Motion Designer CV example

This guide covers everything about writing a CV for this creative role. From structuring the document to showcasing the tools and styles you’ve mastered, each section helps position you as a designer who doesn’t just follow a brief, but elevates it.

Whether you’re applying to agencies, production studios, in-house teams, or freelance gigs, this guide will help you tailor your CV to attract the right kind of attention.

Your CV should be just like your best motion work: well-paced and visually intuitive. Before anyone clicks on your showreel, your CV needs to show that you’re not just creative – you’re organised, professional, and understand how to communicate ideas cleanly and effectively. Recruiters often skim first, read second – so make it easy for them to see the value you bring with a clear structure.

Here’s the layout to follow:

• Name and contact details – Start with your name and contact details – make it simple for recruiters to reach you. Including a photo is a personal choice.
• Profile – Use this section to summarise your experience, strengths, and what makes you a standout candidate.
• Core skills – Outline your primary competencies to give recruiters a snapshot of your strengths.
• Work experience – Walk through your professional experience, beginning with your latest position and moving backwards.
• Education – Outline your education and certifications, focusing on those most relevant to the role.
• Additional info – This section is optional, but it’s a good place for hobbies and interests that complement your CV.
  

Break content into clear sections using bold headers, format text with bullet points for scannability, and stick to a clean, modern font (save the bold typography for your portfolio). Keep it to two pages long at most – you want to showcase your strongest work, not overload with unnecessary detail. A CV format that follows these useful tips tells the recruiter that you understand visual hierarchy, attention to detail, and how to present information – three things they’re hiring you for.

This brief paragraph at the top of your CV is your chance to hook the recruiter. It should summarise your experience, technical tools, and creative strengths – all while hinting at your unique design voice.

Keep it concise and focused. Think of your CV profile like writing a project tagline: as well as being clear and compelling, it should be tailored to your target audience. Emphasise the real value you’d bring to any new project.

Make sure to include:

• Where you worked – Agencies, in-house teams, freelance clients, broadcast, or content studios
• Your top qualifications – Degrees, motion graphics diplomas, or online certifications in tools like After Effects or Cinema 4D
• Essential skills – Keyframe animation, character rigging, 2D/3D design, VFX, or storyboarding
• Software expertise – After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, Photoshop, Blender, Cinema 4D, etc.
• Types of work – Social campaigns, product videos, UI animations, title sequences, or branded content

This section gives recruiters a quick-hit overview of your design capabilities. List your most important skills – both creatively and technically – that recruiters are going to be scanning for when they open up your CV. Skip vague traits like “passionate” – focus on actual, demonstrable strengths.

Tailor this section to the type of job you’re applying for. If it’s corporate explainers, lean into clean motion graphics. If it’s title sequences for streaming platforms, highlight cinematic flair and compositing.

This is where you show the range of work you’ve done – and how you’ve added value to the teams and clients you’ve worked with. If you’ve freelanced a lot, group projects by client or type (e.g. “Freelance Motion Designer – 2021–present – various clients in e-commerce and tech”).

List your work experience in reverse chronological order and break them down into bullet points. Include tools used, responsibilities taken, and results delivered.

• Outline – Briefly describe who you worked for and the scope of your work – e.g. in-house for a fintech startup, freelance for agencies, or part of a content team for a YouTube channel.
• Responsibilities – Explain what you did using action words like “animated” and “composited.” For example: “animated explainer videos using After Effects and Illustrator assets” or “composited product demo scenes with 3D elements and motion typography.” Mention styles, formats, or briefs you followed.
• Achievements – Highlight achievements like views, engagement, client feedback, awards, or time-sensitive turnarounds. Even something like “delivered 10+ weekly edits under tight deadlines” can show your reliability.

Your education section should cover any degrees, diplomas, or specialist training in design, animation, or digital media. Even short online courses count – especially if they cover industry-standard tools.

List qualifications in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent. If you’re experienced, keep it brief. If you’re early in your career, feel free to list modules or include relevant coursework.