The Benefits of Motion Graphics in Explainer Videos: Why You Need a Designer

The word “animation” is an umbrella in the industry. Some immediately associate it with cartoons and anime from the popular shows and movies. For those working in animation, they are more familiar with what it generally means: it is simply anything that has movement. 

But not all animation you see on your monitor, phone, or even your television is worked by one person. All the graphics that you see in movies goes through different stages in animation. But not every media production company needs those complex animators, they don’t need the heavy CGI and VFX that we see in movies today, most of the time all they need are simple motions to convey the message they have, especially for short explainers videos whose goal is to capture attention and retain that knowledge in the minds of their viewers. That’s where motion graphics comes into play.

Motion graphics are a powerful tool in itself when making commercials or marketing animations. Most of the ads you see while scrolling might even be made by motion graphic designers, but that’s not just where motion graphics are used. 

There has been a study of different types of learners – four major types to be exact: visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. And in explainer videos with voice narrations and animations to visualize the topic, they are able to capture the attention of their viewers and retain information for two of those types of learners: visual and auditory. 

This is one of the reasons why you remember more information from a TEDed video than from your classroom teacher. 

In this article, we’ll tackle more on the importance of animation, specifically motion graphics, which can enhance your explainer videos in becoming more engaging and retain more information for your viewers. Why hiring a professional motion graphics designer can make the workflow in producing your educational videos can run smoothly; and how Rubii, a talent acquisition recruitment agency, can help you in finding the right motion graphics designer for your production team. 

What is Motion Graphics?

Motion graphics is one of the types of animations that mostly involves animating visuals to give static elements life, as opposed to traditional animation, which typically involves characters and storylines. The focus of motion graphics is on abstract elements and moving designs, making them ideal for emphasizing key points and keeping viewers engaged without needing a full narrative. 

Motion graphics can be found in various contexts such as marketing campaigns, educational tutorials, and entertainment, serving purposes such as making promotional videos more captivating, simplifying complex topics in an engaging manner, or enhancing social media content.

Why You Need a Professional Motion Graphics Designer

Expertise in Crafting Effective Visual Narratives

Motion graphics designers do more than just create animations; they shape visual narratives to simplify complex ideas. They specialize in turning educational content into compelling animations that resonate with viewers, particularly in explainer videos where the goal is to simplify information and make it memorable. For example, they might use animated infographics to illustrate a multi-step process, making it clearer and more engaging.

Technical Skills and Software Knowledge

To create high-quality motion graphics, designers need both creativity and technical expertise. They are skilled in using advanced software like Adobe After Effects, Blender, and Cinema 4D to ensure smooth, visually appealing, and error-free animations, essential for producing polished, professional content.

Creative Problem-Solving and Innovation

Designers bring a creative touch that is essential for making educational videos stand out. They use visual metaphors and innovative animation techniques to present information in a fresh and engaging way, separating great educational videos from the average. For example, they might use dynamic charts or animated diagrams to bring dry statistics to life, making them more engaging and easier to understand.

Time Efficiency and Project Management

Producing high-quality motion graphics involves multiple stages, including concept development, animation, and editing. Professional designers efficiently handle all these aspects, ensuring a smooth production process that helps meet deadlines and deliver content quickly and effectively.

Benefits of Motion Graphics Designer for Your Explainer Videos

Enhanced Engagement and Retention

Motion graphics are excellent for boosting engagement and retention, as people remember more when information is presented through engaging visuals and animations. They cater to visual and auditory learners, making the information more memorable compared to traditional lectures, as seen in TED-Ed videos.

Simplifying Complex Information

Motion graphics have the ability to simplify complex topics, breaking down intricate ideas into easy-to-understand segments. For example, they might use visual metaphors to explain a scientific concept, making it accessible to a wider audience, which is particularly useful for educational content where clarity and simplicity are key.

Professional and Polished Presentation

High-quality motion graphics add professionalism to videos, reflecting well on your brand or educational platform and reinforcing your message effectively. Consistent design and branding across videos help in creating a cohesive and professional image.

Versatility and Flexibility

Motion graphics offer versatility, allowing for customization to suit different educational needs and audiences. Whether targeting young students or professionals, a designer can adapt the style, colors, and animations to fit specific requirements, ensuring that videos are tailored to effectively communicate with the intended viewers.

Choosing the Right Motion Graphics Designer

When selecting a motion graphics designer, look for someone with a strong portfolio, relevant experience, and positive client feedback. Communicate your educational goals clearly to ensure they understand your vision. Although professional design services might involve a higher cost, the value they bring in terms of quality and effectiveness is often well worth the investment.

Key Qualities to Look For

An experienced designer will possess a diverse portfolio showcasing various projects, demonstrating their versatility in handling different styles and complexities. Client testimonials offer valuable insights into their dependability and work quality. Look for designers with a background in creating educational content, as it indicates their ability to effectively communicate complex information through visuals.

Understanding Your Needs and Goals

Effective communication is crucial when engaging with a motion graphics designer. Clearly articulate your educational goals and video needs. Provide specifics about the content you wish to convey, your target audience, and any specific style or branding guidelines you have in mind. This ensures the designer can align their work with your objectives and deliver a video that meets your expectations.

Budget Considerations and Value

Discussing budgets and comprehending the value of professional design is vital. Motion graphics design costs can vary widely, so it's important to discuss pricing structures upfront. While the investment in a professional designer may come with a higher price tag, the benefits – including top-quality animations, efficient project management, and a refined final product – often justify the cost. Consider it an investment in the quality and efficacy of your educational content.

While it looks simple, but finding a professional motion graphics designer can be challenging, especially if the talent is not local.

Challenges on Finding and Hiring Motion Graphic Designer for Your Explainer Videos

Finding the right Motion Graphic Designers

When it comes to hiring a remote motion graphic designer, simply reviewing resumes won't cut it. With a vast pool of talent available, it's challenging to assess a designer's fit for your team, especially without in-person interactions. Evaluating their ability to communicate and collaborate effectively becomes crucial in the absence of face-to-face meetings, which could reveal their true fit. 

Assessing Skills and Experience

Evaluating a motion graphics designer's skills and experience when you can't observe them in action heavily relies on their portfolio and test projects. It's tough to gauge their proficiency with essential software and their overall work process without direct observation, potentially leading to mismatches in expertise and performance.

Productivity and Accountability

Remote work introduces challenges in monitoring productivity and ensuring accountability. Without direct supervision, maintaining consistent communication and tracking progress can be difficult, posing a risk of decreased motivation and distractions affecting work quality and meeting deadlines. Effective systems and mutual trust become vital to keep projects on track.

Onboarding

Onboarding a remote designer presents unique challenges compared to in-person hires. Integrating a remote team member into your company culture and workflow can be tricky due to the physical distance, potentially causing delays in acclimating the new hire to your processes.

Equipment Procurement

Providing the right equipment for work from home motion graphic designers can be tricky. Coordinating the shipping, setup, and maintenance of high-end software and hardware from afar can introduce technical issues and compatibility concerns, requiring careful planning and communication to ensure that remote hires have the necessary tools without disrupting their workflow.

Legal and Contractual Issues

Navigating the legalities of remote work adds another layer of complexity. Drafting contracts that cover remote work specifics, including intellectual property rights and payment terms, needs to address various legal frameworks depending on the designer's location. Ensuring compliance with local labor laws and tax regulations is crucial to avoid legal complications.

How Rubii Can Help You Find a Remote Motion Graphic Designer for Your Explainer Videos

Finding Qualified Remote Motion Graphic Designer Talents

Simplifying the search for the perfect motion graphic designer, Rubii provides access to a curated pool of top talent, saving time and energy by connecting you with designers who match your project needs. 

Assessing Skills and Experience

Rubii ensures thorough skill assessments during the screening process by evaluating candidates' portfolios, conducting interviews, and offering client reviews and ratings for additional assurance. 

Productivity and Accountability

Rubii's team management tools enhance productivity and accountability by enabling real-time employee productivity tracking software, goal setting, and time management, ensuring that remote designers stay aligned with company standards and project deadlines.

Onboarding

Ribii streamlines the onboarding process for remote designers with customizable workflows and checklists to automate task assignments and ensure clarity on project requirements, reducing integration time and avoiding project delays. 

Equipment Procurement

Handling equipment procurement for remote hires, Rubii manages requests, approvals, and vendor coordination to ensure that designers receive the necessary high-end equipment needed for their role within budget constraints while meeting technical requirements. 

Legal and Contractual Issues

Rubii offers standard contracts that cover essential remote work aspects, such as payment terms and intellectual property rights, and navigates international legal requirements to ensure compliance with both local and international regulations, protecting both your company and the designer.

By leveraging Rubii's expertise and resources, you can overcome the challenges of hiring and managing remote motion graphic designers, ensuring a smooth and successful collaboration for your educational videos.

Conclusion

Within the vast domain of animation, "motion graphics" plays a vital role, particularly in the creation of captivating explainer videos. In contrast to traditional animation, which often revolves around storytelling and characters, motion graphics breathe life into abstract elements to animate static information. This characteristic makes them especially effective for educational content by enhancing comprehension and retention through clear and compelling visualizations.

The true strength of motion graphics lies in their capacity to simplify intricate concepts and present information in an accessible manner. Through the use of dynamic visuals and animations, they cater to visual and auditory learners, thereby boosting memorability and engagement in educational content. It's no wonder that motion graphics have gained popularity in explainer videos, whether it's TED-Ed lessons or corporate training modules.

Nevertheless, the journey from conceptualization to final product involves overcoming various challenges. Engaging the right motion graphics designer, particularly in a remote setup, necessitates thoughtful evaluation. Assessing a designer's skills and experience from a distance can be challenging, and ensuring productivity without direct supervision adds another layer of complexity. Additionally, managing the onboarding process for a remote designer, handling equipment procurement, and addressing legal considerations can be quite cumbersome.

This is where Rubii comes into play. Rubii simplifies the process of identifying and collaborating with skilled motion graphics designers. Whether it's providing access to a carefully selected pool of professionals or facilitating seamless onboarding and equipment acquisition, Rubii streamlines every stage of the process. Their expertise ensures that you connect with a designer who not only meets your technical requirements but also aligns with your project objectives and brand identity.

By leveraging Rubii's resources, you can surmount the challenges associated with remote hiring and concentrate on what truly matters: producing high-quality, captivating explainer videos that engage and educate your audience. Investing in a professional motion graphics designer through Rubii has the potential to revolutionize your educational content, making it not just visually appealing but also highly effective in conveying your message.

Ready to make a visually captivating video? Speak with Rubii and start looking for new talent who can assist your explainer video projects. Click here to make contact.