Motion Designer - Visual Identity and Design System

Description
Our Company
At General Motors, we combine the energy of a startup with the reach of a global powerhouse. We design, build, and sell the world's best vehicles and mobility solutions, guided by a bold vision of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion .
Achieving this future requires more than engineering-it requires design excellence at every level of experience. We're looking for people who are passionate about shaping how a global brand behaves, communicates, and evolves through thoughtful, intentional design.
The Role
We're seeking a Motion Designer to join our Brand Identity team , responsible for defining and evolving motion as a core pillar of the GM Design Language.
In this role, you'll help establish how the brand moves -using motion to express character, reinforce clarity, and create cohesive experiences across platforms. Motion at GM is treated as a purposeful design tool: supporting communication, usability, and storytelling rather than ornamentation.
You'll work at a systems level , developing motion principles, guidelines, and reusable assets that ensure consistency while allowing flexibility across digital products, marketing, vehicle interfaces, and emerging experiences. This role sits at the intersection of brand, product, and technology, collaborating closely with designers, strategists, and developers to embed motion deeply and thoughtfully into the GM ecosystem.
What You'll Do

• Define and evolve motion principles that express GM's brand behavior, tone, and personality
• Design scalable motion systems-including guidelines, libraries, and toolkits-that support consistent application across teams and platforms
• Explore motion as a key form of brand expression across UI, marketing, storytelling, vehicle interfaces, and experiential touchpoints
• Design and produce high-quality 2D and 3D motion studies, prototypes, and reference animations
• Translate brand strategy and visual identity into clear, repeatable motion patterns and behaviors
• Collaborate closely with Visual Designers, UX/UI Designers, Brand Strategists, and Developers to integrate motion into design systems and products
• Develop sketches, storyboards, and motion explorations to communicate concepts clearly before production
• Ensure motion enhances usability and accessibility by guiding attention, hierarchy, and feedback
• Maintain consistency and quality while adapting motion systems to different contexts, platforms, and technical constraints
• Research, test, and thoughtfully apply new motion techniques and tools, keeping the brand current and relevant
• Contribute to documentation and standards that help scale motion design across the organization
• Provide feedback, guidance, and mentorship to elevate motion craft and consistency across teams

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 5+ years of professional experience in motion design, with a focus on brand identity, product ecosystems, or design systems
• A strong portfolio, online or shared privately, which demonstrates motion used intentionally to support brand expression, clarity, and storytelling
• Expert proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro; experience with 3D tools such as Cinema 4D or Blender
• Strong foundation in visual design fundamentals, including typography, composition, timing, rhythm, and hierarchy
• Experience designing motion for digital products, UI, and interactive experiences
• Systems-level thinking with the ability to create motion solutions that scale across platforms and teams
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to articulate design rationale and present work to stakeholders
• Collaborative mindset with experience working closely with designers, developers, and cross-functional partners

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience contributing to or evolving a design system
• Familiarity with front-end or real-time environments (e.g., Lottie, Rive, Cavalry, web, in-vehicle systems)
• Experience mentoring other motion designers or helping build a motion practice

What We Value

• Motion that is clear, intentional, and purposeful
• A balance of structure and consistency that still leaves room for creative exploration
• Curiosity and a thoughtful approach to craft, tools, and evolving design practices
• A collaborative mindset and interest in building systems that empower others
• Respect for accessibility, usability, and performance as core aspects of motion design

About GM
Our vision is a world with Zero Crashes, Zero Emissions and Zero Congestion and we embrace the responsibility to lead the change that will make our world better, safer and more equitable for all.
Why Join Us
We believe we all must make a choice every day - individually and collectively - to drive meaningful change through our words, our deeds and our culture. Every day, we want every employee to feel they belong to one General Motors team.
Total Rewards | Benefits Overview
From day one, we're looking out for your well-being-at work and at home-so you can focus on realizing your ambitions. Learn how GM supports a rewarding career that rewards you personally by visiting Total Rewards resources.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)
General Motors is committed to being a workplace that is not only free of unlawful discrimination, but one that genuinely fosters inclusion and belonging. We strongly believe that providing an inclusive workplace creates an environment in which our employees can thrive and develop better products for our customers.
All employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to sex, race, color, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, disability, pregnancy or maternity status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran or protected veteran, or any other similarly protected status in accordance with federal, state and local laws.
We encourage interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. Applicants in the recruitment process may be required, where applicable, to successfully complete a role-related assessment(s) and/or a pre-employment screening prior to beginning employment. To learn more, visit How we Hire.
Accommodations
General Motors offers opportunities to all job seekers including individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, email us [email protected] or call us at 800-865-7580. In your email, please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting as well as the job title and requisition number of the position for which you are applying.