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Animation Design Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Brand Design Manager

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

Demonstrate vision and expertise in defining all design elements, including visual identity systems, typography, iconography, illustration, animation, and more. * Build a reputation for leadership ...

Brand Design Manager

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$110K - $185K/yr

Demonstrate vision and expertise in defining all design elements, including visual identity systems, typography, iconography, illustration, animation, and more. * Build a reputation for leadership ...

Demonstrate vision and expertise in defining all design elements, including visual identity systems, typography, iconography, illustration, animation, and more. * Build a reputation for leadership ...

New

Strong visual communication and graphic design skills, with an emphasis on clarity and storytelling * Experience producing animations, renderings, or digital visualizations * Strong collaboration ...

Computational Designer

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$70K - $85K/yr

Strong visual communication and graphic design skills, with an emphasis on clarity and storytelling * Experience producing animations, renderings, or digital visualizations * Strong collaboration ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography, animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography, animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography, animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a ...

Showing results 41-60

Animation Design information

See Illinois salary details

$10

$38

$68

How much do animation design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation design in Illinois is $38.19, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.20 and $61.97 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs can you do with animation design?

Animation design skills can lead to roles such as 2D or 3D animator, motion graphics artist, character designer, storyboard artist, and visual effects artist. These jobs are common in industries like film, television, video games, advertising, and digital media, often requiring proficiency in tools like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender.

What is the difference between Animation Design vs Motion Graphics Design?

AspectAnimation DesignMotion Graphics Design
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in animation, graphic design, or related fieldsOften requires similar credentials, with emphasis on graphic design and digital media
Work EnvironmentWorks in animation studios, film, gaming, or advertisingWorks in advertising agencies, media companies, or digital marketing
Industry UsageUsed for character animation, storytelling, and 3D animationUsed for branding, promotional videos, and visual effects

Animation Design focuses on creating animated content, including characters and storytelling, often in 3D or traditional animation. Motion Graphics Design emphasizes animated graphic elements for branding, advertising, and digital media. While both roles involve animation skills and similar credentials, their applications and industries differ, making each specialized for distinct creative outputs.

Are animation designers still in demand?

Animation designers are still in demand as visual content remains essential in entertainment, advertising, and digital media. Skills in software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender, along with a strong portfolio, can improve job prospects in this evolving industry.

What does an animation design do?

An animation designer creates visual sequences and motion graphics for various media such as films, video games, and advertisements. They use tools like Adobe After Effects and Maya to develop characters, backgrounds, and effects, often collaborating with other creative professionals to bring concepts to life.

How does an animation designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Animation designers often work closely with a variety of teams, including scriptwriters, storyboard artists, voice actors, and software developers. Effective communication and regular feedback loops are essential, as animation designers need to ensure their visuals align with the narrative and technical requirements. Collaboration may involve attending cross-functional meetings, sharing progress updates, and revising work based on input from directors or marketing teams. This teamwork approach helps ensure the final animation meets both creative and business objectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Designer, you need a solid foundation in visual storytelling, drawing, and animation principles, often supported by a degree in animation, graphic design, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Toon Boom Harmony, along with a strong portfolio, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are crucial soft skills for delivering engaging animations and working with diverse teams. These skills ensure the creation of compelling, high-quality animations that meet client needs and industry standards.

What is animation design?

Animation design is the process of creating visual sequences that give the illusion of movement, often for use in films, television, video games, advertisements, or online content. Animation designers use various techniques, including 2D, 3D, stop-motion, and computer-generated imagery, to bring stories and ideas to life. The role involves storyboarding, drawing, modeling, texturing, and animating characters or objects. Animation designers often collaborate with writers, directors, and other artists to achieve a cohesive visual narrative. Creativity, technical skill, and attention to detail are essential traits for success in this field.
What job categories do people searching Animation Design jobs in Illinois look for? The top searched job categories for Animation Design jobs in Illinois are:
What cities in Illinois are hiring for Animation Design jobs? Cities in Illinois with the most Animation Design job openings:
Infographic showing various Animation Design job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $79,435 per year, or $38.2 per hour.

Cinematographer/Creative Video Producer - CBA Online Programs, College of Business Administration

University of Illinois

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

Other

Posted 11 days ago


Job description

The Cinematographer/Creative Video Producer serves as a key member of the unit, providing expertise and oversight to foster an effective media production environment that enhances teaching and learning initiatives at UIC Business. This position will direct the development of digital learning assets for various course modalities across a range of disciplines and audiences, and will collaborate closely with instructional designers and subject matter experts, including instructors, educational developers, and researchers, to ensure the course design process meets quality and accessibility requirements and industry standards. This role will oversee all creative aspects of the course development process, including video, graphics, animation, immersive experiences, and other learning asset types, to support the development of engaging, interactive resources that convey complex concepts and support the effective, learner-centered delivery of course competencies and/or learning objectives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Shoots and edits digital videos and photos, and visualizes and creates animations and graphics to enhance online courses with images for use on LMS, web, in print, in ads, and on social media, and to support visually compelling stories and high-quality instruction.
  • Assists with the management of the studio, including managing the studio's reservation process, identifying equipment and staff needed, and hiring, training, and supervising student workers and graduate hourly employees working in the department.
  • Collaborates with internal and external units to provide services and ensure consistency with the college brand.
  • Works closely with Marketing and Communications.
  • In coordination with the instructional design team, ensure digital learning assets are created and delivered in a timely manner and according to a maintained course/program/eLearning module production calendar.
  • Ensure media production follows quality standards, including those necessary for implementation of ADA/ WCAG and Title II/ADA-compliant practices.
  • Identify, research, test, and select animation, motion design, digital communication, and video trends and technologies to produce innovative and effective media-enhanced courses and course components.
  • Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

University of Illinois logo

About University of Illinois

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The University of Illinois, located in Urbana, Illinois, US, is a prominent entity in the higher education sector. Operating its official functions through its website uillinois.edu, the institution provides a range of educational programs and services. The University was founded in 1867 and has since grown dramatically both in size and reputation. Its core values are embodied in its mission to enhance the lives of its students and citizens in the state, nation, and world through leadership in learning, discovery, engagement, and economic development. The university boasts several notable achievements including producing Nobel laureates and Pulitzer prize winners. It is renowned for its research programs and is known for significant advancements across various fields including engineering, science, and humanities.

Industry

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Urbana, IL, US

Year founded

1974

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