The Senior Art Director, Motion Design leads the creation of motion design systems and campaigns that support Apple products, events, and consumer experiences. This role combines high-level creative direction with hands-on concepting, prototyping, and production leadership.
Role Overview
The Senior Art Director, Motion Design creates innovative motion design solutions for Apple products, events, and consumer experiences. The role leads concepting, prototyping, and production of motion identities and campaigns, with a focus on scalable systems and alignment with creative briefs and strategic goals.
Onsite Location
Sunnyvale, CA (onsite)
Key Responsibilities
- Lead conceptual development and prototyping of motion identities and campaigns from initial concept through final production.
- Design scalable, foundational motion design systems that meet requirements in creative briefs, supporting consistency, clarity, and creative excellence.
- Set creative vision and provide direction for project teams through collaboration coordination and craft standards. Build rapport and credibility across team and partner teams to support cross-functional alignment of creative intent.
- Art direct creative partners including motion designers, digital artists, production designers, illustrators, photographers, and vendors, with clear guidance and actionable feedback.
- Prepare work for creative reviews with senior leadership, synthesize feedback, and refine motion direction to align with strategic goals.
Minimum Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience building brand identities and campaigns with motion design as a core discipline.
- Portfolio demonstrating expertise in design foundations, animation principles, motion theory, typography, and visual communication across 2D and 3D work.
- Industry experience as a lead animator or art director, overseeing creative development from concept through final production.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Media Encoder) and Cinema 4D with Redshift for camera work, texturing, and lighting.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Proven ability to develop original motion concepts and prototype hands-on, balancing strategic thinking with high-level craft.
- Excellent design and conceptual skills, including the ability to guide and evaluate and, when needed, redirect creative development.
- Experience defining scalable motion behaviors and visual systems for complex, multi-channel campaigns.
- Familiarity with advanced production tools such as Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and Resolve, and how design translates into deep CG production environments.
- Curiosity about utilizing emerging technologies in the design process, including AR/VR, spatial computing, or generative design tools.
- Proven ability to pitch and articulate complex motion concepts to stakeholders to align creative vision with strategy.
- Ability to learn and adapt quickly, with flexible problem solving in a rapidly changing environment.
- Demonstrated ability to mentor designers, collaborate across disciplines, and contribute to an innovative design culture.
Technologies
After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Media Encoder, Cinema 4D, Redshift, Maya, Houdini, Nuke, Resolve, AR/VR, spatial computing, generative design tools, 2D, 3D
Pay
The base pay range for this role is USD 186,300 to 280,000 per year. Base pay depends on skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Benefits
- Opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs.
- Eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards.
- Can purchase Apple stock at a discount through voluntary participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
- Comprehensive medical and dental coverage.
- Retirement benefits.
- Range of discounted products and free services.
- Reimbursement for certain educational expenses, including tuition, for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple.
- May be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation.
Compensation Terms
Apple benefit, compensation, and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.
