Art Director, Motion Design
Job Description
Lead motion identity and campaign creative from concept to final production, bringing graphic, motion, music, and editorial craft to Apple products and experiences.
Responsibilities
- Drive conceptual development and prototyping for motion identities and campaigns, from initial concept through final production
- Create scalable, foundational motion design systems aligned to creative brief requirements, with a focus on consistency, clarity, and creative excellence
- Collaborate with project teams by articulating ideas, coordinating workflows, and maintaining high craft standards
- Build rapport and credibility across the team to ensure creative intent stays aligned
- Art direct external and internal creative partners including motion designers, digital artists, production designers, illustrators, photographers, and vendors
- Provide clear guidance and actionable feedback during production
- Prepare materials for creative reviews, synthesize feedback, and refine motion direction to meet strategic goals
Requirements
- Experience defining scalable motion behaviors and visual systems for complex, multi-channel campaigns
- Familiarity with advanced production tools: Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and Resolve, including how design translates into deep CG production environments
- Curiosity about applying emerging technologies such as AR/VR, spatial computing, or generative design tools
- Ability to pitch and clearly articulate motion concepts to stakeholders to align creative vision with strategy
- Fast learning and quick adaptation for flexible creative problem solving in a rapidly changing environment
- Demonstrated ability to mentor designers, collaborate across disciplines, and help build an innovative design culture
- 7+ years building brand identities and campaigns with motion design as a core discipline
- Portfolio showing expertise in design foundations, animation principles, motion theory, typography, and visual communication across 2D and 3D
- Industry experience as an animator or art director contributing to creative development from concept through final production
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Media Encoder; plus Cinema 4D with Redshift for camera work, texturing, and lighting
- Proven ability to develop original motion concepts and prototype hands-on while balancing strategic thinking with high-level craft
- Strong design and conceptual skills, with the ability to guide, evaluate, and redirect creative development when needed
Technologies
- Maya
- Houdini
- Nuke
- Resolve
- AR/VR
- Spatial computing
- Generative design tools
- Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Media Encoder)
- Cinema 4D
- Redshift
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical and dental coverage
- Retirement benefits
- Discounted products and free services
- Reimbursement for certain educational expenses, including tuition
- Opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple’s discretionary employee stock programs
- Discretionary restricted stock unit awards
- Ability to purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Role may be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation
Pay & Benefits
- Base pay range: $149,700 to $225,600 per year
- Base pay depends on skills, qualifications, experience, and location
- Benefits include comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, discounted products and free services, and education reimbursement (including tuition) for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple
- Discretionary employee stock programs and restricted stock unit awards are available, and stock purchase discount may apply through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Note: Apple benefit, compensation, and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program
Location: Sunnyvale, CA (onsite)