Vimeo Motion & Delight UI
Using motion and delight to bring Vimeo’s product to life
The challenge
Motion and delight aren’t decoration — they’re essential to how people feel Vimeo’s product. Over the past years, I’ve worked across the Vimeo product to embed animation principles and delightful details into our design system. The goal is simple: if it’s not moving, it’s probably dead. Motion brings life, helps users understand what’s happening, and gives the product personality. Delight adds the finishing touch — turning routine interactions into enjoyable, memorable moments that strengthen our emotional connection with creators.
Research
From Disney’s 12 principles of animation to modern UX psychology, the foundations are clear: movement and emotion shape perception. Our research showed that thoughtful motion guides focus, clarifies actions, and builds confidence, while delight creates a sense of joy and loyalty. Even small details — a button state, a microinteraction, a playful success message — can leave a big impact. We also learned that motion must be purposeful: it should enhance usability, not distract, and always feel natural, credible, and responsive.
Our Approach
To make motion and delight part of Vimeo’s DNA, we built a motion design system. It gives designers and engineers a shared language for timing, easing, and interaction patterns, ensuring animations are consistent and brand-aligned. We identified key moments where motion enhances the journey: interactions, transitions, onboarding, and feedback. For delight, we focused on subtle but meaningful touches: smooth loaders, friendly empty states, microcopy that celebrates success, and occasional playful surprises. Together, these elements turn the interface into more than a tool — they make it a living, expressive experience.
Facts
↳ Navigation feels faster and more intuitive.
↳ Motion-driven interactions boost engagement.
↳ Every touchpoint reflects a unified brand.
↳ Consistent system speeds work.
Today, Vimeo’s product feels more alive, approachable, and human. Motion guides users through complex workflows, while delight adds emotion and personality at just the right moments. These details don’t just improve usability — they elevate Vimeo’s brand, build trust, and make creators smile. By weaving motion and delight into the product, we’ve turned everyday actions into moments worth remembering.
Outcome
