In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss the role of animation and motion in modern product design workflows and why it’s not just about looking slick.

From micro-interactions to loading states, they find out where animation improves UX and where it becomes a distraction. They also get into motion for video editing, designing for product marketing, and why most designers need to reconsider the amount of motion they use in their work.

Along the way, they touch on mentorship, design tools, and what junior designers should focus on when learning motion design in today’s world of product design.

🔸 Why subtle motion design is more effective
🔸 The psychology behind informative loading states
🔸 When animation delights users—and when it distracts
🔸 The value of documentation for preserving ideas
🔸 Tools for animation: Figma, Lottie, After Effects, and more
🔸 How animation can elevate product marketing
🔸 Mentorship, design education, and learning by doing
🔸 “Done is better than perfect” when shipping MVPs

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