Animation in web design is not about making things move for the sake of it. Thoughtful motion design guides attention, provides feedback, and creates a sense of continuity that makes interfaces feel alive and responsive.
The best motion design follows three principles: it should be purposeful, performant, and subtle. Every animation should answer the question: does this help the user understand what is happening?
Performance Considerations
Stick to animating transform and opacity properties for 60fps performance. Use the Web Animations API or libraries like GSAP for complex sequences. Always respect prefers-reduced-motion for accessibility.
Common Patterns
Entrance animations, state transitions, loading skeletons, and scroll-triggered reveals are the most impactful patterns. Start with these before exploring more complex choreography.