Motion Designer (social first) [AQ-23121]

Aquent; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent Studios seeks a Motion Designer, Social Creative to craft social-first motion content across a diverse brand portfolio. You will translate briefs into platform-native videos with strong storytelling and on-brand motion language, collaborating across the Social, Brand, and Production teams.

You will stay ahead of trends, build scalable motion templates, and ensure content is optimized for performance with captions and sound considerations.

Qualifications

• 4-6+ years of motion design experience in agency, in-house, or studio environments.
• Strong portfolio with short-form content and platform-native work.
• Expert proficiency in After Effects and Premiere Pro; working knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong command of animation principles, typography in motion, composition, and pacing.
• Fluency in social platforms, creator content, and evolving social trends.
• Ability to work within brand guidelines across multiple brands and priorities.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and energized to solve new creative challenges.

Responsibilities

• Design and animate social-first content for client brands across formats.
• Adapt concepts to each platform native to the channel and brand guidelines.
• Translate brand identity and systems into motion content.
• Build reusable motion templates and scalable systems for the Social team.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director, designers, copywriters, editors, and Production teams.
• Incorporate sound, captions, and subtitles for sound-off viewing.
• Stay current with platform features and emerging cultural trends.
• Iterate quickly based on feedback during reviews.

Skills

Motion design

Social content

Brand storytelling

Collaborative

Creative direction support

Tools

After Effects

Premiere Pro

Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

Aquent Studios is partnering with a leading international tech client, a pioneer at the forefront of innovation, to find a talented Motion Designer, Social Creative. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a dynamic team where your creativity will directly shape how groundbreaking technology and diverse brands connect with global audiences. You will be instrumental in crafting visually stunning, social-first content that captures attention, drives engagement, and leaves a lasting impact across various platforms.

About The Role

As a Motion Designer, Social Creative, you will be at the heart of bringing dynamic, social-first creative to life across our client's diverse portfolio of brands. This pivotal role demands an exceptional blend of motion craft and a keen understanding of social media performance. You will translate concepts, creative briefs, and brand systems into captivating, platform-native motion content, designed to stop the scroll in today’s fast-paced, creator-driven digital landscape. Working in close partnership with the Social team, you will help produce culturally relevant work that significantly drives engagement, participation, and brand impact.

What You’ll Do

• Design and animate social-first content for our client's brands, including short-form video, animated graphics, looping assets, and campaign key moments.
• Adapt concepts across platforms and formats, ensuring each piece is native to the channel and consistent with brand guidelines.
• Translate brand identity, typography, color, and visual systems into motion, contributing to the evolution of the brand's motion language.
• Build reusable motion templates and scalable systems to enhance efficiency and consistency for the Social team.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director, designers, copywriters, editors, and the Social, Brand, and Production teams from concept to final delivery.
• Incorporate sound, music, captions, and subtitles to optimize content for sound-off viewing experiences.
• Stay current with platform features, creator-driven formats, and emerging cultural trends, bringing innovative ideas to the team.
• Iterate quickly and effectively based on feedback during review rounds.

Who You Are

• 4-6+ years of motion design experience in agency, in-house, or studio environments, with a strong focus on social-first or digital content.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing strong craft, timing, and storytelling in short-form formats and platform-native work.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro, complemented by working knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong command of animation principles, typography in motion, composition, and pacing.
• Fluency in social platforms, creator content, and evolving social trends.
• Skilled at working within brand guidelines across multiple brands and business priorities while contributing creative ideas.
• A collaborative, adaptable, and energized professional who thrives on solving new creative challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Stand Out With

• Experience with 3D tools such as Cinema 4D or Blender.
• Proficiency with Figma, Lottie, or template-based motion workflows.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted video tools.
• Experience working with technology or consumer electronics brands.

Client Description

Aquent Studios is a global creative studio that delivers scale, speed and efficiency to the world's most recognized brands. We create the work that matters the most to them-work that has a real impact on their business. As an Aquent Studios team member, you'll have the opportunity to engage with the largest and most influential companies in the world, solving design challenges and extending their brands across tactic types and platforms, including digital design, UI/UX, video, motion, content, print design, web development, and more. If you want to do work that matters in a collaborative setting that values ingenuity and personal growth, you have found the right place!

Other Requirements

Compensation Range: $110,000-$120,000 annually.

The range provided is our reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The actual amount may be higher or lower, based on factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and location.