Motion Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Motion Graphic Designer Company: Lowell Location: Leeds, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-Time Category: Creative & Media / Marketing / Art & Design Date Posted: 2026-01-12 Experience Level: Mid-Weight (Estimated 2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on creating dynamic and engaging visual content, blending animation, graphic design, and video editing for digital and social media platforms.
• The Motion Graphic Designer will be instrumental in developing social-first content that aligns with brand guidelines and enhances campaign effectiveness.
• Responsibilities include conceptualizing and executing creative assets that tell a story and drive audience engagement in a fast-paced digital environment.
• Collaboration with marketing, social media, and broader creative teams is key to delivering impactful and high-quality visual communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided job description clearly indicates a "Creative Designer - FTC" role with a focus on motion graphics and social-first content. While the title is "Motion Graphic Designer," the description emphasizes a broader "Creative Designer" scope, suggesting a need for versatility in design execution. The "Mid-Weight" experience level is inferred from the description's focus on bringing ideas to life and working confidently within brand guidelines, implying a level of autonomy beyond junior roles but not necessarily senior strategic oversight. The role is positioned within a marketing and creative context, highlighting its contribution to brand campaigns and digital initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and produce high-quality motion graphics, animations, and video content for various digital channels, with a strong emphasis on social media platforms.
• Collaborate closely with marketing, social media, and creative teams to understand project requirements, campaign objectives, and brand guidelines.
• Edit and post-produce video content, ensuring it meets technical specifications and creative standards for optimal viewer experience.
• Film video content using mobile devices or cameras for digital and social media applications, demonstrating a hands-on approach to content creation.
• Translate creative briefs into compelling visual narratives, utilizing animation, graphic design, and typography to effectively communicate brand messages.
• Stay abreast of emerging social media trends, design techniques, and animation styles to ensure content remains fresh, relevant, and engaging.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of assets while maintaining a high standard of creative output.
• Contribute to the overall visual strategy and brand consistency across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been detailed to reflect the core duties of a motion graphic designer focused on digital and social media, incorporating aspects of video editing, filming, and collaborative creative work. The emphasis on "social-first content creation" and "blending motion, graphics, and social-first content" from the original description has been elaborated to provide a clearer picture of the day-to-day tasks and expected outcomes for this role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Animation, Digital Media, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is typically expected for a mid-weight creative role. Experience: Proven experience as a Motion Graphic Designer, Creative Designer, or similar role, with a strong portfolio showcasing animation and graphic design skills, particularly for digital and social platforms. An estimated 2-5 years of professional experience is anticipated for a mid-weight position.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop is essential for creating and manipulating visual assets.
• Animation & Motion Graphics Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create engaging 2D animations, kinetic typography, and dynamic motion graphics.
• Social-First Content Creation: Proven experience in designing and producing content specifically optimized for social media platforms (e.g., Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, LinkedIn).
• Video Editing & Post-Production: Solid skills in video editing, color correction, sound design, and final output for various digital formats.
• Graphic Design Fundamentals: Strong understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and layout.
• Creativity & Storytelling: Ability to conceptualize and translate ideas into visually compelling narratives that resonate with target audiences.
• Brand Guideline Adherence: Capacity to work effectively within established brand identities and guidelines.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Filming: Experience in filming video content using a smartphone or camera for digital and social media use.
• 3D Animation Software: Familiarity with 3D animation software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender) can be a significant advantage.
• UI/UX Design Principles: Basic understanding of user interface and user experience design principles as they apply to digital content.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills section has been structured to differentiate between essential requirements and preferred qualifications. The "mid-weight" experience level guides the expectation of strong foundational skills in the core Adobe Suite and animation, along with practical experience in social-first content. The inclusion of "filming video content" as a preferred skill is directly from the source text.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong track record in motion graphics, animation, and graphic design for digital and social media.
• Case studies showcasing the design process, from initial concept development to final execution, highlighting problem-solving and creative decision-making.
• Examples of social-first content creation, illustrating an understanding of platform-specific best practices and engagement strategies.
• Demonstrations of video editing and post-production capabilities, including before-and-after examples if applicable.
• Work that clearly adheres to brand guidelines while still showcasing creative innovation.
• Evidence of ability to create engaging visual narratives and tell stories through motion.

Process Documentation:

• Showcase an understanding of workflow optimization in the creative process, particularly for fast-paced digital content production.
• Provide examples of how feedback from stakeholders was incorporated into design iterations.
• Outline methods used for ensuring brand consistency and quality control across multiple assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role like Motion Graphic Designer, a portfolio is paramount. This section emphasizes what a strong portfolio should contain, focusing on the practical application of skills, process, and outcome, particularly for digital and social media contexts. The "process documentation" aspect focuses on how the designer approaches their work, which is crucial for collaborative teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on London and Leeds market data for a Mid-Weight Motion Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience, a salary range of approximately £30,000 - £45,000 per annum is estimated. This range reflects the typical compensation for this role in the UK, considering the specified skills and responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: A performance-based bonus to acknowledge and reward individual contributions.
• 3% Flexible Benefits: A customizable benefits package allowing employees to choose options that best suit their lifestyle, such as additional holiday, health cover, or financial incentives.
• Hybrid Working: Offers a blend of remote and in-office work, promoting flexibility and work-life balance.
• Free Onsite Parking: Convenient and cost-saving parking facility available at the Thorpe Park, Leeds location.
• 28 Days Holiday + Public Holidays: Generous annual leave allowance, with the option to purchase up to five additional days for greater flexibility.
• Life Assurance: Provides financial security for loved ones in the event of death.
• Wellbeing Initiatives: A comprehensive program focused on employee health and mental wellbeing, including recognition awards, access to on-site gym facilities, and various support services.
• Employee Networks: Access to vibrant employee networks (Rise, Proud, Culture, Spark) fostering community, support, and inclusion.

Working Hours: The role is Full-Time, with an estimated 40 hours per week. The hybrid working arrangement suggests flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical UK market rates for a mid-weight motion graphic designer in a city like Leeds, considering the provided experience level and responsibilities. The benefits listed are directly extracted from the job description and presented clearly. The working hours are inferred from the "Full-Time" classification.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Debt Management & Credit Services). Lowell operates in a sector focused on making credit work better for everyone, which involves managing customer debt compassionately and affordably. Company Size: Part of Lowell Group, which is a significant player, indicated by its presence on "The Sunday Times Best Places to Work" list for two consecutive years. This suggests a medium to large organization with established HR and operational structures. Founded: While not explicitly stated, Lowell has been recognized on the Sunday Times Best Places to Work list for two consecutive years, implying a history and established presence in the UK financial sector.

Team Structure:

• The Motion Graphic Designer will likely be part of a broader Marketing or Creative department.
• This department will include specialists in various creative disciplines, social media management, campaign execution, and potentially brand management.
• Collaboration with other creative professionals, marketing managers, and social media strategists is expected.
• The role involves reporting to a Creative Lead or Head of Marketing, with potential interaction across different business units.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company emphasizes making credit work better for all, suggesting a data-informed approach to customer interactions and service delivery.
• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on treating people with dignity and helping customers in practical and affordable ways.
• Continuous Improvement: The culture embraces learning from failure, celebrating success, and adapting to change, indicating a proactive approach to operational and creative processes.
• Innovation: Encouragement of new ideas and a dynamic approach to problem-solving within the finance sector.

Company Website: https://www.lowell.co.uk/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture and context have been inferred from the provided description, particularly the emphasis on "making credit work better for all," customer dignity, and being a "Best Place to Work." This suggests a company that values its people, fosters growth, and operates with a strong sense of purpose within the financial services sector. The team structure is hypothesized based on typical marketing department compositions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Weight Creative Designer role. It signifies an individual who has moved beyond entry-level tasks and can independently manage projects, apply advanced creative skills, and contribute meaningfully to campaign objectives. They are expected to take initiative, solve design challenges, and deliver high-quality work with minimal supervision.

Reporting Structure: The Motion Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Lead, Art Director, or Marketing Manager. They will collaborate with peers in marketing, social media, and other creative functions. The role is positioned to support broader marketing and GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies through visual content.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, the visual content created by the Motion Graphic Designer directly impacts marketing campaign effectiveness, brand perception, customer engagement, and ultimately, lead generation and conversion rates. High-quality, engaging visual assets are critical for GTM success in a digital-first environment, by capturing attention and communicating value propositions effectively.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of motion graphics, animation techniques, or video editing, potentially leading to senior or specialist roles.
• Creative Leadership: Progression towards a Senior Motion Graphic Designer or Art Director position, involving more strategic input, project leadership, and mentorship of junior designers.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience in broader marketing campaign development, digital strategy, and brand management through close collaboration with other teams.
• Learning & Development: Access to company-provided training, workshops, and potentially external courses to enhance creative and technical skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the role within a career progression context, emphasizing its contribution to the broader business goals (GTM impact) and outlining potential growth paths. The "Operations Impact" section reinterprets the role's influence through an operations lens, connecting creative output to business objectives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Thorpe Park, Leeds, indicates a modern business park environment. The company promotes a hybrid working model, suggesting a dynamic workspace that blends collaborative office days with remote work flexibility. Office Location(s): Thorpe Park, Leeds, United Kingdom. This location is noted to have free onsite parking.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model encourages in-office days for team collaboration, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional meetings, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
• Modern Facilities: As a company recognized for its employee culture, it's likely the office is equipped with modern tools, technology, and comfortable workspaces conducive to creative work. Access to on-site gym facilities is also mentioned, supporting employee wellbeing.
• Interdepartmental Interaction: Opportunities to interact with various teams, including marketing, social media, and other creative professionals, facilitating knowledge sharing and diverse perspectives.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time (estimated 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. This implies a degree of flexibility in managing work hours and location, allowing for better integration of work with personal life, while ensuring consistent contribution to team projects and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description focuses on the practical aspects of the hybrid model, the office location benefits (parking), and the likely modern amenities that support a creative role within a company that values wellbeing.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the role and required skills.
• Creative Assessment/Task: A practical exercise or brief to evaluate your motion graphics, animation, and design skills, as well as your ability to interpret briefs and adhere to brand guidelines. This might involve creating a short animation or editing a piece of footage.
• Interview with Hiring Manager/Team: A discussion to delve deeper into your experience, creative process, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit. This is where you'll discuss your portfolio in detail.
• Team/Stakeholder Meet-and-Greet: Potentially an opportunity to meet with key collaborators from marketing or social media teams to assess synergy and communication style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest, most relevant work that showcases your animation, motion graphics, video editing, and social-first content creation skills. Tailor your portfolio to highlight examples that align with Lowell's brand and industry.
• Showcase Process: For key projects, include a brief overview of your creative process, the brief, your approach, challenges faced, and the final outcome. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.
• Highlight Social-First Examples: Ensure you have specific examples of content created for social media platforms, demonstrating an understanding of their unique requirements and engagement drivers.
• Quality over Quantity: Focus on a smaller number of high-quality projects rather than a large volume of mediocre work.
• Clear Navigation: Make your portfolio easy to navigate, with clear titles, descriptions, and contact information.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a creative task, read the brief carefully, asking clarifying questions if possible.
• Focus on Brand Alignment: Demonstrate your ability to work within brand guidelines while still being creative.
• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your technical execution is clean and professional, showcasing your command of the required software.
• Storytelling: Even in short pieces, aim to tell a clear story or convey a message effectively.
• Time Management: Be mindful of time constraints and manage your workflow efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates preparing for the application and interview process, specifically tailored to a creative role like Motion Graphic Designer, emphasizing the importance of the portfolio and practical skills assessment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • After Effects: Essential for motion graphics, animation, and visual effects. Expect to demonstrate advanced proficiency in creating complex animations, using expressions, and integrating graphics.
  • Premiere Pro: Crucial for video editing, sequencing, and final output. Proficiency in editing workflows, transitions, and basic color correction is expected.
  • Illustrator: For creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations that will be animated or used in designs.
  • InDesign: Useful for layout design, storyboarding, and integrating graphics into broader campaign materials.
  • Photoshop: For image manipulation, asset creation, texture generation, and preparing graphics for animation.

Analytics & Reporting: While not primary tools for this role, an understanding of how visual content performs on digital platforms (e.g., engagement metrics on social media) would be beneficial. The marketing team will likely use analytics tools to measure the impact of created assets.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the day-to-day tasks of a Motion Graphic Designer, but awareness of how creative assets are deployed within marketing automation or CRM-driven campaigns could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section details the critical software that a motion graphic designer must be proficient in, directly extracted from the job description. It also contextualizes how these tools are used in a professional creative environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to push creative boundaries and develop fresh, engaging visual content.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, sharing ideas, and working effectively with cross-functional teams (marketing, social media, etc.).
• Customer Focus: Understanding that creative output serves to engage and inform customers, aligning with Lowell's mission to make credit work better for all.
• Quality & Brand Consistency: A commitment to producing high-quality work that adheres to brand guidelines and maintains a professional image.
• Adaptability: Willingness to embrace new trends, technologies, and project requirements in a fast-paced digital landscape.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively participating in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and project reviews with marketing and social media teams.
• Feedback-Oriented: Open to constructive criticism and iterative design processes, using feedback to refine creative output.
• Proactive Communication: Clearly communicating project status, potential challenges, and creative ideas to stakeholders.
• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design techniques, software tips, and insights into visual trends with team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section extrapolates the likely cultural values and collaboration styles based on the company's description as a "Best Place to Work" and the nature of a creative role within a marketing department. It focuses on how these values translate into daily work for a Motion Graphic Designer.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Brand Guidelines: Consistently producing innovative and engaging visuals while strictly adhering to established brand identity.
• Pace of Digital Trends: Keeping up with the rapidly evolving landscape of social media trends, platform algorithms, and visual communication styles.
• Managing Multiple Projects: Effectively prioritizing and delivering high-quality assets for numerous campaigns with competing deadlines.
• Technical Evolution: Staying current with advancements in animation software, video editing techniques, and new creative technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in After Effects, Premiere Pro, or explore new creative software.
• Industry Trends Workshops: Participating in sessions or webinars focused on digital marketing, social media content strategy, and animation best practices.
• Cross-Departmental Projects: Gaining exposure to broader marketing strategies, campaign planning, and potentially UX/UI design principles.
• Mentorship: Learning from senior designers or creative leads within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section highlights potential challenges inherent in a fast-paced creative role and connects them with specific learning and development opportunities that Lowell may offer, aligning with their stated commitment to employee growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a piece of motion graphics for a social media campaign, from brief to final delivery." (Focus on workflow, tools, and stakeholder collaboration.)
• "How do you ensure your creative work aligns with brand guidelines while still being innovative and engaging?" (Highlight your understanding of brand stewardship and creative problem-solving.)
• "Walk us through a challenging project from your portfolio. What was the challenge, how did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a specific case study demonstrating your problem-solving and impact.)
• "How do you stay updated with the latest trends in motion graphics, animation, and social media content?" (Show your proactivity and passion for continuous learning.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Lowell and this specific role as a Motion Graphic Designer?" (Research Lowell's mission, values, and recent campaigns.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with marketing or social media teams, especially when there are differing creative opinions?" (Demonstrate your teamwork and communication skills.)
• "How do you measure the success or impact of your visual content?" (Connect your work to engagement metrics, brand perception, or campaign goals.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each piece, briefly explain the brief, your creative concept, the tools used, and the impact or result.
• Highlight Social-First Work: Dedicate specific time to showcase examples clearly designed for social media platforms.
• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Be prepared to discuss your technical approach and problem-solving within the software.
• Showcase Versatility: Include a range of styles and types of motion graphics if possible.
• Be Concise: Aim for clarity and impact, respecting the interviewer's time.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview preparation advice, including example questions designed to assess a candidate's strategic thinking, creative process, and cultural fit, specifically for a Motion Graphic Designer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Motion Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://lowell.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/LowellGroup_Careers2/job/Lowell-Leeds/Motion-Graphic-Designer_R015787
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight motion graphics, animation, and social-first content creation examples relevant to a financial services company or similar corporate environment. Showcase your adaptability and ability to work within brand guidelines.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), your experience in animation and video editing, and any experience with filming for digital use. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Increased engagement by X% with animated social posts").
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your creative process, discussing your portfolio projects in detail, and preparing answers for strategy and behavioral questions. Be ready to discuss how your work contributes to marketing objectives.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Lowell's mission, values, and current marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to customer dignity and making credit work better for all. This will help you articulate your interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.