UI in Motion Design: What It Really Means for Your Career

Have you ever noticed how often UI pops up in motion design job postings these days? It’s not just a passing trend. Over recent months, motion designer roles have increasingly folded UI into their requirements. That raised a key question: what’s actually hiding behind those two letters?

In my earlier article, "What Employers Really Want: A Deep Dive into 100 Motion Designer Job Descriptions", I examined the broader skills employers seek. This time, I’m focusing on a specific shift from that research: the growing expectation for UI skills alongside animation expertise.

To get clarity, I analysed over 100 recent English-language job postings for motion designers that mentioned UI, and cross-checked my findings with discussions in design communities. The goal? Cut through the buzzwords and uncover what employers really mean — and how you can use this to your advantage.

How “UI” Shows Up in Motion Design Job Ads

If you think “UI” just means animating a button or two, think again. Here’s how it appears in listings:

• Merged role titles — UI & Motion Designer, UI Motion Designer, even Senior UI & Motion Designer. You’re not just there for the animations.

• Skill requirements — phrases like “understanding of user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design” or “working knowledge of UI/UX best practices”.

• Tool stacks — Figma and Sketch often sit right next to After Effects. Employers expect fluency in both.

• Responsibilities — “UI animations”, “micro-interactions”, “interactive patterns” appear repeatedly. You’ll likely be working on live product interfaces, not just marketing videos. In gaming or app contexts, that includes HUD overlays, pop-up menus, and in-game indicators.

The Skills Behind the “UI” Requirement

Employers are seeking a hybrid skill set that blends motion and product design:

• Animating UI elements & micro-interactions — menus, buttons, page transitions, loading indicators. Motion that improves usability, not just aesthetics.

• Interface design & prototyping — working in Figma/Sketch to create prototypes and integrate motion early. Often contributing to a product’s design system, including motion guidelines.

• Collaboration with UX & development — aligning animations with user flows, handing off Lottie JSON or CSS-ready files. Tools like Rive and Lottie are becoming standard.

• UX principles in motion — using animation to guide focus, signal state changes, and improve accessibility, while avoiding overload.

• Technical fluency — After Effects remains essential, but developer-ready exports give a competitive edge.

Example from Practice — UI Animation Proposals Before Development

One recent project illustrates how valuable UI motion planning can be. A digital agency had completed a static redesign of their corporate website and wanted to preview how animation could enhance it before developers began implementation.

I analysed the layouts, brand guidelines, and intended user flow, then proposed 12–13 targeted animations — from portfolio card hovers and logo reveals to section transitions and scroll-based effects. Each was delivered as a short looped video, so the client could see timing, pacing, and integration in context.

This allowed them to decide early which animations aligned with their brand and UX priorities — and which were unnecessary. Even adding a portion of the proposed animations gave the site a smoother flow, a more modern feel, and improved navigation.

Full case study: UI Animation Proposals for WE2 Digital Website

How Often UI Appears Compared to Core Motion Design Skills

Looking at the frequency of terms in 100+ job postings, UI-related skills now appear in the Top 20 alongside long-standing motion design essentials:

UI Motion in Different Contexts

UI motion is present in more than just product interfaces:

• Product design — web apps, mobile apps, SaaS platforms.

• Gaming — HUD overlays, menus, onboarding sequences.

• Marketing & branding — interactive campaigns, branded micro-sites.

What Designers Are Saying

From r/MotionDesign to r/UXDesign, opinions vary:

“Feels like they want two jobs in one… Pay? Still for one.”

“UI motion is its own specialism now. Products are more interactive than ever, and motion is a big part of making them feel alive.”

Why This Matters for Your Career

The demand for motion in interfaces is growing. Products today need to convey responsiveness and purpose — and motion is central to achieving that.

For motion designers, adding UI expertise means:

• Access to roles in tech and product teams.

• Higher rates for a specialised skill set.

• Standing out by creating motion that works inside a product, not just in standalone videos.

  
  

How to Learn UI in the Context of Motion Design

A practical roadmap for motion designers:

1. Learn interface basics — grids, spacing, typography, colour systems in Figma.

2. Study micro-interactions — analyse buttons, menus, loaders in real products.

3. Work with design systems — match timing presets, easing curves, accessibility rules.

4. Export developer-friendly assets — Lottie JSON, SVG, CSS animations.

5. Join projects early — at the wireframe/prototype stage.

6. Build a small portfolio — 2–3 UI motion examples are enough to show capability.

   
   

The Bottom Line

UI in motion design job ads isn’t filler — it signals an evolving role. Those who bridge animation and interface design have a clear edge.

So next time you see “UI” in a motion design listing, ask:

• Could I animate for a real product interface?

• Do I know my way around Figma well enough to contribute early?

• Can I hand over motion in a developer-friendly format?

If the answer is no, now’s the time to start — the industry is already moving in that direction.