Motion Designer

About the role

We are hiring a motion designer to bring digital interfaces to life through animation and interaction design.

Responsibilities

• Own the motion layer of digital experiences, from concept and prototype through production-ready assets.
• Translate static Figma layouts into working prototypes, Lottie/Rive animations, or in-browser demos.
• Collaborate with design and development teams to ensure motion holds up in production.
• Think carefully about timing, easing, and when to use motion with purpose versus restraint.
• Move quickly from concept to production-ready assets, iterating based on feedback.
• Use AI-driven animation tools and runtime players as part of your workflow.

About Little Plains

Little Plains is a modern brand and product studio. We work primarily with early-stage companies, often from pre-launch through Series A, at moments where clarity, speed, and conviction matter most. Our partners are founders and small senior teams building new products, categories, and narratives under real constraints. We operate as an embedded creative partner rather than a traditional digital agency, building brand, product, and go-to-market work into cohesive systems that can scale as companies grow. Our work spans healthcare, biotech, SaaS, and consumer products.

What You Will Do Day To Day

• Own the motion layer of digital products and brand experiences, from onboarding flows to micro-interactions to expressive graphic treatments.
• Translate static Figma layouts into working prototypes, Lottie/Rive animations, or in-browser demos.
• Collaborate with design and development teams to make sure motion holds up in production.
• Think carefully about timing, easing, and when to use motion with purpose versus restraint.
• Move quickly from concept to production-ready assets, iterating based on feedback.
• Use AI-driven animation tools and runtime players as part of your workflow.

How We Work

Motion is developed alongside brand, product, and interaction decisions, not applied after the fact. Assets are production-grade from the start, not aspirational prototypes that fall apart in handoff. We use AI tools to explore options faster and push what is possible. The judgment about what to animate, and when, stays yours.

The Bar for Craft

This role requires deep command of timing and easing, a strong point of view on when motion helps, and the technical ability to deliver assets that hold up in real builds.

What We're Looking For

• 3–5 years of motion design or interactive animation experience, at an agency, in-house, or freelance.
• A portfolio that shows command of timing, easing, and visual storytelling through motion.
• Proven ability to convert Figma layouts into Lottie/Rive animations, prototypes, or in-browser demos.
• Proficiency in After Effects, Figma, Lottie, and Rive (Spline is a plus).
• Comfort with AI-driven animation tools and genuine curiosity about what they make possible.
• Ability to iterate quickly and take feedback in stride.

Core tools

• After Effects
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Lottie
• Rive
• Figma
• Spline

Nice to have

• Cinema 4D or Blender
• Framer Motion
• JavaScript/CSS/HTML
• Cavalry

Benefits (Full-Time)

• Quarterly profit share tied to studio performance
• Equity participation for long-term team members
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (50% employer-covered)
• 15 days PTO (Year 1, increases by 2 days/year)
• One week paid office closure every summer
• Paid office closure between Christmas and New Year's
• Parenthood leave: 12 weeks (birth parent), 6 weeks (non-birth parent) at full pay
• Prenatal leave: 20 hours paid per year
• $1,000/year craft and tools stipend
• $200/month coworking stipend

What to Submit

• Resume or LinkedIn profile
• Portfolio or reel showing motion design work (Lottie files, prototypes, demos)
• A short note on your technical approach and how you think about storytelling through motion

Equal Opportunity & Fair Chance

Little Plains is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law, including the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws. In accordance with the NYC Fair Chance Act, we consider applicants with criminal histories. Any background check will occur only after a conditional offer of employment has been made.