I am a Senior Motion Designer and 3D Generalist with over 30 years of experience delivering motion graphics, VFX, animation, branded content, live events, and feature film work across agency, broadcast, entertainment, and experiential sectors. I lead projects from concept through delivery, blending strong visual storytelling with hands-on technical execution across 2D, 3D, compositing, editing, and post-production pipelines. I translate complex ideas into engaging motion-led narratives for audiences across multiple platforms and collaborate closely with Creative Directors, producers, and multidisciplinary teams. Much of my recent work has been completed under NDA and embargo restrictions for high-profile clients including LEGO, DNEG, and Seven Entertainment Complex in Saudi Arabia.

Chris Johnstone

I am a Senior Motion Designer and 3D Generalist with over 30 years of experience delivering motion graphics, VFX, animation, branded content, live events, and feature film work across agency, broadcast, entertainment, and experiential sectors. I lead projects from concept through delivery, blending strong visual storytelling with hands-on technical execution across 2D, 3D, compositing, editing, and post-production pipelines. I translate complex ideas into engaging motion-led narratives for audiences across multiple platforms and collaborate closely with Creative Directors, producers, and multidisciplinary teams. Much of my recent work has been completed under NDA and embargo restrictions for high-profile clients including LEGO, DNEG, and Seven Entertainment Complex in Saudi Arabia.

Available to hire

I am a Senior Motion Designer and 3D Generalist with over 30 years of experience delivering motion graphics, VFX, animation, branded content, live events, and feature film work across agency, broadcast, entertainment, and experiential sectors. I lead projects from concept through delivery, blending strong visual storytelling with hands-on technical execution across 2D, 3D, compositing, editing, and post-production pipelines. I translate complex ideas into engaging motion-led narratives for audiences across multiple platforms and collaborate closely with Creative Directors, producers, and multidisciplinary teams. Much of my recent work has been completed under NDA and embargo restrictions for high-profile clients including LEGO, DNEG, and Seven Entertainment Complex in Saudi Arabia.

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Work Experience

CG Supervisor & Pipe TD at 2Heads Agency
April 29, 2024 - June 1, 2025
CG Supervisor overseeing all motion graphics, animation and visual development for LEGO Galaxy and LEGO NINJAGO attractions created for LEGOLAND theme parks in Korea, Japan, Florida and California. Working with clients including LEGO, LEGOLAND and Merlin Entertainments, responsibilities included Unreal Engine pipeline TD, rigging, animation supervision and supporting the wider production pipeline across multiple immersive attractions and location based entertainment projects.
Senior FX TD and Motion Graphics TD at DNEG
December 28, 2020 - December 27, 2024
1: Richard Curtis' That Christmas - Netflix Animated Feature Film Working in Houdini - FX Setup for Clouds, FX Setup for Northern Lights FX work on Grass, Snow Interactions, Snowfall, Coffee Steam, Cold Breath, Pouring Liquids, Sticky Icing Squirt, Sticky Icing on Faces 2: Nimona - Netflix Animated Feature Film Working in Houdini - FX work on Stretchy Sticky Pineapple Pizza and Cheese, Gorilla breath and spit 3: Ron's Gone Wrong - 20th Century Studios Animation Feature Film Working in Houdini Maya Nuke and After Effects 3D underwater Projection: All the build, texturing, rigging, layout and animation Also worked on the Character Projections, Textures and I was the fix it guy fixes for the constant broken Maya Projection Rigs
Head of Motion Design at Aurora Media Worldwide
January 2, 2017 - December 27, 2019
Aurora Media Worldwide - One of the All3Media Production Companies Worked alongside North One and Little Dot Studios both in-house and on location, delivering motion graphics, broadcast design and live sports content for international television and digital distribution. Aurora is a creative sports media agency specialising in premium motorsport and live event coverage. My role involved creating, developing and implementing graphics packages across broadcast, digital and live production workflows. Associated brands and productions included FIA Formula E and associated race teams including Jaguar, Audi, BMW, Nissan, McLaren, Spark Racing Technology, NIO and ABB, alongside FIA Extreme E, Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY, The Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, Members’ Meeting, 6 Day Cycling, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the DR-1 Champions Series drone racing competition. Produced fast-turnaround live TV news and branded content from Formula E race teams, uploaded live via satellite transmission and distributed internationally to broadcasters, digital outlets and official team websites. The scope of work ranged from outside broadcast productions and live event graphics through to factual programming, short-form digital content, promotional media, format development and multi-platform visual storytelling.
Motion Designer at Yeti Motion Graphics Ltd (Freelance)
January 3, 2000 - December 25, 2020
​Moonraker VFX: 3D Generalist BBC Frozen Planet 2 Various 3D tracking projects showing land re-greening after mining. Make Associates: Houdini Generalist Green Electricity Interactive table Imagination: 3D Generalist Rolls Royce Visitors Centre in Goodwood Coffee & TV: Maya Generalist Mercedes AMG Commercial Nina Dunn Studio: Projection Mapping & Houdini Water Sims "The Shark is Broken" @ The Ambassadors Theatre "A Christmas Carol - A Ghost Story presented by Mark Gatiss" @ London’s Alexandra Palace Brand Fuel: Houdini Generalist A procedural particle animation to represent the “Sparking of the World’s Potential” a CEO presentation for Arm Technologies Lucky Generals: 3D Generalist Broadway in New York reopening Brand design and motion graphics Liquid TV: FX TD and Maya Generalist UEFA European Football Titles - World Feed Titles and On Air Sequences (Tournament Deferred due to Covid) Something Graphic Limited: FX TD The Shark is Broken https://thesharkisbroken.com/ Houdini Simulated Ocean Moods and Bow Wave for Seamless Theatre Cyc Projection in the London West End Jack Morton: FX TD and Motion Design Infographic Sushi Train Table - Ericsson 5G for Business Jack Morton: FX TD and Motion Design Infographic Touch Table - Schlumberger Imagination: FX TD, 3D Generalist, and Art Direction JLR electric car interactive table Connected Pictures: Maya Generalist and Motion Design Various TV Commercials Big Buoy Productions: Houdini and Maya TV commercials and film promos Imagination: Senior 3D Generalist JLR Innovation Lab – Inginium Engine Interactive Exhibits Parlourwood: Motion Design DeWalt Powertool Moov Ltd: Motion Design Wimbledon Opening Film The Abstract Union Ltd: Motion Design HD Projections for Atom Events Imagination: Motion Design Geneva Autoshow 2016 BlackRock Investment: Motion Design New York Aladdin Conference Imagination: Motion Design Vignale Relationship Manager Excellence Film 2015 J K Rowling Pottermore: 3D Consultant Audit of Sony PlayStation assets, retro engineering game assets, Look development for spells Jellyfish Productions: Maya Generalist Ten Channel Ident, Red Bee Imagination: FX TD, 3D Generalist, Motion Design, Art Direction, - Don Perignon Point of Sales, Harrods: 3D Alioscopy Screen - Motor Shows (Various) for Geneva, Detroit, Shanghai, Paris, Anaheim - 3M Innovation Centre - Interactive Innovation Museum - Canon Enterprise Services Visitors Centre - Interactive welcoming animation - Shell GTL Table: Now in residence at The Hague Museum. BBC World Service: Motion Design World at War Series Nexus Productions: 3D Generalist, Compositor RAID Campaign USA. rig, model, look dev, beauty comp Treatment Studio: Motion Design, Art Direction Live music tours, concerts, events, award ceremonies, large-scale theatre, opera ML Studio / KPX Video: 3D Generalist, Motion Graphics, Direction Paul McCartney Tour Graphics, Bon Jovi Tour Graphics, Chemical Brothers Tour Graphics
Senior Motion Designer / 3D Generalist / Motion Creative at Freelance (UK & International)
January 1, 1994 - Present
Led motion and 3D development across broadcast, experiential, branded, and entertainment projects. Collaborated with Creative Directors, producers, strategists, and multidisciplinary teams from concept through delivery. Developed visual approaches, styleframes, animation systems, and technical workflows across multiple productions. Delivered high-quality work under tight deadlines in fast-paced agency and studio environments. Supported teams through problem-solving and production troubleshooting. Worked across live events, immersive installations, television, advertising, branded campaigns, and feature film pipelines. Selected clients and collaborators include DNEG, Nexus Studios, Jellyfish Pictures, NOW.tv, LEGO, Seven Entertainment Complex (Saudi Arabia).

Education

BA Hons Graphic Design and Animation at Middlesex University
September 4, 1989 - June 26, 1992

Qualifications

Bronze Cannes Lion - Design 2012
January 9, 2012 - January 9, 2012
Imagination London - Digital Design / Digital Design Pearl GTL Interactive Model Roll: FX TD and Motion Graphics Animations
D&AD Digital Design Award 2012
January 9, 2012 - January 9, 2012
Imagination London - Digital Design / Digital Design Pearl GTL Interactive Model Roll: FX TD and Motion Graphics Animations
IVCA Gold Award - International Event of the Year 2010
January 4, 2010 - January 4, 2010
with Jack Morton Worldwide for Procter and Gamble The Job: Wella International Trend Vision Awards Final 2008 - 2010 Roll: Creative Director of Screen Content
Gold BIMA Award 1993
January 4, 1993 - January 4, 1993
Gold BIMA Award for Design in Multimedia with UCM Brighton, UK for Olivetti, Milan, Italy Roll: Motion Graphics

Industry Experience

Computers & Electronics, Consumer Goods, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Travel & Hospitality, Transportation & Logistics, Real Estate & Construction, Non-Profit Organization, Gaming, Agriculture & Mining, Government, Life Sciences, Professional Services, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Retail, Telecommunications, Wholesale & Distribution, Other