Data Visualization Motion Designer (Map Animation + D3.js-Style Motion Graphics) Video Production - Contract to Hire

I’m looking for a highly skilled Data Visualization Motion Designer who can turn complex datasets into cinematic, narrative-driven animated videos. This is not a standard After Effects editor role — I need someone who lives at the intersection of data visualization, geography, animation, and code.

You should be able to create visuals similar to NYT Graphics, Vox, FT Visuals, or SCMP’s Infographics Team — blending clear data storytelling with polished motion design.

If you can animate global maps using GeoLayers 3, transform CSV/JSON datasets into dynamic charts, or even export D3.js-style visualizations into video, you're exactly who I’m looking for.

What You’ll Work On

Animated maps (e.g., zooms, paths, annotations, data overlays) using GeoLayers 3 inside After Effects

Data-driven motion graphics using AE expressions, JSON/CSV imports, and chart animation techniques

Custom data visualizations (line charts, bar races, scatterplots, geographic overlays) that unfold as part of a story

Transforming interactive visualizations into video, ideally using D3.js, Three.js, or Canvas exported through frame-based workflows (Puppeteer, headless Chrome, FFmpeg, SVG sequences, etc.)

Narrative visual storytelling: using data to reveal insights, not just animate shapes

Map styling, geospatial accuracy, and working with GIS assets (GeoJSON, Shapefiles, coordinate systems)

Building reusable templates for ongoing video series

Required Technical Skills

You do NOT need mastery of every item below — but you should be fluent in most.

Motion Graphics & Video

Expert in Adobe After Effects

Strong in shape animation, graph animation, transitions, easing, and compositing

Experience with data-driven animation (linking JSON/CSV to AE through Expressions)

Comfortable using Illustrator assets, prepping vector files, and designing clean UI visuals

Map Animation & Geospatial

Proficiency with GeoLayers 3 (required)

Ability to animate maps: panning, zooming, tilting, highlighting features

Experience importing or preparing data (GeoJSON, latitude/longitude CSVs, etc.)

Familiarity with QGIS or other GIS tools is a major plus (cleaning / simplifying geometry, projections, shapefile handling)

Data Visualization / Coding Mindset

Familiarity with D3.js or similar visualization libraries (great if you can prototype or export visuals from code)

Understanding of SVG vs Canvas for high-resolution export

Experience exporting web-based visualizations to video (e.g., Puppeteer → PNG sequence → FFmpeg) is a huge plus

Ability to work with structured data (CSV, JSON) and understand basic analysis

Bonus Skills (not required but valued)

3D visualization: Cinema 4D, Blender, Element 3D, or Helium for terrain

Physics animation (Newton 3)

Knowledge of creative coding (p5.js, Three.js)

Ability to build automated pipelines or reusable templates

Understanding of data storytelling / journalism principles

Ideal Candidate

You're a hybrid of:

Motion designer

Data visualization specialist

Technical animator or creative developer

You love turning raw numbers into something an audience can feel and understand. You know how to choose visual encodings, simplify data without losing meaning, and guide the viewer’s eye with timing and composition.

You don’t just push keyframes — you think in systems and workflows.

Portfolio Requirements (Important)

Please apply only if you can share examples of:

Animated maps (ideally with GeoLayers)

Data-driven motion graphics (charts, graphs, timelines, bar races, visual explanations)

Any D3.js-style or code-based visualizations exported to video (optional, but a major advantage)

Links to showreels, Vimeo, YouTube playlists, Behance, or GitHub readmes are all welcome.

Generic After Effects template edits will not be considered.

About the Projects

These videos are for an educational YouTube channel focusing on:

Maps & geography storytelling

Political and historical explainers

Economic and demographic data analysis

Big-picture trends illustrated through motion graphics

We produce high-quality, research-driven visual stories, and we need someone who can translate complex data into elegant, cinematic visuals.

If you think like a designer, code like a developer, and animate like a filmmaker — we want you.

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