← Design Disciplines

Motion and Animation

The fourth dimension

Design Disciplines · EXPLORE

Illustration for Motion and Animation

Motion design adds time to the designer's toolkit. Title sequences, animated logos, explainer videos, and interface transitions all rely on the same principles: timing, easing, and choreography.

Saul Bass's film titles showed that graphics could move as expressively as they could sit still. Today motion is everywhere — and a brand that doesn't move increasingly looks like it's standing still.

What gets designed

  • Title sequences
  • Animated logos
  • Interface animations
  • Explainer videos and social content

Principles

  • Timing carries meaning
  • Easing makes motion feel natural
  • Movement should guide attention
  • Sound and motion work together

Examples

  • Saul Bass's title for Vertigo
  • Kyle Cooper's Se7en titles
  • Google's Material motion
  • Netflix's animated 'N'

Related disciplines