Dirk Jan Haarsma — Motion Designer & Creative Director logo
Location indicator — Dirk Jan Haarsma
41.386982, 2.170074

From Studying Design To Becoming A Self Taught Motion Designer.

From Studying Design To Becoming A Self Taught Motion Designer.
Dirk Jan Haarsma — freelance motion designer portrait

Dirk Jan Haarsma is a freelance motion designer and creative director based in the Netherlands, with more than 18 years of experience in 2D and 3D animation. ♥

His path began in 2004 with Photoshop 7.0, via Bachelor studies in Multimedia & Design Communication and work as a print and UI designer. Today he specialises in digital branding motion design, CGI videos, UX/UI animation, creative direction, illustration, and branding.

Working with agencies and brands worldwide, his clients and collaborations include Adobe, Robinhood, Citigroup, Ericsson, and G-Star RAW, across the fintech, healthcare, NGO, technology, and retail sectors. He works primarily in Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Blender, and increasingly integrates generative-AI tools.

Alongside client work, he is building Voltoo.nl, a Dutch marketplace for comparing energy installers.
Let's work together

Services

Motion Design
Animation 2D/3D
Character rigging
Art Direction
Illustration
Graphic Design
Branding
Concepting
Storyboarding
TV / Broadcasting Graphics

Software

Cinema 4D (Redshift)
Blender 3D
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Audition
Figma
Lottie

Social

 
Who is Dirk Jan Haarsma?
Dirk Jan Haarsma is a freelance senior motion designer and creative director from the Netherlands with over 18 years of experience in 2D and 3D animation. He creates explainer videos, UX/UI animation, and brand films for agencies and brands worldwide.
What services does Dirk Jan Haarsma offer?
He offers motion design (2D and 3D animation), explainer videos, UX/UI animation, creative direction, illustration, branding, and character rigging and storyboarding. Working both directly with brands and as a freelancer through agencies.
Which clients and brands has Dirk Jan Haarsma worked with?
His work includes projects for Adobe, Robinhood, Citigroup, Ericsson, and G-Star RAW, as well as healthcare and NGO initiatives such as IMPAACT4TB and Accelerate Health (HIMSS). He collaborates with agencies including LeftChannel, Burness, Publicis, and Energize.
What tools and software does Dirk Jan Haarsma use?
He works primarily in Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Blender, complemented by generative-AI tools for both experimental and production workflows.
Is Dirk Jan Haarsma available for freelance work?
Yes. He is available for freelance motion design and creative direction projects worldwide, working remotely from the Netherlands. Contact: mail@dirkjan.co.
Where is Dirk Jan Haarsma based?
He is based in Barcelona, Spain and works remotely with clients worldwide.

Over the years, I've had the pleasure to work with some great international agencies and clients.

♥
DukeDuck — design studio collaborationG-Star RAW — 3D animation and fashion campaignLeftChannel — creative studio collaborationMcDonald's — motion design client of Dirk Jan HaarsmaMassiveMusic — motion design collaborationPLUS Supermarkt — advertising animation campaignWorld Health Organization (WHO) — explainer animation projectEnergize — Amsterdam creative agency collaborationCitigroup — UX animation and fintech designAdobe — UX animation and illustration projectBlackRock — financial services animation projectPublicis — creative agency collaborationPhilips — motion design and animation projectDukeDuck — design studio collaborationG-Star RAW — 3D animation and fashion campaignLeftChannel — creative studio collaborationMcDonald's — motion design client of Dirk Jan HaarsmaMassiveMusic — motion design collaborationPLUS Supermarkt — advertising animation campaignWorld Health Organization (WHO) — explainer animation projectEnergize — Amsterdam creative agency collaborationCitigroup — UX animation and fintech designAdobe — UX animation and illustration projectBlackRock — financial services animation projectPublicis — creative agency collaborationPhilips — motion design and animation projectDukeDuck — design studio collaborationG-Star RAW — 3D animation and fashion campaignLeftChannel — creative studio collaborationMcDonald's — motion design client of Dirk Jan HaarsmaMassiveMusic — motion design collaborationPLUS Supermarkt — advertising animation campaignWorld Health Organization (WHO) — explainer animation projectEnergize — Amsterdam creative agency collaborationCitigroup — UX animation and fintech designAdobe — UX animation and illustration projectBlackRock — financial services animation projectPublicis — creative agency collaborationPhilips — motion design and animation project

Let's Collaborate!

Great to have you here, feel free to look around. You’ll find all my socials and contact info right here. Have an idea or want to team up on something?
Send me a message, i’m always up for a chat!

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© 2026, Dirk Jan Haarsma

Icon   mail@dirkjan.co

Last Updated: 2 February, 2026