Internship Web Animation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Highwire's creative team sits within the agency's digital practice. We lead the creative strategy, design and execution of powerful, valuable, and impactful ideas that drive business impact for our clients. We weave insights into ideas, make ideas real, and combine creativity with strategic storytelling so our clients stand out from competitors. We believe the biggest ideas don't have to be the most complex and in the importance of matching creative delivery with strategic motivation.
Key Responsibilities:
We are seeking a talented Designer, Brand to join our team and make a meaningful impact through high-quality design solutions that address our clients' challenges and elevate their brand presence. Specializing in brand design, brand transformations, and content design, this role will also embrace the powerful potential of how motion design helps bring brands to life across diverse platforms. This role also supports brand systems work, ensuring creative output across mediums stays grounded in established brand guidelines as those systems evolve.
As a Designer, Brand you'll be instrumental in driving agency growth by crafting engaging, strategic, and visually stunning content that aligns with existing client brand identities while pushing creative boundaries. You'll collaborate closely with internal teams and clients, ensuring that every piece of work contributes to compelling brand experiences and meaningful customer journeys.
What You'll Gain
You'll work inside a dedicated, close-knit team built for high-volume production. You'll build deep expertise across brand systems, content design, and motion, with a steady, significant volume of work to sharpen your craft against. You'll be part of a growing investment in Creative in a brand and video capacity at Highwire, joining at a point where innovation is central to how the agency delivers for clients.
About You

• Develop cohesive creative storytelling across different mediums, always keeping creative strategy at the core.
• Produce motion work, including short-form social animation, brand video support, and template-based motion assets, that strengthens brand identity and enhances brand storytelling.
• Balance brand integrity with experimentation, demonstrated through a portfolio that shows both adherence to brand systems and original creative exploration within those systems.
• Understand and differentiate between social-first creative and brand-first creative, tailoring content accordingly.
• Ensure consistency in static and motion projects to maintain a unified brand experience.
• Work within established brand systems and design guidelines, flagging when client brand standards need updating or expansion as new platforms or content types emerge.
• Proactively solve process challenges to streamline workflows across integrated teams.
• Take a 360-degree approach, considering all potential customer touchpoints and brand interactions.
• Ask clarifying questions about client goals during briefing and translate those goals into specific creative decisions, rather than working from the brief alone.
• Brainstorm and develop creative concepts independently and in collaboration with account teams and the creative team.
• Identify opportunities to enhance creativity within existing client workflows, researching and presenting new ideas.
• Present design work internally and externally, effectively communicating both creative vision and strategic rationale to designers and non-designers alike.
• Provide peer-level creative feedback to interns and junior designers, and, when needed, help non-creative collaborators understand the reasoning behind design decisions.

Success Factors:

• 3-5 years of professional design experience (agency or in-house tech company experience preferred).
• Visual, graphic, or motion design degree or equivalent experience.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing a range of professional work in visual design and motion design, demonstrating a solid understanding of design principles and web design best practices.
• Expert knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD).
• Intermediate proficiency in Figma and Adobe After Effects.
• Ability to leverage drag-and-drop platforms to hand off self-serve toolkits to our clients through Canva and/or Adobe Express.
• Strong understanding of motion graphic principles and their role in brand identity development.
• Experience working within established brand systems and guidelines, with the ability to apply and extend them consistently across new content types.
• Experience with storyboarding, pacing, color theory, and visual hierarchy to craft compelling narratives.
• Excellent communication skills to provide project guidance, collaborate with teams, and present work effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to manage 3 or more concurrent projects independently while meeting deadlines, with examples of how you've prioritized competing deliverables.
• Familiarity with project management tools to streamline workflows.
• Attention to detail and a collaborative mindset to ensure the best creative outcomes for clients.
• Ability to manage time independently. Must be able to prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines, and proactively flag conflicts with account and creative teams.
• A finger on the pulse of the latest design, social, and digital trends.
• A keen understanding of UX design principles, including familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices.
• Genuine curiosity about how AI tools are reshaping creative workflows, with a willingness to experiment and learn as new tools and processes emerge.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted design tools is a plus.
• Ability to work within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

The salary range for this position is $72,000 to $90,000, with the final offer based on a combination of factors, including education, relevant experience, skills, prior training, internal equity, and local geographic market data. This role also includes a competitive benefits package with medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, generous paid time off, and additional perks designed to support your overall well-being and growth. #LI-Hybrid
About Highwire
Highwire is a strategic marketing communications agency at the intersection of innovation and industry. We partner with ambitious companies and established brands to navigate complexity, lead markets, and grow with purpose. With integrated expertise in strategic marketing and communications, corporate reputation, creative, and insights, we cut through the noise to deliver bold ideas and measurable impact across B2B technology, healthcare, cybersecurity, energy, professional and financial services, and more.
At Highwire, we believe that storytelling fuels transformation. We know that the most impactful stories represent all voices and perspectives. As a values-driven agency, we foster an inclusive environment where everyone-regardless of age, race/ethnicity, size, shape, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and different abilities-can feel safe, celebrated and worthy.
We ensure that every Highwire Walker has the requisite support to soar in their careers. Our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging is foundational and embedded in our business and culture. We aspire to change our industry and build a better future for all.
Our people-first culture is driven by four core values:

• Team Empowerment
• Growth Mindset
• Inclusion Always
• Fierce Distinction

We're looking for individuals with big ideas, strong opinions, and the energy to bring them to life. If you thrive in an environment that values personal accountability, high standards, and boundless motivation, this is the opportunity for you. Be part of our award-winning culture and contribute to an exciting and growing business where you can make a real impact.
Highwire. Above all.
Our people-first culture is reflected in the meaningful benefits, flexibility, and support we offer:

• Competitive salary with merit-based opportunities for growth
• Flexible hybrid work model tailored to your schedule and lifestyle
• Generous vacation policy, including extended summer and winter breaks
• Early log-off on Fridays through our Empower Hours program
• 401(k) plan with employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus FSA options
• Paid parental leave benefits
• Commuter benefits
• Annual Growth Mindset stipend for books, events, or learning experiences
• Monthly technology reimbursement
• Wellness benefit program for mental and physical health
• 501c3 donation matching program
• Mentorship and ongoing professional development opportunities
• Monthly recognition and team celebrations
• Employee referral and new business referral bonuses
• Quarterly Highwire events and team gatherings
• Dog-friendly office environment
• A supportive, inclusive, and collaborative workplace where you can grow and do your best work

Location & Work Environment
Highwire offers both remote and hybrid work options, depending on where you live.
Hybrid: Candidates located within commuting distance of our New York, NY or San Francisco, CA offices follow a hybrid schedule, with three in-office days per week.
Remote: We hire for fully remote roles in the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Washington, D.C..
Please note: We are only able to consider candidates who reside in one of the locations listed above at the time of hire.
Join the Highwire team
If you're inspired by the opportunity to shape meaningful stories and grow alongside a team that values innovation, accountability, and inclusion, apply below to start the conversation.
Please note: This posting may be used to build our talent pipeline, connect with top professionals in the industry, or extend reach across multiple locations. We welcome all interested candidates to apply and explore opportunities at Highwire!