What is motion graphics?

Want to expand your understanding of motion graphics and everything it entails?

Regardless of whether you’re searching for motion graphics examples, information regarding the various uses of motion graphics, or simply a straightforward answer to ‘What is motion graphics?’, we’re on hand to help.

The designers at Tricks Studio call on years of experience to deliver high-quality animations and motion graphics for our clients.

That means you can rest assured we know the background of motion graphics, the most effective ways to use them, and why, crucially, they can be an important tool for businesses.

What are motion graphics?

Put simply, motion graphics (also known as motion graphic design or motion design) refers to a subset of graphic design where animation techniques are utilised to create moving images.

Unlike a graphic designer who creates still images such as leaflets and posters, a motion graphic designer includes movement in their designs.

As a result, motion graphics are often used in the creation of video content, animated logos, TV programmes, and even films.

They include a combination of audio, text, and storytelling to engage the target audience and help businesses accomplish their marketing goals.

In comparison to other forms of graphic design and animation, motion graphics is known for incorporating text as a major design component.

Uses for motion graphics

The uses of motion graphics are endless – especially as technology continues to evolve. Where once we had static billboards, moving and even interactive billboards now stand in their place. As a result, motion graphics can now be used to help companies achieve a wide variety of marketing and business goals.

Increasing understanding of a product/service

Moving imagery is ideal for telling a story both quickly and easily. This makes explaining your product or service far easier for your target market to absorb. With this greater understanding, consumers are more likely to choose your product/service over similar products/services offered by your competitors if they struggle to understand how to use their products/services.

Improving brand awareness

Building brand awareness is one of the most important aspects of growing your business and reaching a wider audience. With motion graphics, you can make more visually-appealing and captivating content compared to still imagery, which encourages your audience to interact with and share your content.

Engaging your audience

As with life, our eyes are drawn to movement. This is why motion graphics are so effective when it comes to attracting and holding the attention of an audience – even when the topic of the content isn’t naturally considered to be particularly entertaining!

Boosting conversation rates

Motion graphic video content can be easily embedded onto product and service pages, helping to easily increase audience understanding of a product exactly where you need it. As a result, it’s likely you’ll see an increase in enquiries or conversions if you decide to utilise motion graphics close to ‘add to basket’ or ‘contact us’ buttons – the crucial conversion stage.

History of motion graphics

The history of motion graphics is often said to have begun in the 1960s following the rise of computer animation.

However, title sequences used in films and TV during the 1940s and 50s are also credited with the rise of motion graphic design. As a result, motion graphics could date back more than 80 years.

Decades before the advent of computer animation and music videos, the German-American animator, Oskar Fischinger, began creating motion graphics in the 1940s. Specialising in abstract musical animation, he was also a renowned filmmaker and director.

Following Fischinger’s experimental work, visionary animators such as Norman McLaren helped to develop motion graphics.

From here, Saul Bass, a highly-accomplished American graphic designer, (alongside other prominent designers) stirred further conversation around motion graphics in the 1950s. However, motion graphics really took off when the avant-garde animator and inventor, John Whitney, founded “Motion Graphics, Inc.” in 1960.

The purpose of this company was to make animated titles and logos. Whitney himself invented a mechanical analogue computer that allowed him to create specialised animations featuring typography and concrete design, gaining him worldwide recognition within the world of animation and motion graphics.

Computer graphics followed not long after in the 1970s and we’ve seen a steady development of motion graphics as this technology has continued to evolve and be improved.

Nowadays, motion graphics software is incredibly user-friendly and can even be self-taught if you have the time to dedicate to this creative craft.

Examples of motion graphics

Motion graphics examples can be found throughout everyday modern life. From the title sequence of the movie you’ve just watched to the hundreds of advertisements you scroll by on social media and the countless digital billboards we walk by every day, our almost constant connection to technology means we’re often surrounded by great motion graphics examples.

Still unsure how you can use motion graphics to support your business? We identify some of the most common motion graphics examples below.

Explainer videos

An explainer video is typically a short and snappy piece of video content that (as the name suggests) explains a service or product provided by a company. Often used for marketing or sales purposes, explainer videos help the audience to understand the customer need that the service or product is fulfilling.

Product demonstrations

While similar to an explainer video, a product demonstration video shows the viewer in more detail how the product works. Designed to be clear and quick, these product demonstrations are often used to help close a sale. Explainer videos, in comparison, are employed at the early conversion stage to help the business connect with their target audience.

Social media content

Social media content is generally designed to help a business build their brand awareness/reputation, generate new leads, and increase the size of their social community. By utilising motion graphics, you can create social media content that’s more engaging and shareable, thereby helping your content to reach a greater audience.

Animated logos

The only difference between a standard logo and an animated logo is movement! This eye-catching addition of motion graphics magic can help you to incorporate more elements into your logo and encourage your audience to build a positive and memorable association with your brand.

Film/TV title sequences

Regardless of whether you prefer an all-out action movie to a rom-com series, chances are you’ve seen your fair share of film and TV title sequences. Also known as an opening sequence or intro, these title sequences are a powerful example of motion graphics and are designed to entice the viewer to keep them watching.

Corporate videos

Corporate videos cover a wide range of video content – both internal and external. These communications can therefore cover everything from employee training videos to client onboarding video content, and even promotional/event videos. Motion graphics can help to keep your audience engaged and interested in the topic – even if it’s about routine health and safety information.

Contact Tricks Studio for motion graphics

If you want to capture the attention of your audience, build your brand presence, and improve the understanding of your product or service, motion graphics can help.

Here at Tricks Studio, we have an accomplished team of creative professionals that has helped countless businesses achieve their marketing goals.

To find out more about our previous work and the many delighted clients we’ve worked with, please feel free to head over to our case study hub and testimonial page.

Alternatively, why not get in touch with the Tricks Studio team directly to discuss your media project?

To speak to a friendly member of our team, simply give us a call on 01244 560537.

You can also get in contact by submitting your enquiry using our convenient online contact form or email address – [email protected].

Thanks to our marketing expert for sharing his insights on his own viral experiences. Are you keen to go viral on social media? We’ve crafted a wide range of paid and organic social campaigns for our clients over the years. Get in touch with us to find out how we can increase your engagement and overall performance through high quality design and animated content.