Motion Design Principles Flashcards

Motion design is the craft of using movement to communicate ideas, guide attention, and give interfaces and graphics a sense of life. This flashcard set covers the core principles behind effective motion, from the basic vocabulary of frames, keyframes, and easing to the classic animation principles, the way movement directs the eye, and the applied habits used in user interfaces and explainer graphics. The five groups move from foundations toward practical decisions, so each later group builds on ideas from the earlier ones.

To study effectively, read each card's question and answer out loud before checking the answer, then explain the concept in your own words using a sketch or a short animation test. Work through one group at a time, and do not move on until you can answer every question in it without looking. Return to earlier groups regularly, because timing, easing, and staging decisions depend on the same underlying ideas. Keep a small notebook of observations: note how motion in apps, films, and videos makes you feel, and try to name the principle responsible. Rewatching a single interface transition several times is often more useful than skimming many examples.