Motion Designer

About the Role

Little Plains seeks a skilled motion designer to enliven digital interfaces by integrating animation and interaction design. This position plays a crucial role in enhancing user experience through purposeful motion that guides, reassures, and reflects brand character. You will manage the entire motion design layer from initial concept and prototyping to delivering production-quality animation assets.

Role Purpose

As interfaces grow increasingly complex with diverse interactive elements and user states, the quality and thoughtful use of motion distinguishes exceptional products. While advanced tools enable rapid animation exploration, this role requires keen judgment to determine what animations best serve the user experience without unnecessary distraction.

Company Overview

Little Plains is an innovative brand and product studio collaborating predominantly with early-stage startups from pre-launch through Series A funding phases. The studio focuses on delivering integrated brand, product, and go-to-market solutions that scale with growth, working across healthcare, biotech, SaaS, and consumer sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the motion design component of digital products and branding experiences including onboarding flows, micro-interactions, and expressive graphics.
• Convert static designs in Figma into interactive prototypes, Lottie or Rive animations, or browser-based demos.
• Partner closely with design and development teams to ensure motion assets perform well in production environments.
• Apply expert timing, easing, and a discerning approach to when and how motion is incorporated.
• Develop concepts rapidly into finalized assets with iterative refinement guided by feedback.
• Integrate AI-driven animation software and runtime players as part of the creation process.

Work Approach

Motion design is developed concurrently with branding and product interaction decisions rather than retrospectively added. All assets supplied are production-grade from inception. AI tools are leveraged to explore creative options efficiently, but creative decisions about motion remain under your expertise.

Qualifications

• 3 to 5 years experience in motion design or interactive animation in agency, corporate, or freelance roles.
• A portfolio showcasing mastery of timing, easing, and visual storytelling via motion.
• Proven skill in translating Figma layouts into Lottie/Rive animations, prototypes, or interactive demos.
• Proficient with After Effects, Figma, Lottie, and Rive; familiarity with Spline is advantageous.
• Experience or curiosity with AI-assisted animation technologies.
• Ability to adapt quickly and incorporate feedback constructively.

Preferred Tools and Skills

Core tools include After Effects, Adobe Creative Suite, Lottie, Rive, Figma, and Spline. Additional skills such as Cinema 4D or Blender, Framer Motion, JavaScript/CSS/HTML, and Cavalry are beneficial.

Benefits (Full-Time Employees)

• Profit-sharing quarterly, linked to studio performance.
• Equity options for long-term team members.
• Health benefits covering medical, dental, and vision (50% employer contribution).
• Starting with 15 days of paid time off, increasing by 2 days annually.
• One-week paid office closure during summer plus closure between Christmas and New Year's.
• Parental leave: 12 weeks for birth parents, 6 weeks for non-birth parents at full pay.
• Paid prenatal leave of 20 hours annually.
• Annual stipend of $1,000 for tools and craft supplies.
• Monthly coworking stipend amounting to $200.

Additional Details

This role begins as a contract opportunity with potential transition to full-time employment. The position is remote, ideally aligning with Eastern Standard Time work hours.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Little Plains is committed to diversity and inclusion, providing equal employment opportunities without discrimination based on legally protected characteristics. Applicants with criminal records will be considered fairly in accordance with applicable laws.