General Application, Motion Designer (contract)
Instrument · United States ·
- Work mode
- Remote
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Design
Instrument is a digitally native design and technology company built to help brands unlock their full potential. Since 2005, our team of makers, thinkers, and storytellers has partnered with leading brands like Google, Nike, Uber, ŌURA, and Eventbrite to craft digital experiences that create impact and drive results.
Unlike traditional agencies, we don’t just design—we build. Our work lives at the intersection of taste and technology, powered by curiosity, thoughtful curation, and a commitment to delivering the most fitting solution for every brief. We bring this to life across three core offerings: Brand, Marketing, and Product.
As a member of our freelance network, you’ll collaborate with our teams to bring bold ideas to life—whether launching new brands, building digital products, or shaping experiences that move people. We welcome collaborators from all backgrounds and experiences who share our curiosity, creativity, and care for craft.
We believe great work comes from diverse perspectives and shared purpose. If you’re passionate about learning, experimenting, and making work that matters, we’d love to hear from you.
The Role:
We’re looking for senior- and lead-level freelance Motion Designers who can turn ideas into expressive, purposeful stories and experiences.
You understand that how something moves can communicate as much as how it looks. Whether you’re bringing a brand system or interface to life, explaining a complex idea, or creating the perfect transition, you use motion to add clarity, meaning, and emotional impact.
This is a hands-on role for someone with exceptional craft, strong conceptual thinking, and the ability to own motion work from early exploration through final execution. At the Lead level, you’ll also help define the motion vision, guide other creatives, and ensure consistency across a larger body of work.
What You'll Do:
- Concept, design, and execute high-quality motion across 2D, 3D, and interactive contexts.
- Translate strategy and creative concepts into storyboards, style frames, motion studies, prototypes, and polished final work.
- Use motion to strengthen storytelling, brand expression, usability, and emotional impact.
- Bring identities, campaigns, interfaces, and digital experiences to life across screens and formats.
- Develop motion principles, systems, and reusable patterns that create consistency at scale.
- Partner closely with designers, writers, strategists, developers, and producers from concept through delivery.
- Present motion ideas and creative rationale clearly to internal teams and clients.
- Own the quality and consistency of motion deliverables while navigating timelines and technical constraints.
- At the Lead level, establish the motion vision, guide execution across a team, and mentor other designers through feedback and example-setting.
- Explore emerging tools and technologies, including AI, with curiosity, strong creative judgment, and a commitment to responsible use.
What You'll Bring:
- A portfolio demonstrating exceptional motion craft, visual storytelling, and a strong point of view.
- Significant experience leading complex motion work from concept through final execution.
- Advanced proficiency with motion, animation, and interactive design tools.
- Fluency in typography, composition, pacing, transitions, and broader visual design principles.
- Experience working across a range of motion applications, such as brand systems, campaigns, content, interfaces, films, or digital experiences.
- The ability to work autonomously, make thoughtful creative decisions, and maintain a high bar for craft.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, including the ability to explain and advocate for motion-led ideas.
- A collaborative approach and experience working with multidisciplinary creative and technical teams.
- For Lead-level consideration, experience defining motion direction, overseeing quality across multiple deliverables, and guiding other creatives.
- Curiosity about new technologies, workflows, and visual approaches—and the judgment to know when they meaningfully improve the work.
What We Offer:
The expected contract pay range: $60-$105 per hour. Contract compensation is determined by location, experience, and skillset. We have three regional pay ranges that are adjusted for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base), *learn more about our pay philosophy and cost of living adjustments.
Benefits may be available in accordance with applicable law and company policy, including eligibility based on hours worked and duration of assignment.