Animation for Designers by The Futur

The Futur Animation for Designers is a self-paced online course taught by animator and director Apostolos Roussas. It is built for graphic designers who already make static work in Illustrator and Photoshop and want to add movement to it in After Effects. The video lectures start with After Effects basics, then show how to animate slides, logos, photos and social media posts with text animation, transitions, masking, particles and lighting. The course costs $149 as a one-time purchase with lifetime access.

Motion is now expected in a great deal of design work, from social posts and presentations to logo reveals. The Futur's catalogue is mostly about print-style fundamentals and the business side of design, and this course is its practical bridge into moving image. Rather than teaching character animation or film, it stays close to the everyday tasks a designer is actually asked to deliver.

What You Will Learn

• Getting comfortable with the After Effects interface and core tools
• Preparing Illustrator files so they import cleanly into After Effects
• Animating text and building smooth transitions
• Using masking, particles and lighting effects to add depth
• Bringing slides, logos, photos and social media posts to life
• Creating animated carousels and stories for social platforms
• Rendering your work with sensible settings and presets

Who Is The Futur Animation for Designers For?

The course is aimed at designers at beginner to intermediate level in animation who already know their way around Illustrator and Photoshop. If you design social content, presentations or brand assets and keep being asked for "a moving version", this is the audience the course has in mind.

It also suits freelancers who want to add simple motion to their services, and in-house designers who would rather produce short animations themselves than wait for a motion team.

It is not a course for complete newcomers to design software, since it assumes Illustrator and Photoshop knowledge. Nor is it a deep dive into character animation, 3D or film-making; the focus is motion for design work.

Course Structure

The lessons are grouped into five parts:

• After Effects Basics: the interface, the timeline and the tools you need first
• Preparing and Importing Illustrator Files: setting up artwork so it is ready to animate
• Bring It to Life: animating slides, logos, photos and social posts, covering text animation, transitions, masking, particles, lighting, and animated carousels and stories
• Renders and Outro: exporting finished work
• Bonus: working with animators, and ideas for earning passive income from motion work

The course also includes render presets and a video template with ready-made motion elements, which you can study or adapt for your own projects.

Price and Access

The course costs $149 as a one-time payment, with lifetime access. It is self-paced, so you can work through it alongside client projects and come back to specific lessons when you need them. Buyers also get access to a private Animation Slack channel. For the current price, check the official course page.

About the Instructor

Apostolos Roussas is an animator and director, and Chief Strategist at CandyMustache. He has made animation videos for Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Hasbro and Hyundai, and is a two-time Envato Featured Author and a member of its Hall of Fame.

Things to Consider

• Software: you need access to After Effects, plus working knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop. Check your Adobe plan includes After Effects before you buy.
• Hardware: After Effects can be demanding, so rendering is quicker on a reasonably powerful computer.
• Practise on real work: animate a logo or social post you have already designed; it is the fastest way to make the lessons stick.
• Use the community: the private Slack channel is the place to ask questions and share work-in-progress.
• Pair it with carousels: if you design for Instagram or LinkedIn, The Futur's Carousel Design course covers the static side of the same formats.
• Know the scope: this is motion for designers, not a full animation education; treat it as a strong starting point.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with The Futur?

Start Animation for Designers

For the full syllabus and pricing, visit the official The Futur website.

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Last verified: November 9, 2026