Motion Graphics

This Adobe-accredited course offers a hands-on, career-focused path into the fast-growing world of motion graphics. Through one-to-one training with an industry expert, you’ll build a professional portfolio and showreel, working on live briefs to develop real-world skills.

Perfect for aspiring designers interested in animation, film, digital storytelling, or freelancing, the course blends technical training with creative and commercial insight. Backed by over 15 years of teaching excellence at Blue Sky Design School, it’s a launchpad into a high-demand creative industry where visual communication is the new standard.

As part of the course students will focus on transforming one of their existing portfolio pieces into a dynamic motion project, applying the full range of animation and design skills you’ve developed. Through regular one-on-one sessions, your tutor will support you in crafting a polished, industry-ready final piece. Depending on your creative direction, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore additional techniques that enhance your project.

You’ll bring an approved design to life through structured planning and a tailored motion approach and apply your animation knowledge across multiple workflows. As a bespoke school we are able to offer you personalised feedback and guidance to overcome creative and technical challenges.

The UK is a global hub for motion graphics, with a booming international demand for skilled designers. Learning to create animations using Adobe After Effects is now essential, offering a fast track into a creative career whether in a company, freelancing, or selling work online.

Our Motion Graphics Course provides a strong foundation in this growing field, preparing you for roles in gaming, advertising, film, TV, marketing, and more. Ideal for anyone with a creative spark, it opens doors to exciting opportunities in visual communication.

Throughout the course, you will gain a strong foundation in the core functions of After Effects, learning to navigate its interface and use its fundamental tools to create compelling animations. You’ll begin by creating your first motion graphics video and progress to advanced animation techniques, including 3D work with cameras, lights, shadows, and the Camera Orbit Null method.

Text animation will be explored in-depth, with a focus on per-character effects, animated titles, and lower thirds. You’ll also use animation presets and learning how to apply, edit, create, and save them to streamline your workflow.

The course covers a wide range of motion graphics techniques, such as motion and camera tracking, chroma keying for green and blue screen effects, and rotoscoping to isolate and manipulate subjects. You’ll work with complex shape designs including Bezier curves and compound shapes, and you’ll be shown how to use the latest shape layer properties in line with current industry trends.

You’ll also learn to import Illustrator vector files and animate them, use spatial and temporal interpolation to create smooth motion paths, and apply reveal techniques using track mattes and masks. Compositing will be a core focus, with exercises designed to help you blend multiple elements together effectively.

Advanced topics include the use of expressions for both simple and complex automation, animating infographics and data visualisation charts, and mastering colour correction and grading. You’ll explore visual time effects, responsive design techniques, and the use of essential graphics templates for dynamic content.

Finally, you’ll learn the best export settings for various platforms and how to ensure your motion graphics projects are visually compelling, technically sound, and ready for the professional world.

• Overview of motion graphics in today’s creative industry

• Setting up projects in Adobe After Effects

• Importing assets from Illustrator and Photoshop

• Understanding file management and workflow

• How to create your first motion graphics video

• Timing, easing, and keyframes

• Creating motion paths and importing paths from vector files

• Per-character text animation and reveal techniques using masks & mattes

• Concept development and storyboarding

• Full-motion graphic project: design to final output

• Using animation presets: creating, editing, and saving custom effects

• Modern design trends and shape properties

• Essential 3D animation principles in After Effects

• Cameras, lights, and shadows for depth and realism

• 3D Camera Orbit Null techniques

• Advanced 3D scene building

• Working with complex, compound, and Bezier shapes

• Puppet tools for advanced character animation

• Responsive design essentials for multiple screen formats

• Building graphics with templates and expressions

• Designing and animating infographic elements

• Creating dynamic charts and data-driven visuals

• Applying transitions for professional presentation graphics

• Compositing with masks and effects

• Rotoscoping and background removal

• Green/blue screen chroma keying

• Motion and camera tracking techniques

• Colour correction and grading for visual polish

• Intro to visual effects (VFX)

• Creating engaging titles and lower thirds

• Using text animation presets and reveal animations

• Styling typography for branding and communication

• Introduction to expressions: linking, interpolations, and automation

• Workflow optimization for accuracy and speed

• Scripts for advanced animation techniques

• Rendering and export best practices

• Video formats for YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and other platforms

• Building a professional showreel and portfolio