Elias, Branding Studio, webflow partner

Cost and price of illustrations and motion design in agencies in 2025: what you need to know before requesting a quote

Your brand, our focus
Your brand, our focus
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Cost and price of illustrations and motion design in agencies in 2025: what you need to know before requesting a quote
25/02/2025
12
Min

Do you have a brand to shine, a video to animate or a website to boost? Are you wondering how much it will cost you to add a striking visual touch? Spoiler: it's not the price of a Netflix subscription (and luckily, because we're talking about a unique asset here, not season 6 of La Casa de Papel).

Illustration and motion design are not just small aesthetic bonuses, they are key elements of a brand's visual identity. A static logo is good. But a dynamic logo that grabs attention in three seconds is even better. A graphic charter is essential. But a tailor-made illustration that gives a real personality for your site or your marketing, that changes everything.

The catch? Each project is unique and the price varies according to several factors: style, complexity, duration, voice-over, music, additional options... In short, there is plenty to get lost in! But don't panic, we explain everything to you in this article: how much it costs, why, and how to optimize your expenses for a rendering that sends a lot of weight.

Illustration and motion design, unique assets for a brand

Why are these elements essential for a strong visual identity?

In a world where every brand is fighting for attention in seconds, illustration and motion design are real visual superpowers. They allow you to differentiate yourself, strengthen your storytelling and offer an immersive experience to customers.

👉 Illustration and motion design are the visual DNA of your brand

A well-thought-out image is worth a thousand words (and sometimes avoids long, complicated explanations). A fluid motion design immediately captures attention and allows a message to be conveyed in a clear and engaging way.

After Effects interface

Their impact on communication and marketing

Whether it's for a website, an advertising campaign, a post on social networks or even a complete rebranding, these visual elements boost the impact of your message.

💡 Why does it work so well?

  • A personalized illustration gives a unique identity to a brand and allows it to stand out from the banks of generic visuals.
  • A dynamic motion design attracts the eye and improves the memory of a message.
  • They reinforce visual coherence on all media (website, advertising, packaging, print...).

Let's take a few concrete cases of our achievements:

Fugu : Colourful and dynamic illustrations that bring a real visual identity to their projects.

Fuga : Illustrations and a unique visual charter that gives character to the brand.

Pipole : A perfect mix between illustration and design motions to bring their communication to life (take a look at the footer).

Illustrations of Fugu, by Studio Elias

Illustration and motion design: varied styles for varied needs

Illustration and motion design are not just “a nice little cartoon” or “a nice image to brighten up a site.” It is a rich universe, where each style and technique brings a specific value according to the message and the objective aimed at. 🎨🎬

Whether you want an ultra-authentic pencil style illustration, a minimalist and fluid animation, or a 3D video that will impress you, there are solutions adapted to all needs (and budgets!).

Hand-drawn illustrations vs. digital illustrations: a strategic choice

Team Pencil or Team Digital? Both styles have their strengths and depend on the desired result.

✏️ Hand drawn illustration

  • Brings an authentic and artisanal side
  • Ideal for more emotional and artistic communication
  • Examples: Unique visual identities, illustrations for printed media, visual storytelling
Illustration for our customer Fuga

💻 Digital illustration

  • More modular and flexible to adapt to all media (print, web, motion design)
  • Allows you to obtain a more modern and dynamic rendering
  • Examples: Graphic worlds for websites, visual branding, dynamic infographics

🔎 In our portfolio, we find a diversity of illustrative styles that perfectly fit the needs of brands.

Proposal for our customer Allshare

2D animation vs. 3D animation vs. stop motion: which style should you choose?

🎥 2D motion design: The essential part of digital marketing

  • Modern and accessible style, adapted to clear and impactful explanations
  • Great for short videos, animated ads, or educational content
  • Example: Motion design for which relies on fluid and colorful visuals to captivate its audience

Motion made for our client Flomodia

🕶️ 3D motion design: The “wow” effect guaranteed

  • More immersive, ideal for product presentations, high-tech animations and premium rebranding
  • Example: An ultra-realistic 3D presentation video for a product launch or an innovative business
  • You can go and have a look at the website created by the Elias studio for The Köm agency

📸 Stop motion: The charm of handmade

  • A technique where each image is captured frame by frame, giving a handmade and warm effect
  • Perfect for offbeat, creative, and authentic content

🎬 Need a smooth and fast animation? We just talked about Jitter, a tool that allows you to create motion design in a simple and effective way.
Jitter interface

Simple motion design VS 5-minute corporate movie: the scale of budgets

🟢 Simple animation: the animated icon

  • Small subtle effect that adds dynamism to an interface
  • Great for websites, user interfaces, and animated logos
  • Budget: a few hundred euros depending on the level of complexity

🔵 Product announcement or presentation video

  • A more elaborate animation to explain a concept or promote a brand
  • Often includes storytelling, voice-over and a strong graphic identity
  • Budget: between €1,000 and €5,000 depending on the duration and needs

🔴 5-minute corporate movie: heavy artillery

  • Full video with script, storyboard, complex animations, music, and voiceover
  • Perfect for presenting a business, rebranding, or ambitious advertising campaign
  • Budget: several thousand euros, depending on the complexity and the number of elements to be animated

The cost of motion design: from animated icons to corporate movies

Why doesn't a 30-second video cost €30?

We've all heard this phrase: “But it's just a short 30-second animation, it must not be expensive!” Except that in the world of motion design, it is not the duration that makes the price, but the complexity and the duration of production.

Fluid and impactful animation requires storyboarding, design, stop-motion animation, sound design, and sometimes even a voiceover. In short, it's a bit like asking a Michelin-starred chef to make you a gourmet meal in 5 minutes: it's technically possible, but it won't look like anything. 😅

Motion design, often included in a global project

In the majority of cases, motion design does not come alone. It is part of a larger communication strategy.

For example:

  • A Webflow landing page with interactive animations to boost the user experience.
  • A rebranding video to announce a new visual identity.
  • An advertising campaign with a powerful animation on Instagram or LinkedIn.
At Studio Elias, we often incorporate motion design into our branding projects and the creation of Webflow sites.
Motion interface design

How much does it cost? The average prices for a motion design

💰 A motion design can be worth between €1,000 and €5,000, depending on its complexity.

For example:

  • A small icon animation on a website costs a few hundred euros.
  • A logo animation for a video intro or a visual signature is between €500 and €1,500.
  • An explanatory video lasting 30 sec to 1 minute is charged between €1,500 and €3,000.
  • An animated ad intended for social networks varies between €2,000 and €5,000.
  • A 2 to 5 minute corporate movie generally exceeds €5,000, as it often includes a detailed storyboard, advanced effects and elaborate sound design.

💡 Note: The more complex and detailed the motion design is, the more time and expertise it requires, so its price increases accordingly.

Concrete cases: examples of motion design created by Studio Elias

🎬 Rebranding announcement video When a brand changes its identity, a well-thought-out animation reinforces its storytelling and makes an impression. A motion design lasting around thirty seconds can be worth between €2,000 and €5,000, depending on the effects and the artistic direction.

📢 Corporate movie Businesses like to tell their story through long and impactful videos. An institutional video of 2 to 5 minutes with a scenario, sound design and advanced animations can exceed €5,000.

🎥 Dynamic social media advertising On Instagram or TikTok, videos should be short, compelling, and engaging. An animation lasting 15 to 45 seconds, designed to capture attention in a few seconds, is generally charged between €1,500 and €4,000.

🧐 Want to see examples? Discover all our motion designs.

How much does an illustration cost in an agency?

If you think that ordering an illustration from an agency is just a matter of “drawing a nice little thing quickly”, it's time to bust a myth. A tailor-made illustration requires time, talent and real artistic know-how.

Unlike motion design, where certain animations can be automated or created with specific tools, an illustration requires meticulous work, often manual, where every detail counts.

It's a bit like comparing a handmade painting to an AI-generated GIF: one is a unique work, the other is a file that can be replicated endlessly.

Why does an illustration take longer than a motion design?

👩 ‍ 🎨 The creation process is handmade: An illustration is drawn from scratch, each line, each color is designed to fit the identity of the brand.

🖌️ The level of detail can be very high: An icon does not take the same time as a complex illustration with textures, shadows, and ultra-precise finishes.

🔍 Revisions are long: In agencies, there are often several trips back and forth to adjust colors, shapes and ensure that the illustration fits perfectly with the client's expectations.

How much does it cost?

💰 Between €1,000 and €2,000, depending on the level of detail and the final format.

Illustrations can be used to:

  • A website (example: visuals for a dynamic landing page).
  • Complete branding (graphic charter with unique illustrations).
  • Print and digital media (flyers, social networks, posters, packaging).
  • Custom pictograms (instead of using generic image banks).
A simple and refined illustration will be charged around €1,000, while an ultra-detailed illustration with several graphic elements can reach €2,000 or more.

The tool that is changing the game: Jitter, motion design in express mode

Motion design is great, but it takes time. Jitter is changing the game by offering a fast, intuitive and effective tool for creating animations without the hassle.

Why did Jitter become a must in 2025?

✅ Simple and smooth interface

✅ Modern animations in a few clicks

✅ Great for web, social media, and UX/UI

✅ Easy export to Webflow, Figma and other tools

It is the perfect tool to boost a site or a project without spending hours on a complex timeline.

Jitter interface

Jitter vs After Effects: Complementary, not competing

While After Effects remains the reference in motion design for complex animations and high-end videos, it requires real learning time and hours of production for a final rendering. Jitter, on the other hand, is a much faster and more intuitive alternative, perfect for short and powerful animations. Where After Effects is an ultra-powerful juggernaut, Jitter shines by its simplicity and efficiency, especially for web content, social networks or UX/UI. In short, one does not replace the other, but they complement each other perfectly according to needs!

Want to know more?

🔍 Jitter: The No. 1 animation and motion tool in 2025

For effective and express animations, Jitter is an essential ally. And for more advanced motion design, Studio Elias is there! 🚀

How to get a clear quote adapted to your project?

The right questions to ask before you start

Before requesting a quote for an illustration or motion design, it is essential to frame your project. The more specific your brief is, the more the quote will be adapted to your expectations and your funds.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

  • What style do you want? (Minimalist illustration, 3D, smooth animation, stop motion...)
  • How long for your project? (A 10-sec animation or a 5-minute movie?)
  • What level of detail? (A simple pictogram or an ultra-elaborate scene with textures and shadows?)

The more these elements are defined, the more the agency will be able to offer you an accurate estimate and avoid surprises.

Factors that influence the cost

💡 A motion design or an illustration is not just about the final visual. Several factors impact the price:

🎬 Storyboarding and scripting: A motion design video requires a clear storyline and staging, which requires time and thought.

🎤 Voice over and music: Adding a professional voiceover or original music increases the budget, but brings a real plus in terms of impact.

🔄 Revisions: The more changes you ask for along the way, the longer the project gets... and the more the bill can go up.

Agency or freelancer: what to choose?

🤝 Working with an agency like Studio Elias means:

✔️ A complete team (illustrators, motion designers, AD) for a professional and coherent rendering.

✔️ Fluid project management, with experts who know how to anticipate needs.

✔️ Guaranteed follow-up from start to finish, with no risk of abandonment along the way.

👨 ‍ 🎨 Opting for a freelancer often means:

✔️ A more accessible rate for small budgets.

✔️ More flexibility for specific requests.

❌... Nope!

In summary, for a serious and structured project, it is better to use an agency (why not Studio Elias). For lighter or occasional needs, a freelancer may suffice. It all depends on your goals and your budget! 🚀

Elias, Branding Studio, webflow partner

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