This is good advice too, given how video marketing is so much more effective in achieving your marketing goals than other content types. But creating videos for branded campaigns is easier said than done. And some content cannot be just a video.

So what do you do in that case? 

Well, that is when you tap into the vast ocean of motion graphics. With motion graphics, you can get all the benefits of videos without actually creating one. 

Wondering how that works? Is it really possible?

Well, we are here to answer all your questions with this blog on Motion Graphics. In this edition of Design 101, Kimp explores the types of motion graphics while detailing how you can leverage these for your businesses.

So with no further delay, let’s dive right in. 

What are Motion Graphics?

The world of graphic design has evolved beyond anything anyone could have imagined in the last ten years. And motion graphics are definitely a big part of that.

So, motion graphics basically involve making your graphic design move. Yes, anything you have created as a static graphic gets a new lease on life with motion graphics. Moving titles, fonts, transitioning logos, simple animations in presentations, animating steps of a How-To video, and so on are some examples that come to mind. 

Of course, motion graphics have a very close similarity to animation. But between animation vs. motion graphics, animation usually has a cinematic element, emphasizes storytelling, and is much more complex than simplistic motion graphics. 

Motion graphics are the tools you can leverage to make your content shine without having to repurpose them into videos completely. And if you convert them into videos, motion graphics make it easier to do so.

So is motion graphics a new technique? 

Motion graphics date back to the 1800s when presentations with moving design elements existed. But it is widely accepted that they took off in the 1920s when Walther Ruttmann, Hans Richter, Viking Eggeling, and Oskar Fischinger used this technique for animating film titles. 

Then John Whitney started Motion Graphics Inc. and was part of the Hitchcock Film “Vertigo” animating the title cards.  

Since then the world of motion graphics has evolved, and many tools cropped up to incorporate motion graphics into various forms of storytelling. More importantly, they have found great acceptance in marketing and advertising designs which before this was all about produced videos, static designs, and the written word.

Many even claim that this motion graphics are a good bridge between the old and the new, bringing tradition and modern trends together. 

Why invest in Motion Graphics? 

Before we talk about the options available to you in motion graphics, let us take a minute to understand the value they bring to your campaigns. Even though they are not as expensive as videos, motion graphics still claim a substantial investment in your marketing budget. 

So let’s take a look at what the payoff looks like.

Including motion graphics in your marketing campaigns can: 

• Make complex concepts easier to represent 
• Improve readability 
• Enhance engagement rates 

Make complex concepts easier to represent 

Brands have the onus of educating their audience, sharing technical information, and updating numbers about their performance, and the value they offer. But just uploading this content on social media or your website is not enough. You need customers to read this and take the action you need them to. With motion graphics, you can break down these dry concepts into fun segments and reduce the barrier between the content and the customer. 

Improve readability 

Imagine you have to publish a long report for the customer on your operations or policy updates? Creating a video for this may become too expensive, and no one wants to listen to a person going on and on about some technical details. With motion graphics playing the role of visual aids, you can improve the readability of the content at an affordable price.

Enhance engagement rates 

Social media is a big part of every marketing campaign. Brands have to ensure that customers consistently engage with their content even when it is not sales-oriented. That builds rapport and eventually leads to sales from these channels. But securing engagement on social media is difficult. 

Enter motion graphics. From GIFs, to animated videos, and moving graphs – they can make the scrolling thumb stop. You can also post your explainer videos on social media on platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, YT shorts, and so on. 

Well, now that we have established that motion graphics can get you the same results as videos, it is time to explore ahead.

9 Types of Motion Graphics + Design Tips 

We know most people think that animations have very limited scope in marketing, and they are just for laughs. But that is far from the truth. Animation itself has found acceptance in the mainstream world, and major brands are now using motion graphics to captivate their audiences easily. 

And speaking of scope, you can use motion graphics wherever you want, there is really no limit to it. 

But to start you off, we explain the top 9 types of motion graphics available for you and how you can leverage them best. 

Let’s get started. 

1. Explainer video 

Do you want to talk to your customers about your product, service, or a special value proposition? Wondering what an interesting way to do it is? Of course, the universe comes at you with all the video suggestions. But what if you are looking for an easier option?

Well, in that case, explainer videos with simple animations are what you need. 

Explainer videos can be for anything – explaining a feature of your product, application of your product/service, detailing a new offer, and so on. 

And with motion graphics, you can animate the slides & text you already have at hand with attractive music and transitions to make them more engaging.

Some common design elements of motion graphics explainer videos are:

• Static images 
• Animated text
• Transitioning slides 
• An animated audiogram
• Simple illustrations that you can animate to describe a problem/solution

Kimp Tip: If you use animated illustrations for your explainer video, ensure that you pick the right music and include closed captions to make the video accessible and entertaining. 

Need a hand with your designs? Kimp Graphics can create the illustration or static images you need while Kimp Video handles the motion graphics end.

2. How-to videos 

Educational content is the hot favorite on the internet right now after music videos and trending dances. Even on recreational platforms like TikTok, educational content is huge and has a dedicated hashtag called EduTok.

How-to videos also see high volume of searches and help customers decide in favor/against a particular product. So, every brand needs this as part of their marketing campaigns. 

Even post-purchase, how-to videos come in handy. What do you prefer as a customer: instruction manuals or a quick how-to video? Of course, the video is much better. But shooting a video is not something every brand can afford to do. And that is why we recommend employing the techniques of motion graphics to create a how-to video.

You can use techniques such as transitions, GIFs, and simple animations along with animated text or other effects. 

If you create cool how-to videos, your social media profiles will blow up in seconds, we guarantee! 

Kimp Tip: When you choose the color scheme, design style, and other elements for the how-to video, keep it as simple as possible. Motion graphics videos look good when they are simplistic as the product takes center stage.

3. UI Animations 

This is very similar to a product demo but specifically for brands that are developing a website, ecommerce store, or app. Improving user experience is and must be one of the most important goals of any organization. Now, similar to how-to videos, you can substitute your step-by-step guide with a simple UI animation.

Like we always say, showing is so much better than telling. Customers are also more likely to remember the details from a demo video than from the instructions they read. Animating how the UI works and the steps for a particular action also leave no doubt in the customers’ minds. 

Creating a UI animation also has the benefit of showing the customer your product without making them sign up and building trust right off the bat. 

Motion graphics can make your UI animation look as real as a screen recording that solves all your customers’ queries. 

Kimp Tip: With UI animation, the aim is to impress the customer and show them how easy using the product is. So avoid too many transitions and effects. Include text overlays and closed captions wherever possible to improve readability. 

Kimp Graphics + Video is your one-stop service for all you need to create the UI animations for your brand. 

5. Logo animation 

You have a cool animated introduction slide, an animated video for your products, and even an animated icon set. But what about the most important branding element of your company? Yes, we are speaking about your logo.

If you want to stand out in today’s competitive world, you need something more than a static logo design. Yes, you can animate it whenever you animate your video, but that does not guarantee a consistent branding experience to your audience. 

And animating your logo is now easier than before. You can create a logo animation with the simplest of motion graphics techniques and create something unique and meaningful to your brand.

Want to know more about logo animations and why you need one? Check out our guide here. 

6. Infographics 

Do you know what customers on the internet share the most after videos? GIFs and infographics. GIFs are easy to understand (more on this in the next section), but infographics? Yes, people love information, and the visual representation infographics provide is unmatched. 

But sometimes, infographics can be too complex and may not capture the audience’s attention as they should. This is especially true for those you want to post on social media. 

The good news is you can change this situation by simply incorporating motion graphics into your infographics. Yes, make the data move and ensure that customers hungrily take in everything you give them. 

Remember the attractive graphs you see on TV during an election season or a a spectacular thunderstorm? They are all animated infographics, designed to make data interesting. 

As a brand, you can leverage this to improve your engagement rates on social media and to push your content ahead on SEO. 

Kimp Tip: In infographics too, the key is to keep the focus on data and supplement them with animated visual aids. But you can always innovate, change the design style and lure the audience in.

7. GIFs

People love GIFs. Nobody can deny this. In fact, most of us have a dedicated GIF keyboard and use it extensively when we chat or interact online. Brands have to get in on this if they want to build brand awareness for their products. 

As complicated as they look, GIFs are quite easy to make if you have a clear vision. A skilled team – like the Kimp Graphics teams – can whip out as many GIFs as you want with the simplest motion graphic techniques. 

GIFs are usually less than 3 seconds in length and best for integration on blogs, social media stories, and so on.

8. Presentations 

We all know that corporate life is a lot about making presentations and want to impress our investors, clients, and vendors with our very cool slides. And presentations have even higher stakes for startups given how their whole business depends on them. They have to be able to capture the investors’ attention quickly and get your point across. 

So why go with old static images and preloaded transition effects for your brand’s most important asset? Ditch them and upgrade to presentations enhanced with motion graphics.

With motion graphics, you can: 

• Animate slide transitions
• Animate text 
• Include animated content instead of static images

As you can see, even the simplest slides can go up a level higher with motion graphics. 

9. Animated ads

Can you create ads with motion graphics? Don’t customers want to see real people in ads? Well, as long as the script is tight, customers will happily watch an engaging animated video ad instead of a boring recorded one.

Animated video ads are also perfect to create for short-term campaigns and something that has to go out instantly. And if the offering is just a simple one-time discount, why record it when you can animate it? 

Animating video ads also gives you higher control of color scheme, lighting, text placements, and quality than recording one at short notice. 

You can create the best hype videos for your product with motion graphics, so the sky is truly the limit.

Kimp Tip: Video ads are high stakes on social media, and the technical specifications are strict. So do not go overboard adding effects and keep it classy. Ensure that the first five seconds are engaging and the CTA is clear at the end. The rest is smooth sailing from thereon in.

Leverage Motion Graphics for your Brand with Kimp 

Excited by the prospect of motion graphics? Choosing this tool is the best decision you can make for your brand by a long shot. The attention span of consumers is on a decline worldwide and brands have to play quite hard for customers to notice them. But animated content from Kimp Video’s motion graphics, video design and video editing subscription can make that easier. 

We offer unlimited design requests, revisions, and user access across a wide range of design categories at a flat monthly fee. And if you need static designs, Kimp Graphics is right here for you. 

Sign up for our free trial and start creating today!