May 1, 2024
Updated June 2, 2025
18 minute read
Exploring the World of Motion Design
Motion design, at its core, is the art of bringing graphic design to life through animation and visual effects. It's a dynamic field that blends the principles of traditional graphic design with the fluidity of movement, sound, and time. Think of it as graphic design with an added dimension – the dimension of time and space. Motion design is everywhere in our digital world, from the subtle animations on a website or app that guide your interaction, to the eye-catching title sequences in films and the engaging graphics in advertisements.
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Find a path to becoming a Motion Design. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/topic/2j9ssu/motion
Reading list
We've selected 29 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Motion Design.
Is, by many, considered the go-to book for animation fundamentals and covers 12 principles of animation.
Foundational text for anyone interested in animation, including motion graphics. It covers the core principles of animation that are essential for creating believable and compelling movement. While not exclusively about motion design software, the principles taught here are directly applicable and crucial for developing a strong understanding of timing and spacing, which are vital in motion graphics.
This classic text is dedicated specifically to the crucial art of timing in animation. Understanding timing is fundamental to creating effective motion graphics. provides detailed explanations and illustrated examples that are invaluable for both traditional and digital animators and motion designers.
Is specifically tailored to motion design, covering fundamental principles and techniques. It bridges the gap between traditional design concepts and their application in a moving medium. It's a valuable resource for both beginners and those looking to solidify their understanding of motion design workflows and creative processes.
Presents the essential principles of timing and how it can be applied to animation in this classic text.
Comprehensive guide to using Adobe After Effects for motion graphics. It covers both essential and advanced techniques, making it a valuable resource for users of this industry-standard software. While software-specific, it provides practical knowledge crucial for implementing motion design principles.
Provides a broad understanding of motion graphics, covering a wide range of concepts and practices. It includes real-life examples and case studies, making it a valuable resource for gaining a profound understanding of the field. It's suitable for beginners and those seeking a comprehensive overview.
With the increasing importance of motion in UI/UX design, this book focuses specifically on creating meaningful interface animations. It's highly relevant for those interested in the intersection of motion design and user experience, a contemporary and growing area of the field.
A practical guide to character animation that focuses on bringing characters to life.
Part of the 'Apprentice' series, this book offers project-based lessons to build real-world skills in After Effects for motion graphics. It's a practical guide for those learning the software and its application in creating motion design projects.
Storytelling key element in compelling motion graphics. focuses on the narrative aspects of animation and motion graphics, guiding readers through the process of creating engaging visual stories. It's a practical guide for those who want to improve their storytelling skills in a motion context.
Will introduce the basic principles of graphic design, which can be applied to digital design as well.
Francis Glebas's book covers the principles of storyboarding and valuable resource for students and working artists.
Focuses on Cinema 4D's MoGraph module, a powerful toolset for creating motion graphics in 3D. It's a software-specific guide that is highly relevant for those using or planning to use Cinema 4D for motion design. It covers essential concepts and techniques within the software.
Similar to the After Effects Apprentice book, this text focuses on building practical skills in Cinema 4D for motion graphics through project-based learning. It's a valuable resource for those learning to use Cinema 4D for 3D motion design.
Compositing is an integral part of many motion graphics workflows, especially when combining different visual elements. delves into the techniques and theory behind digital compositing, providing a deeper understanding of how images are combined and manipulated in motion design.
Understanding the history of motion graphics provides valuable context and inspiration. surveys the evolution of the field, from its avant-garde origins to its current industry presence. It's an essential read for gaining a broader perspective on motion design.
This recent publication offers a specific historical perspective on motion graphics through the lens of the BBC's influential work. It provides valuable context on the development of the field within a major broadcasting institution and showcases a wealth of examples.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the 3D computer animation and effects pipeline and is useful for getting a feel for the entire process.
While not exclusively about motion design, this book presents 125 fundamental design principles applicable across various disciplines, including motion graphics. Understanding these principles will significantly enhance a motion designer's ability to create effective and visually appealing work. It's a valuable reference for any designer.
Another essential resource for understanding typography. provides a critical guide to using type effectively, covering principles that are directly applicable to kinetic typography and the use of text in motion graphics. It's widely used in design education.
Explores the application of design principles within the context of filmmaking, which is closely related to motion graphics. It helps bridge the gap between static design thinking and the dynamic nature of moving images, offering insights valuable for motion designers.
Covers fundamental graphic design principles, which form the basis for motion graphics. Understanding concepts like layout, color, and composition from a static design perspective is crucial before adding motion. It's a great resource for building a strong design foundation.
Given the mention of Figma in the course list, this book is relevant for understanding how to design and prototype interfaces with motion. It covers using Figma for UI/UX design and creating interactive prototypes, which often involve motion and animation. The second edition includes updates on features like variables and conditional prototyping.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/2j9ssu/motion
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