Principal Designer, Motion

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Designer, Motion

Company: WeWork

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-08-17

Experience Level: 8+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the conceptualization and execution of motion design projects, translating brand vision into compelling visual narratives.

• Drive the entire project lifecycle, from initial brief and concept development through storyboarding, animation, editing, and final delivery across various platforms.

• Develop and maintain motion design guidelines, toolkits, and standards to ensure brand consistency and empower the broader creative team.

• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, marketing partners, and Performance Marketing teams to refine creative concepts and leverage data-driven insights for optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior individual contributor, emphasizing hands-on execution and leadership within the motion design discipline. The focus is on bringing creative direction to life through animation and video, with a strong emphasis on ownership and strategic contribution to brand storytelling.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute end-to-end motion design projects, from initial creative brief interpretation to final frame delivery, ensuring alignment with the Global Creative Director's vision.

• Develop compelling concepts, storyboards, and style frames that effectively communicate brand messaging and creative intent.

• Animate 2D motion graphics, titles, and design-led videos for a diverse range of applications including global campaigns, social media, paid media, web content, sales enablement materials, and events.

• Edit footage, meticulously managing pacing, color correction, sound design, music integration, and format variations for optimal delivery across all channels.

• Potentially shoot and edit original footage when project requirements necessitate a unique visual approach.

• Provide clear direction and guidance to external motion design partners and vendors to ensure their work meets WeWork's high creative and brand standards.

• Proactively identify opportunities for creative innovation and bring forward original ideas during team brainstorms and project discussions.

• Present and articulate design concepts, rationale, and project progress effectively to internal teams and marketing stakeholders.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of WeWork's motion design guidelines, focusing on timing, transitions, typography, and sound.

• Create and maintain After Effects and other motion design toolkits to streamline workflows and enable efficient versioning of creative assets.

• Uphold clear standards for file management, aspect ratios, captioning, accessibility compliance, and asset licensing.

• Proactively engage with Performance Marketing teams to run creative tests, analyze results, and apply learnings to enhance future motion design efforts.

• Explore and integrate AI tools to enhance speed and efficiency in the creative process without compromising the quality of craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on creative execution and strategic contribution. The emphasis on "From Brief to Final Frame" and "Animation, Edit, and Finish" underscores the expectation of a senior, self-sufficient motion designer. The inclusion of AI tools and performance marketing collaboration indicates a forward-thinking approach to creative production.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio and demonstrable skills in design and animation are paramount. A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Animation, Film, or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: 8+ years of professional experience in motion design and video production, with a proven track record of leading projects from conceptualization to completion.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Adobe After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced animation, compositing, and video editing.

• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for asset creation and manipulation.

• Strong working knowledge of Figma for design collaboration and potentially UI-based motion prototyping.

• Demonstrated understanding of core design principles, including typography, composition, color theory, and pacing, evident in a portfolio of well-designed, not just animated, work.

• Proven ability to conceptualize and storyboard creative ideas effectively.

• Experience in 2D animation and crafting motion graphics.

• Skilled in video editing, including pacing, color correction, and sound integration.

• Ability to shoot and edit original footage.

• Self-directed and proactive, capable of taking a brief and independently generating multiple creative options.

• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain design decisions and rationale.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of completed motion design projects. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in B2B environments, particularly within the real estate, hospitality, or professional services sectors.

• Familiarity with versioning creative assets for different markets and languages.

• Exposure to 3D animation or advanced compositing techniques.

• Understanding of AI tools that enhance creative workflows and speed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a deep technical skill set in industry-standard software, coupled with a strong design sensibility and the ability to work autonomously. The "Bonus Points" suggest areas where candidates can differentiate themselves, indicating potential future needs or advanced project complexities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive reel showcasing a minimum of 8+ years of motion design and video production experience, with a clear emphasis on projects where the candidate drove the concept and execution from start to finish.

• Demonstrations of 2D animation, motion graphics, title sequences, and design-led video content across various platforms (social, web, paid media, sales).

• Examples of video editing expertise, including pacing, color grading, sound mixing, and adaptation for different formats.

• Visual evidence of strong design fundamentals (typography, composition, color) applied effectively in motion.

• Case studies or project breakdowns that illustrate the candidate's ability to interpret briefs, develop concepts, and present creative solutions. Process Documentation:

• Showcase of workflow efficiency, particularly how projects are managed from brief to final delivery.

• Examples of creating and maintaining motion design guidelines, toolkits, or asset libraries.

• Demonstrations of collaboration with cross-functional teams (e.g., marketing, creative directors) and external partners.

• Evidence of iterative design processes, possibly including work that has been refined based on performance marketing feedback or A/B testing.

• Documentation of understanding and application of standards for file management, aspect ratios, accessibility, and licensing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of a candidate's capabilities. It needs to go beyond just showcasing final output; it must demonstrate the process of creation, problem-solving, and strategic thinking applied to motion design.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $105,000 to $140,000 annually.

Explanation of Range: This range is competitive for a Principal Designer, Motion role in a major metropolitan area like New York City, reflecting the extensive experience (8+ years) and specialized skill set required. The upper end of the range would typically be for candidates with exceptional portfolios, extensive experience in B2B or related industries, and potentially advanced 3D or compositing skills.

Benefits:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): 20 days per year.

• Paid Holidays: Approximately 13 days annually.

• Paid Sick Time: 80 hours per full calendar year.

• Parental Leave: 16 weeks of paid leave.

• Comprehensive Healthcare: Access to competitive medical, dental, and vision plans.

• Retirement Savings: 401k plan with potential company match (details not specified).

• Insurance: Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, with an expected 40 hours per week. While the core hours are standard, the nature of creative work may sometimes require flexibility to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and aligns with senior-level creative roles in high-cost-of-living areas. The benefits package is robust, offering good support for employees' well-being and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Flexible Workspace Solutions / Commercial Real Estate / Community Building. WeWork operates globally, providing co-working spaces and tailored office solutions for businesses.

Company Size: WeWork is a large, global organization with a significant employee base, indicating a complex organizational structure and a wide reach for creative campaigns.

Founded: WeWork was founded in 2010, positioning it as a relatively young but rapidly scaled company that has undergone significant evolution. This history suggests a dynamic environment that values innovation and adaptability.

Team Structure:

• The Principal Designer, Motion will report directly to the Global Creative Director, indicating a close working relationship with top-level brand leadership.

• The role is part of a "nimble creative team," suggesting a dynamic, fast-paced, and collaborative unit focused on building and evolving the WeWork brand.

• This team likely collaborates closely with various marketing departments, sales teams, and potentially product development to ensure cohesive brand messaging across all touchpoints. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: The role involves working with Performance Marketing to run creative tests and use results to sharpen future work, indicating a data-informed approach to creative development.

• Agile Content Creation: The mention of a "nimble creative team" and the need to "move before you are asked" suggests an agile and proactive approach to content production and brand expression.

• Brand Consistency & Scalability: The emphasis on building motion guidelines and toolkits points to a methodology focused on maintaining brand integrity while enabling efficient scaling of creative assets across global markets.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: WeWork's culture is presented as forward-thinking, community-oriented, and focused on empowering members. For a creative role, this translates to an environment that values innovation, collaboration, and the ability to adapt and evolve the brand narrative. The company's recent resurgence and recognition further emphasize a positive and dynamic trajectory.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Principal Designer, Motion. This is a senior individual contributor role, signifying a high level of expertise and responsibility within the design function. It implies leadership in motion design execution and strategic input into brand storytelling through animation.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Global Creative Director, placing it at a critical junction for translating high-level brand strategy into tangible creative output. This close proximity to leadership offers significant visibility and influence.

Operations Impact: The motion design work directly impacts brand perception, campaign effectiveness, and sales enablement. By creating compelling visual content for global campaigns, social media, paid media, web, and sales teams, this role plays a crucial part in communicating WeWork's value proposition and driving engagement. The emphasis on performance marketing collaboration also highlights a direct link to business outcomes and ROI.

Growth Opportunities:

• Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Motion Designer or Art Director role, taking on more strategic oversight and team management responsibilities.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of motion design, such as advanced 3D, interactive motion, or AI-driven animation techniques.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence by working on larger, more strategic brand initiatives and contributing to broader GTM strategies through creative excellence.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the development of the broader creative team's motion design capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a "Principal" level role, the primary growth path is likely through increased strategic impact and creative leadership rather than traditional management. The role offers a significant opportunity to shape the visual narrative of a globally recognized brand during a critical growth phase.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at WeWork's New York City location (71 5th Avenue). This implies a traditional office setting within a co-working environment, offering opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): 71 5th Avenue, New York, NY. This is a prime Manhattan location, suggesting accessibility and a vibrant urban work environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The on-site environment facilitates direct interaction with the Global Creative Director and other members of the nimble creative team, fostering spontaneous idea exchange and real-time feedback.

• Creative Tool Access: Expected access to industry-standard hardware and software for motion design and video production.

• Dynamic Atmosphere: Working within a WeWork location means being part of a broader ecosystem of diverse professionals and businesses, potentially inspiring new creative perspectives.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time (40 hours/week). While core hours are expected, the dynamic nature of creative projects may require occasional flexibility to meet critical deadlines or campaign launches. The emphasis on efficiency and AI integration suggests a focus on productive work within standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a New York City hub emphasizes the value WeWork places on in-person collaboration and creative synergy for its core brand teams. This environment is designed to foster innovation and dynamic problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio, focusing on experience, technical skills, and creative output.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their reel and selected case studies, explaining their process, rationale, and impact. This is a critical step to assess conceptual thinking and communication skills.

• Creative Challenge/Exercise: Potential for a small, timed creative task or a deep dive into a hypothetical brief to assess problem-solving abilities and on-the-spot creative thinking.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Global Creative Director, other creative team members, and potentially marketing partners to evaluate cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Rounds: Discussions with senior leadership to confirm overall fit and strategic contribution.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best represent your 8+ years of experience, showcasing end-to-end ownership, strong design fundamentals, and diverse applications (social, web, sales).

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your conceptual approach, the design challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable impact (if possible). Use storyboards or process frames to illustrate your thinking.

• Highlight Technical Proficiency: Demonstrate mastery of After Effects and Premiere Pro, and how you leveraged other tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma.

• Showcase Brand Sensitivity: Include work that demonstrates an understanding of brand guidelines and how to apply them consistently, or how you've helped shape them.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your creative process, your collaboration style, how you handle feedback, and your approach to integrating new technologies like AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand WeWork's Brand: Research WeWork's current brand messaging, visual identity, target audience, and recent marketing campaigns.

• Think Strategically: Consider how motion design can support business objectives, such as lead generation, brand awareness, or sales enablement.

• Practice Articulation: Be prepared to verbally walk through your creative process for a given challenge, explaining your thought process and design choices clearly and concisely.

• Focus on Efficiency: If a challenge involves speed, consider how you would prioritize tasks and leverage tools (including AI) to deliver a strong outcome within constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio presentation and a potential creative challenge highlights the hands-on, execution-focused nature of this senior design role. Candidates must be prepared to not only show their work but also articulate the strategic thinking and process behind it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe After Effects: Essential for advanced 2D animation, motion graphics, and compositing. Expected deep proficiency.

• Adobe Premiere Pro: Crucial for video editing, pacing, color correction, sound mixing, and final output. Expected strong proficiency.

• Adobe Photoshop: Necessary for asset creation, manipulation, and preparing graphics for motion.

• Adobe Illustrator: Required for creating vector graphics, logos, and illustrations for animation.

• Figma: Increasingly important for collaborative design, potentially for UI animation prototyping or sharing design assets with broader teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms used by Performance Marketing teams (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) to understand creative performance.

• Ability to interpret data to inform creative decisions and iterate on designs based on metrics. CRM & Automation:

• While not directly hands-on, an understanding of how motion assets are deployed within marketing automation platforms or CRMs (e.g., for email campaigns, sales presentations) would be beneficial.

• Awareness of AI tools that can assist in content creation, ideation, or workflow automation within the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on the Adobe Creative Suite, with Figma and AI tools representing modern collaborative and efficiency-enhancing technologies. The candidate must be adept at using these tools to produce high-quality, on-brand motion content.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A strong emphasis on producing visually designed, high-quality motion work that upholds brand standards.

• Proactivity & Initiative: The expectation to "spot the opportunity, bring the idea, and move before you are asked" highlights a value for self-starters who drive projects forward.

• Collaboration & Community: Working within a "nimble creative team" and presenting work to marketing partners necessitates strong collaboration and communication skills.

• Data-Informed Creativity: A willingness to leverage performance data to refine creative output and ensure marketing effectiveness.

• Continuous Learning & Innovation: Encouragement to share new skills and learnings, and to understand and integrate AI tools to enhance efficiency and craft.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Iterative: Close collaboration with the Global Creative Director, involving direct feedback and iterative refinement of creative concepts.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working with marketing teams and sales partners requires clear communication, responsiveness, and an understanding of diverse stakeholder needs.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing expertise and learnings within the creative team to elevate the overall quality of work.

• External Partner Management: The ability to guide and collaborate effectively with external vendors to ensure consistent quality and brand alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at WeWork for this creative team appears to be dynamic, results-oriented, and collaborative, with a strong emphasis on both individual initiative and team synergy. The values reflect a modern approach to creative production that balances artistic craft with business objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Craft: The need to move quickly and leverage AI tools while maintaining a high standard of design and animation quality.

• Translating Vision: Effectively interpreting and executing the Global Creative Director's vision, while also bringing original ideas to the table.

• Global Brand Consistency: Ensuring motion design assets are consistent with global brand guidelines across diverse markets and platforms.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying current with new motion design techniques, software updates, and AI advancements to maintain a competitive edge.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Management: Navigating the needs and feedback from various marketing and sales teams to deliver effective creative solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Motion Techniques: Opportunities to explore and implement cutting-edge animation and visual effects techniques.

• Strategic Brand Development: Deeper involvement in shaping the brand's visual narrative and contributing to broader marketing strategies.

• AI Tool Integration: Becoming proficient in leveraging AI tools for creative ideation, asset generation, and workflow optimization.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential to guide and mentor junior designers, developing leadership capabilities.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging trends in motion design, digital marketing, and the future of work, which can inform creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents exciting challenges that are typical of senior creative positions in fast-paced environments. The growth opportunities are geared towards deepening creative expertise, strategic influence, and adapting to technological advancements.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a creative brief from the Global Creative Director and developing it into a fully animated piece for a global campaign." (Focus on conceptualization, storyboarding, execution, and feedback loops.)

• "How do you ensure your motion design work aligns with brand guidelines while also pushing creative boundaries?" (Discuss brand adherence, creative problem-solving, and originality.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance tight deadlines with high creative standards. How did you manage your time and resources?" (Highlight project management, prioritization, and efficiency strategies.)

• "How would you approach collaborating with Performance Marketing to test and optimize motion graphics for paid media campaigns?" (Explain your understanding of data-driven creative and iterative design.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about WeWork's brand and its current 'comeback story'?" (Demonstrate research into the company's recent trajectory and your enthusiasm.)

• "How do you see motion design contributing to the future of work and WeWork's mission?" (Connect your role to the broader company vision and industry trends.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with a Creative Director. How do you best receive and incorporate feedback?" (Showcase your ability to work effectively with leadership and handle constructive criticism.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with a brief overview of your experience and then dive into 2-3 key projects that best illustrate your capabilities, focusing on end-to-end ownership and impact.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use screen recordings, animatics, or process frames to visually demonstrate your animation techniques, conceptual development, and editing skills.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on campaign performance, engagement rates, or lead generation tied to your work, present them clearly.

• Explain Your 'Why': For each project, articulate the strategic intent, your creative rationale, and the problem-solving steps you took.

• Be Ready for Live Edits/Critiques: Some interviews may involve brief, on-the-spot creative exercises or discussions about how you would approach a specific design problem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should focus on demonstrating both technical mastery and strategic thinking. Candidates must be able to articulate their creative process, their understanding of brand strategy, and their ability to collaborate effectively within a dynamic team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Designer, Motion position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://wework.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/WeWork/job/New-York-NY-United-States-of-America/Video-and-Motion-Producer_JR-0063655

• Customize Your Resume: Highlight your 8+ years of experience, specific tool proficiencies (After Effects, Premiere Pro, etc.), and achievements in end-to-end project execution, especially in B2B or related industries if applicable. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your reel and any case studies clearly demonstrate your ability to lead projects from brief to final frame, showcasing strong design fundamentals and diverse motion graphics work. Include links and passwords where necessary.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on storytelling, process, and impact. Be ready to discuss your creative decisions and how you handle feedback.

• Research WeWork: Familiarize yourself with WeWork's current brand messaging, recent campaigns, and their company values to articulate why you are a good fit for their creative team and their mission.

⚠️ 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.