional content and studio prop where needed.

Ensure all technical specifications have been met.

Attend team, creative and production meetings as required.

Create design, layout and graphics for proposal documents and presentation material.

Work closely with producer, writers, hosts and editors to develop visual concepts, request scripts and supporting information required for graphics.

Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting weekly production deadlines.

Maintain and evolve the visual style of What Now? By developing new graphic assets, branding systems, templates and motion packages.

Typical Weekly Workflow

While every production week differs, responsibilities generally include:

Television Production

Create broadcast graphics for the weekly 60-minute television programme.

Produce approximately 3–8 minutes of original motion graphics overlays.

Design studio screen graphics for presenter interaction.

Produce one original animated segment from script through to final delivery.

Digital Content

Create graphics packages for weekly YouTube content.

Produce YouTube thumbnails alongside Social Media Co-ordinator

Create social media graphics and story assets.

Website

Update or create competition pages graphics.

Create promotional website graphics.

Production Support

Produce printed props and studio assets where needed

Attend production and creative meetings.

Coordinate animation requirements with writers and producers.

Manage revisions and final delivery of graphic assets.

Creative Development

Maintain and update motion graphic packages.

Create new stings, transitions, end screens and branding assets.

Improve templates and graphic systems.

Support larger seasonal campaigns and promotional projects.

Our ideal person will have:

Proven experience as a graphic design and motion graphic design with a strong portfolio showcasing previous work.

Proven experience with thumbnail art.

Expertise in Adobe Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and other design software is a must.

Excellent design skills, including an eye for typography and layout.

Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

Familiarity with current design trends and best practices.

An interest in children's media, storytelling and YouTube content.