Senior Motion Designer

Koto•New York, NY

6d•$120,000 - $135,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Koto is seeking an experienced motion designer to shape how brands move. The role combines exceptional 2D animation craft, graphic design sensibility, storytelling, and systems thinking to create imaginative, purposeful motion integrated into brand worlds. The Senior Motion Designer leads motion projects from concept through execution, collaborates across disciplines, and advances brand work through thoughtful storytelling, experimentation, and carefully crafted animation. The position is based in Koto’s New York studio, with occasional travel to collaborate with global teams. The designer creates brand-defining motion identities, animation systems, and brand expressions, translating strategic insights into motion principles and executions. They own projects from exploration and storyboarding through design, animation, and final delivery; integrate motion thinking early into the brand process; present creative rationale to internal teams and clients; and support the development of other designers. The role remains hands-on, with significant time spent designing and animating, while balancing creative exploration with project timelines. Koto provides regular access to managers and team leads, performance-based promotions and salary increases, and a discretionary annual bonus of up to 10%. Benefits include family leave, paid maternity and paternity time, 25 vacation days annually, 10 or more U.S. holidays, a studio closure between Christmas and New Year, a 401(k) with a 4% company match, a monthly $105 wellness budget through Juno, and access to YCN and relevant training and development. Tenure rewards are offered at five and ten years. The company also supports work-from-anywhere opportunities across its five global studios with advanced planning. Koto encourages an optimistic, autonomous, inclusive, and collaborative culture. The team works in person, with an optional work-from-home day on Friday and an additional two weeks of remote work per year. Team members are encouraged to manage their time, hours, and personal commitments to complete their work.

Requirements

Experienced motion designer with exceptional 2D animation craft and a strong graphic design sensibility.
Strong conceptual thinking and ability to take projects from exploration and storyboarding through design, animation, and delivery.
Strong command of typography, composition, rhythm, timing, transitions, and animation principles.
Ability to create expressive, cohesive motion systems that work across formats, platforms, and brand touchpoints.
Ability to collaborate across disciplines, respond constructively to feedback, and communicate creative rationale clearly.
Advanced proficiency in After Effects.
Strong working knowledge of Figma, Final Cut, and Pitch.
Effective time and priority management to meet project timelines.

Nice To Haves

Experience with 3D tools.
Curiosity, experimentation, and an ongoing interest in exploring new animation techniques and approaches.

Responsibilities

Create distinctive, high-quality 2D motion identities, animation systems, and brand expressions that balance creative ambition with strategic intent.
Translate insights from immersion and strategy phases into motion principles and executions.
Lead projects from initial exploration and storyboarding through design, animation, and final delivery.
Develop and explore multiple creative directions while maintaining a high standard of craft.
Apply typography, composition, timing, transitions, and animation principles to create cohesive motion systems across formats, platforms, and brand touchpoints.
Collaborate with designers, strategists, and creative leadership to integrate motion thinking into the brand process.
Contribute ideas beyond the motion discipline, respond thoughtfully to feedback, and help create cohesive brand experiences.
Communicate creative thinking and rationale clearly and persuasively to internal teams and clients, and help build compelling presentations.
Elevate the quality of work by sharing knowledge, offering constructive feedback, and supporting other designers’ development.
Explore new animation techniques and approaches.
Design and animate hands-on, using advanced After Effects skills and working knowledge of Figma, Final Cut, and Pitch.
Manage time and priorities to balance creative exploration with project timelines.
Contribute to the New York studio’s creative culture and occasionally travel to collaborate with global teams.

Benefits

Discretionary annual bonus of up to 10%.
Family leave and significant paid maternity and paternity time.
25 vacation days annually, 10 or more U.S. holidays, and a full studio closure between Christmas and New Year.
401(k) with a 4% company match.
Monthly $105 employee wellness budget through Juno.
Access to YCN and funding for relevant training and development opportunities.
At five years’ tenure: $5,000 and five extra days off.
At ten years’ tenure: $10,000 and four weeks off.
Work-from-anywhere opportunities across five global studios, with advanced planning.
Optional work-from-home day on Friday and an additional two weeks of remote work per year.
Regular access to managers and team leads to support development and career path.
Performance-based promotions and salary increases.