Senior UI & Motion Designer - 1 Year Fixed Term Contract

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior UI & Motion Designer - 1 Year Fixed Term Contract

Company: Appnovation Technologies

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Job Type: Contract / Temporary

Category: Design & Creative / UI/UX

Date Posted: March 18, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is a critical component of Appnovation's global product development agency, focusing on transforming traditional brand collateral into modern, digital-first design systems for web and mobile platforms.

• It requires a blend of sophisticated UI design and purposeful motion design expertise, utilizing industry-leading tools like Figma and Adobe After Effects to create engaging user experiences.

• The position involves deep collaboration within cross-functional pods, including strategists, UX designers, and engineers, to deliver seamless digital solutions.

• A key aspect of this role is the ability to translate brand identity and story into scalable digital ecosystems, ensuring consistency and high performance across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw input is for a "Senior UI & Motion Designer," this enhancement frames it within a "Design & Creative / UI/UX" category, aligning it with common job board taxonomies and highlighting the core functions of UI/UX design and motion graphics. The emphasis on "digital-first design systems" and "scalable digital ecosystems" positions it as a strategic role within a product development context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Brand System Translation: Lead the process of ingesting client brand books and traditional collateral, reimagining and translating them into comprehensive, digital-first design systems for web and mobile applications.

• Motion Design Implementation: Create purposeful Lottie animations for micro-interactions and produce high-impact short-form video content using Adobe After Effects to enhance digital product engagement and brand storytelling.

• Design System Development & Governance: Build, scale, and maintain robust design systems within Figma, ensuring brand consistency, component reusability, and seamless handoff to global engineering teams.

• Client Engagement & Presentation: Confidently present design rationale, UI choices, and motion strategies to clients and stakeholders, articulating how these elements align with business objectives and brand identity.

• Agile Product Development: Participate actively in an agile environment, iterating quickly on design assets from hero videos to UI components, ensuring all elements are polished, performance-optimized, and meet accessibility standards.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work collaboratively within cross-functional pods (Strategy, UX, Engineering) to ensure a holistic approach to digital product development, from concept to final implementation.

• Technical Constraint Awareness: Design with a strong understanding of front-end development constraints, optimizing animations and interfaces for performance and edge-case scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to include specific actions and outcomes expected from a Senior UI & Motion Designer in an agency setting. Emphasis is placed on the strategic aspects of brand translation, design system architecture, and client presentation, as well as the practical application of motion design and agile workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in UI/Product Design, with a significant portion spent within a digital agency, product studio, or a fast-paced, design-centric environment.

Required Skills:

• Figma Mastery: Expert-level proficiency in Figma, specifically for building and managing complex design systems, collaborative workflows, and component libraries.

• Advanced Motion Design: Advanced proficiency in Adobe After Effects, with a strong portfolio showcasing the creation of production-ready Lottie (JSON) animations and short-form video content for digital products.

• Brand Translation Expertise: Demonstrated ability to translate "offline" brand elements (typography, color palettes, textures, grids) into cohesive, responsive, and accessible digital interfaces.

• Design System Architecture: Experience in conceptualizing, building, and scaling robust design systems that ensure brand consistency and facilitate efficient development handoffs.

• Client Presentation Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and their strategic alignment to diverse stakeholders.

• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity and experience working within agile development environments, adapting to iterative processes and rapid feedback loops.

Preferred Skills:

• Lottie Animation Proficiency: Specific expertise in creating optimized Lottie animations for micro-interactions and user interface elements.

• Front-End Awareness: A solid understanding of front-end development principles and constraints to inform design decisions and ensure feasibility.

• Responsive & Accessible Design: Deep knowledge of designing for various screen sizes and ensuring digital products meet accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Video Production: Experience in producing short-form video content beyond basic animations for digital marketing or product feature showcases.

• Cross-Industry Experience: Exposure to designing for a variety of industries, including healthcare and luxury retail, demonstrating adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications have been detailed to reflect the seniority and specific technical demands of the role. "Expert-level mastery" and "Advanced proficiency" are used to emphasize the required skill level. Preferred skills are added to delineate candidates who possess additional, valuable expertise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 5 years of UI/Product Design work.

• The portfolio must prominently feature sophisticated UI design examples, demonstrating a strong grasp of layout, typography, color theory, and user-centered design principles.

• Crucially, the portfolio must include demonstrable motion design work, specifically highlighting Lottie animations (JSON exports) and web-based animations that illustrate purposeful interaction and visual storytelling.

• Evidence of building or contributing to robust design systems, including examples of component libraries, style guides, and their application across multiple projects.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process in detail, particularly how they approach:

  • Ingesting and interpreting client brand guidelines and existing assets.

  • Developing and scaling design systems within Figma.

  • Integrating motion design into UI workflows.

  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams (UX, Engineering, Strategy).

  • Ensuring design quality, performance optimization, and accessibility.

  • Presenting design solutions and rationale to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section specifically addresses the portfolio requirements, which are critical for design roles. It emphasizes the need for demonstrable motion design and design system work, and outlines the expected level of detail when discussing design processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• As this is a fixed-term contract position, benefits may differ from full-time roles but typically include:
  • Competitive contract rate.
  • Potential for contract extension or conversion to full-time employment based on performance and business needs.
  • Access to Appnovation's internal training and development resources.
  • Opportunities to work on high-profile client projects with leading brands.
  • Collaborative and dynamic agency environment.

Working Hours:

• Standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, there may be flexibility offered by the team depending on project needs and individual performance, particularly for focused design or animation work.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on the role's seniority, location, and specialized skills, along with typical benefits and working hours for a fixed-term contract in Canada. The note explains the methodology for the salary estimate.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Appnovation operates within the digital transformation and product development space, serving a broad range of industries including technology, healthcare, retail, and finance. This diverse client base means exposure to various business challenges and design requirements.

Company Size: Appnovation is a global company with a significant employee base (likely hundreds to thousands, as indicated by "global, full-service digital partner"). This size suggests a structured organization with established processes, but also opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration and career development.

Founded: Founded in 2007, Appnovation has a substantial history in the digital services sector, indicating a stable and experienced organization with a proven track record in delivering digital solutions.

Team Structure:

• Cross-functional Pods: The role explicitly mentions working within "cross-functional pods," implying agile teams composed of strategists, UX designers, UI designers, motion designers, and engineers. This structure fosters collaboration and shared ownership.

• Specialization: While teams are cross-functional, there are clear specializations (e.g., UI design, motion design, engineering), allowing for deep expertise within each area.

• Reporting: Senior designers typically report to Design Leads or Creative Directors, who oversee project quality and team performance.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: The company emphasizes working within an agile environment, indicating iterative development cycles, frequent feedback, and adaptability.

• Design Thinking: Implicitly, the approach involves understanding client needs, ideating solutions, prototyping, and testing, with a focus on delivering "real impact."

• Data-Informed Design: While not explicitly stated, a "full-service digital partner" delivering "real impact" suggests an approach that leverages data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure success.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context has been synthesized from the provided description and general knowledge of global digital partners. The focus is on how the company's structure and approach influence the daily work and collaboration for a Senior UI & Motion Designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as "Senior," indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond junior or mid-level designers. Senior designers are expected to lead design efforts, mentor junior team members, and contribute to strategic design decisions. For a 1-year contract, it represents a significant opportunity to contribute at a high level.

Reporting Structure: The Senior UI & Motion Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Creative Director within their project pod or department. They will collaborate closely with UX Designers, Strategists, and Engineers on specific client projects.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, this designer's impact is significant:

• User Experience: Directly influences user satisfaction and engagement through intuitive UI and compelling motion.

• Brand Perception: Shapes how clients' brands are perceived in the digital realm, affecting customer loyalty and market positioning.

• Development Efficiency: Contributes to faster, more efficient development cycles through well-defined design systems and clear assets.

• Client Success: Drives client success by delivering high-performing digital products that meet business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in advanced motion design techniques, Lottie animation optimization, and complex Figma design system management.

• Leadership Exposure: Gain experience in leading design aspects of projects, potentially mentoring junior designers within the contract duration.

• Client Portfolio Expansion: Add high-profile, diverse client projects to their portfolio, enhancing future career prospects.

• Industry Insight: Develop a deeper understanding of digital transformation strategies across various industries.

• Potential for Extension/Conversion: While a fixed-term contract, strong performance can lead to extensions or opportunities for full-time roles within Appnovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the "Senior" designation and contract nature within a career context, highlighting the specific growth avenues available to a designer in this role, especially concerning skill development and portfolio enhancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site" in Toronto. This suggests a physical office environment where collaboration and in-person interaction are prioritized. Appnovation likely maintains modern office spaces conducive to creative work and team collaboration.

Office Location(s): Located in Toronto, ON, Canada, a major hub for technology and creative industries. This location provides access to a vibrant professional network and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Expect a work environment that encourages collaboration, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated project areas for cross-functional pods.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and hardware necessary for high-fidelity design and animation work.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with immediate team members (UX, Strategy, Engineering) and potentially other designers and creative professionals within the agency. The on-site nature facilitates spontaneous brainstorming and quick feedback loops.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is approximately 40 hours per week. While on-site, the emphasis is likely on achieving project milestones and delivering high-quality work, with some flexibility possible depending on team dynamics and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the "On-site" designation, this section details the likely physical and collaborative aspects of the work environment in a professional agency setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience alignment.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: A session where you will present your portfolio, focusing on key projects that demonstrate your UI and motion design skills, design system expertise, and ability to translate brand identity. Expect in-depth questions about your process, tool proficiency (Figma, After Effects, Lottie), and how you handle design challenges.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: You may meet with members of the teams you'd be collaborating with (e.g., UX designers, engineers) to assess your collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Hiring Manager/Lead Interview: A final discussion to gauge cultural fit, career aspirations, and overall suitability for the contract role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase both sophisticated UI design and impactful motion design (especially Lottie).

• Highlight Brand Translation: Include at least one case study detailing how you translated traditional brand elements into a digital design system.

• Demonstrate Motion Expertise: Clearly showcase Lottie animations and other motion graphics, explaining their purpose, creation process, and impact.

• Explain Your Process: Be ready to walk through your design process for each project, from initial concept to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and decision-making.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, or efficiency gains from your designs, be prepared to share them.

• Tailor to Appnovation: Research Appnovation's work and clients to tailor your presentation and highlight relevant experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• You may be given a small design challenge or asked to critique an existing interface, focusing on UI elements and potential motion enhancements.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing a specific UI component or animating a particular micro-interaction.

• Practice articulating your design decisions concisely and persuasively, as if presenting to a client.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates applying for this specific design role, focusing on portfolio content, interview preparation, and potential challenges, tailored to the requirements of a Senior UI & Motion Designer.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core tool for UI design, design systems, and collaborative workflows. Expert-level mastery is required.

• Adobe After Effects: Essential for creating advanced motion graphics, Lottie animations, and video content. Advanced proficiency is a must.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop): Likely used for asset creation, image editing, and supporting design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Integration & Workflow Tools:

• Lottie (Bodymovin): Key for exporting animations from After Effects into web-friendly JSON formats.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello is common in agile environments for task tracking and workflow management.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has strong prototyping capabilities, experience with other tools like InVision or Adobe XD might be relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section lists the essential design tools and technologies specified in the job description and anticipates other relevant software and platforms commonly used in a digital agency environment for UI/UX and motion design roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: Appnovation likely values high-quality design and execution, emphasizing attention to detail in both UI and motion.

• Collaboration & Partnership: The emphasis on cross-functional pods and client partnerships highlights a culture that thrives on teamwork and shared success.

• Innovation & Impact: The company's mission to "build digital solutions that deliver real impact" suggests a drive for innovative approaches that solve business problems.

• Adaptability & Agility: Working with diverse clients and within agile frameworks requires a team that can adapt quickly to new challenges and requirements.

• Inclusivity: As stated, Appnovation is an Equal Opportunity Employer that celebrates diversity and encourages applications from all backgrounds.

Collaboration Style:

• Pod-Based: Work is organized into small, multidisciplinary teams (pods) focused on specific client projects, promoting close collaboration.

• Iterative & Feedback-Driven: The agile methodology implies a continuous cycle of design, feedback, and refinement, encouraging open communication and constructive criticism.

• Global Integration: While working in a local Toronto office, collaboration may extend to global teams, requiring effective remote communication and coordination skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers team culture and values based on the company's stated mission, industry, and the explicit mention of diversity and inclusion, applying these to the context of a design team.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Traditional to Digital: Effectively translating established brand identities into modern, performant digital experiences can be complex and require significant creative problem-solving.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Ensuring brand integrity while pushing creative boundaries with motion and UI requires careful judgment and strategic thinking.

• Technical Constraints & Performance: Designing complex animations and interfaces that remain performant across various devices and platforms is a constant technical challenge.

• Managing Multiple Workstreams: As a senior designer, you'll likely juggle multiple projects and client demands simultaneously, requiring strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Contractual Nature: Working on a fixed-term contract means a focus on delivering impactful results within a defined timeline, with the inherent uncertainty of contract duration.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Tool Mastery: Opportunity to become even more proficient in Figma for complex design systems and After Effects for cutting-edge motion graphics.

• Lottie Animation Specialization: Deepen expertise in optimizing and implementing Lottie animations for maximum impact and efficiency.

• Cross-Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience designing for diverse sectors, broadening your understanding of different market needs and user behaviors.

• Agile Workflow Refinement: Enhance skills in agile methodologies and cross-functional team collaboration.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Build a strong portfolio with high-profile client work, significantly boosting future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section identifies potential challenges specific to the role and industry, alongside concrete growth opportunities that a senior designer can leverage during their contract period.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach translating a static brand book into a dynamic digital design system for a new mobile app?"

• "Describe a time you used motion design to solve a specific user experience problem or enhance engagement. What was your process, and what were the results?"

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a complex digital product and integrate new elements into an existing design system?"

• "Walk us through your process for creating Lottie animations, from concept to final export and implementation considerations."

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Appnovation and our approach to digital transformation?"

• "How do you collaborate with engineers and UX designers to ensure a seamless product development process?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in UI design and motion graphics?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the challenge, your role, the solution (UI and motion), and the outcome.

• Emphasize Motion: Dedicate specific segments to showcase your motion design work. Explain the "why" behind each animation – what user need or brand message does it serve?

• Showcase Design Systems: If you have design system examples, explain the architecture, component structure, and benefits for scalability and consistency.

• Technical Details: Be ready to discuss your technical process, including software versions, export settings for Lottie, and considerations for responsive design.

• Conciseness is Key: Aim for impactful storytelling without excessive detail. Be prepared to answer follow-up questions deeply.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides targeted interview questions and preparation strategies tailored to the Senior UI & Motion Designer role, focusing on technical skills, process, and collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior UI & Motion Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Curate your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features your strongest UI design work and, critically, a significant section dedicated to Lottie animations and other motion graphics. Include at least one detailed case study on translating brand assets into digital design systems.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with Figma, Adobe After Effects, Lottie, design systems, and agency-based project work. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your UI and motion design contributions. Be ready to discuss technical aspects and client collaboration.

• Research Appnovation: Understand their client portfolio, company values, and recent work to tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.

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