Motion Designer - Design Systems

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Motion Designer - Design Systems Company: eBay Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Job Type: Full-Time Category: Product Design / Design Systems Date Posted: January 28, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years implied) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for enhancing eBay's product and brand experience by creating cohesive and innovative design solutions, focusing on consistency and user-centricity.
• The position requires a blend of technical motion design expertise and a keen understanding of current social and motion trends to drive design innovation.
• Collaboration is key, as the Motion Designer will work closely with design leaders, product management, brand, and cross-platform engineering teams from concept to launch.
• The role demands the ability to translate abstract strategic visions into tangible, high-quality design deliverables that meet business needs and customer expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided description indicates a "Motion Designer - Design Systems" role within the "OneExperience team" at eBay. This suggests a focus on creating and maintaining motion guidelines, assets, and patterns that ensure a consistent and high-quality user experience across eBay's platforms, directly supporting the company's commitment to innovation and customer-centricity in the e-commerce space. The "2-5 years implied" experience level suggests a mid-level position, requiring a solid foundation and some demonstrated experience, but not necessarily senior-level strategic leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Craft unique and compelling motion designs that align with eBay's established motion framework and brand voice, ensuring visual consistency and aesthetic appeal.
• Demonstrate exceptional editing and storytelling skills to create impactful motion narratives for both internal communications and external-facing content.
• Collaborate strategically with design leaders, product managers, brand teams, and cross-platform engineering to integrate motion design effectively into product development lifecycles.
• Ensure the successful delivery of motion design assets to engineering teams, providing clear specifications and detailed guidance.
• Conduct thorough Quality Assurance (QA) to guarantee that implemented motion designs meet the intended design expectations and standards.
• Translate business needs and product concepts into user-focused motion solutions that enhance the overall customer experience.
• Contribute to the evolution of the eBay design system by developing and documenting motion principles, guidelines, and reusable components.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on creative execution (crafting motion, storytelling) and strategic integration (working with teams, ensuring delivery, QA). This implies the role is not just about creating animations but also about embedding motion design systematically within the product development process and design system.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Interaction Design, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.

Experience: 3-5 years of professional experience as a motion designer or user experience designer, with a strong emphasis on motion graphics and visual design principles.

Required Skills:

• Expertise in motion design principles and application across various digital platforms.
• Proficiency in visual design, including understanding of typography, color theory, and layout.
• Demonstrated ability to create compelling motion graphics and animations.
• Strong proficiency with design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.
• Experience with advanced prototyping tools such as Rive, Play, or Proto.io.
• Excellent storytelling and narrative creation skills through motion.
• Ability to work strategically with cross-functional teams, including design, product management, and engineering.
• A robust portfolio showcasing direct contributions to multiple motion design projects.
• Responsiveness, flexibility, and comfort in an open, collaborative environment.
• Ability to visualize abstract concepts and translate them into concrete design deliverables.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within established design systems.
• Familiarity with social media and current motion design trends.
• Understanding of user experience (UX) design principles.
• Experience in the e-commerce industry.
• Knowledge of animation principles for user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Rive, Play, and Proto.io indicates a need for hands-on technical skills in modern design and prototyping tools. The requirement for a robust portfolio is paramount, underscoring the need for candidates to visually demonstrate their capabilities and contributions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of motion design projects, clearly detailing the candidate's direct contributions and role in each.
• Demonstration of how motion design was used to solve specific user experience problems or enhance product functionality.
• Examples of motion applied within a design system context, illustrating consistency and scalability.
• Case studies that highlight the process from concept ideation through to final implementation and QA, including any iteration based on feedback.
• Visualizations of user flows or interactive prototypes that incorporate motion to guide user interaction.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of developing and documenting motion design guidelines, principles, and best practices for a design system.
• Examples of collaborating with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of motion designs, including handover documentation.
• Demonstration of how motion design was iterated upon based on user feedback, A/B testing results, or performance metrics.
• Work samples that illustrate adherence to brand voice and established visual identity through motion.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Motion Designer role focused on Design Systems, the portfolio should not only showcase creative output but also the strategic thinking behind it, particularly how motion contributes to usability, brand consistency, and the overall design system's integrity. Clear documentation of the design process, including collaboration and implementation, is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on eBay's typical compensation for mid-level design roles in major Canadian tech hubs like Toronto, and considering the specified experience level (3-5 years), the estimated annual salary range would be CAD $80,000 - $110,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skill set, and overall qualifications.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plans (e.g., RRSP matching or similar programs).
• Paid time off, including vacation days, personal days, and public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development, including training, workshops, and conference attendance.
• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.
• Potential for stock options or performance-based bonuses.
• Employee discounts on eBay purchases.

Working Hours: The standard workweek is typically 40 hours, aligned with the "Full-Time" employment type. The "Hybrid" work arrangement suggests flexibility, with a portion of the work expected to be performed on-site at the Toronto office and the remainder remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Motion Designers in Toronto with 3-5 years of experience, considering the cost of living and typical compensation structures for large tech companies like eBay in Canada. Benefits are standard for full-time employees at major corporations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce and Technology. eBay operates as a global online marketplace connecting buyers and sellers across a vast range of product categories, leveraging technology to facilitate transactions and enhance the shopping experience.

Company Size: eBay is a large, publicly traded company with a global presence, employing thousands of individuals across various divisions and geographies. This scale implies robust processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for impact within a structured environment.

Founded: eBay was founded in 1995. Its long history in e-commerce signifies a mature company with established market positions and a deep understanding of online retail dynamics, while also embracing innovation to stay competitive.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "OneExperience" team, part of eBay's "Core Product Design" organization, indicating a dedicated focus on user-centric design across the core product.
• The OneExperience team is described as comprehensive and cross-functional, comprising specialists in strategy, design systems, visual design, experience design, content creation, and motion design.
• This role reports to the Head of Design Systems, suggesting a reporting line that emphasizes system-level thinking and the strategic implementation of design standards.

Methodology:

• The team's focus on "evolving our product and brand experience" suggests a methodology rooted in user research, iterative design, and continuous improvement.
• Emphasis on "cohesive and innovative design solutions" points to a process that values both consistency and creativity.
• The integration of motion design into the design system implies a methodology that prioritizes scalability, reusability, and maintainability of design assets.

Company Website: https://www.ebayinc.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: eBay's culture emphasizes customer focus, authenticity, bold ideas, and inclusivity. For a Motion Designer, this translates to an environment where creative contributions are valued, and the impact of design on the customer experience is a primary driver. The "OneExperience" team's cross-functional nature suggests a collaborative environment where design thinking is integrated across disciplines.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Motion Designer, implying a requirement for solid foundational skills and 3-5 years of practical experience. The focus on Design Systems suggests a specialization within motion design, aiming to build and maintain scalable design components rather than solely project-specific animations.

Reporting Structure: The Motion Designer reports to the Head of Design Systems within the Core Product Organization. This structure places the role within a dedicated design systems function, emphasizing the importance of consistency, efficiency, and strategic application of design across eBay's products. Collaboration will extend to product management, brand, and engineering teams.

Operations Impact: The Motion Designer's impact is significant, contributing directly to the user experience by enhancing product intuitiveness, brand recognition, and customer engagement through motion. By working within the design system, their efforts ensure consistency and efficiency across a vast e-commerce platform, directly influencing user satisfaction and potentially conversion rates.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in motion design for e-commerce and large-scale design systems, potentially leading to senior or lead Motion Designer roles within the design systems team.
• Skill Development: Expand into areas like interaction design, UX strategy, or even team leadership, leveraging the foundational experience in design systems and cross-functional collaboration.
• Leadership: With demonstrated success and initiative, opportunities may arise to lead motion design initiatives, mentor junior designers, or contribute to broader design strategy within the Core Product organization.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper insights into product management, engineering workflows, and brand strategy, broadening overall product development understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within the specialized area of design systems motion, as well as broader opportunities within product design at a large tech company. The emphasis on system-level contributions means that impact is measured not just by individual animations but by the efficiency and consistency they enable across the entire platform.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: eBay operates with a hybrid work model. This implies a modern office environment designed to facilitate collaboration, brainstorming, and team cohesion, balanced with the flexibility of remote work. The Toronto office is likely equipped with resources and spaces conducive to creative work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Specific office address details would typically be provided during the later stages of the application process. Being in a major tech hub like Toronto offers access to a vibrant ecosystem of talent and innovation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role is part of a cross-functional "OneExperience" team, suggesting a highly collaborative workspace where designers, product managers, and engineers work closely together. Open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and shared digital spaces are likely utilized.
• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design and prototyping software (Figma, Rive, etc.), high-performance workstations, and potentially specialized hardware for motion capture or rendering may be available.
• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with peers within the design team, as well as stakeholders from product, brand, and engineering, will be integral to the daily workflow. This fosters knowledge sharing and continuous learning.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, with core hours supporting team collaboration. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in choosing which days to work from the office versus remotely, balancing individual productivity needs with team synergy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring self-discipline and effective communication for remote work, while also valuing in-person collaboration for brainstorming and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and alignment with the role.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Head of Design Systems to delve into your experience, approach to motion design, and understanding of design systems. This stage will heavily scrutinize your portfolio.
• Design Team/Peer Interview: Interviews with other designers and potentially engineers to evaluate your collaboration skills, technical proficiency, and cultural fit within the OneExperience team. You may be asked to walk through specific projects in your portfolio.
• Potential Design Challenge: You might be given a small, take-home design exercise or an in-person/virtual whiteboard challenge focused on motion design principles, problem-solving, or applying motion within a given UI context.
• Final Interview: Potentially a conversation with a senior design leader or executive to discuss your strategic thinking and long-term vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates motion design within a product/UI context and ideally, within a design system.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the design decisions made (especially regarding motion), the tools used, and the outcome or impact. Use visuals, videos, and concise descriptions.
• Highlight Design System Contributions: If you have experience with design systems, explicitly show how you contributed to their motion guidelines, components, or principles. Demonstrate consistency and scalability.
• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Include examples that clearly demonstrate your skill with Figma and advanced prototyping tools like Rive or Proto.io.
• Emphasize Collaboration: Briefly mention how you worked with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers) to bring your designs to life.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Design System Principles: Be ready to discuss how motion enhances usability, brand consistency, and user flow within a design system.
• Practice Problem-Solving: Anticipate scenarios where you'd need to apply motion to solve a specific UI problem or improve an existing interaction.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and how you would approach delivering motion assets to developers effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical element for this role. Candidates should be prepared to deeply discuss their past projects, their reasoning, and their technical execution. The interview process will likely assess both creative talent and the ability to integrate within a structured, collaborative design environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency in creating components, variants, and interactive flows is expected.
• Advanced Prototyping Tools: Rive, Play, Proto.io, or similar tools are required for creating complex, performant animations and interactive prototypes that can be handed off to developers.
• Motion Graphics Software: Adobe After Effects is a standard for creating motion graphics assets, though specific tool requirements may vary.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary focus for this role, understanding how motion impacts user engagement metrics (e.g., click-through rates, task completion times) might be beneficial. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or internal eBay analytics platforms could be a plus.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this role's core responsibilities, but understanding how design systems integrate with broader product development workflows is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma and advanced prototyping tools like Rive highlights the need for technical skills beyond basic animation. The ability to create production-ready motion assets and interactive prototypes is crucial for this role within a design systems context.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Obsession: A primary value at eBay, driving all design decisions to ensure the best possible experience for buyers and sellers. Motion design should enhance usability and delight.
• Innovation: Encouraging bold ideas and pushing creative boundaries to stay ahead in the e-commerce landscape. Motion design is a key area for innovation in UI/UX.
• Inclusivity: Ensuring all designs are accessible and welcoming to a diverse global user base. Motion design must consider accessibility standards.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across teams to achieve shared goals, emphasizing open communication and mutual respect.
• Data-Driven Decisions: While creative, design choices should ideally be informed by user data and performance metrics, even in motion design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Product Managers to understand requirements, Brand teams for consistency, and Engineers for implementation feasibility.
• Design System Cadence: Regular participation in design system reviews, contribution sessions, and feedback loops with other designers and developers.
• Iterative Feedback: A culture that values constructive feedback, where designers openly share work-in-progress and iterate based on input from peers and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture at eBay, particularly within the OneExperience team, is likely to be highly collaborative and focused on delivering cohesive, user-centered experiences. The values of customer obsession and innovation will directly influence how motion design is approached and implemented.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Consistency: Ensuring motion designs are consistently applied across a vast and complex e-commerce platform with numerous product surfaces and evolving features.
• Technical Constraints: Balancing creative aspirations with technical limitations and performance requirements across different devices and platforms.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Gaining buy-in and ensuring consistent implementation of motion design principles across diverse teams with varying priorities.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously monitoring and integrating new motion design techniques and trends relevant to e-commerce while maintaining brand integrity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Motion Techniques: Opportunities to explore cutting-edge animation software, techniques, and workflows.
• Design System Expertise: Deepen knowledge in building and scaling design systems, a highly valued skill in the industry.
• Product Strategy Involvement: Gain exposure to product strategy and roadmap planning, understanding how design systems contribute to business objectives.
• Mentorship: Access to experienced design leaders and opportunities to mentor junior designers as your career progresses.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be maintaining high-quality, consistent motion design at scale within a large organization. Growth opportunities are strong, particularly for those who can master complex systems and contribute strategically to product evolution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing motion for a new checkout flow to improve user confidence and reduce cart abandonment?" (Focus: Problem-solving, user impact, strategy)
• "Describe your process for creating and documenting motion guidelines for a design system. What are the key considerations for scalability and developer handoff?" (Focus: Process, design systems, technical execution)
• "Imagine you have conflicting feedback from Product Management and Engineering on a motion design element. How would you navigate this situation to reach a resolution?" (Focus: Collaboration, communication, negotiation)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about eBay's mission and its role in the e-commerce landscape?" (Focus: Company alignment, passion)
• "How do you see motion design contributing to eBay's brand identity and overall customer experience?" (Focus: Brand understanding, strategic vision)
• "Describe a time you had to adapt your design approach based on team feedback or project constraints." (Focus: Adaptability, collaboration)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear arc: Problem -> Your Role -> Process/Solution -> Outcome/Impact.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-quality video examples of your motion work. Annotate your process and key decisions directly on visuals or in accompanying text.
• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., improved conversion, reduced errors, positive user feedback) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your motion designs.
• Highlight Design System Thinking: Explicitly point out how your work aligns with or contributes to design system principles, showcasing reusability and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interview questions that probe your understanding of design systems, your ability to translate abstract ideas into tangible motion, and your collaborative skills. Be prepared to defend your design choices with clear rationale and evidence from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Motion Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided eBay Careers link.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, highlights your best motion design work relevant to UI/UX and design systems, and clearly articulates your contributions to each project. Prioritize quality and relevance over quantity.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 3-5 years of experience in motion design and UX, specific tool proficiencies (Figma, Rive, etc.), and any experience with design systems or e-commerce. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer strategy-based questions related to motion design and design systems.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with eBay's current product offerings, brand messaging, and its position in the e-commerce market. Understand their commitment to user experience and design.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.