The New York Times introduces the newsroom’s Motion Graphics Team

Ana Simões

I’m excited to announce our Motion Graphics unit, a growing team that is already elevating how we use animated graphics and motion design and in our video journalism. Working in close collaboration with Video, Digital News Design and Graphics, the team responds to the demands of all kinds of stories and formats, pursuing everything from news explainers and visual investigations to enterprise series and shows.

Ana Simões started in June, and she leads this group as Motion Graphics editor. She joined us from Apple, where she was on Apple Music’s content design team, developing campaigns and digital products. Before that, she was the creative director for design and graphics at Vice News, leading a team of designers developing motion graphics, visual identities, and information design systems for documentaries, nightly news programming, and digital reporting. While at Vice, Ana won an Emmy for Outstanding Design and Art Direction for News.

After moving to New York 10 years ago, Ana spent several years working across branding and graphic design projects. Originally from Portugal, where she earned her master’s degree in editorial design, she began her career in design studios focused on books, posters, and cultural branding.

James Surdam (Photo credit: Earl Wilson)

James Surdam has been promoted to assistant editor, Motion Graphics, and will be a key partner to Ana on visual direction and systems. This promotion recognizes James’s exceptional role in driving excellent motion graphics for our videos. James became an art director for Social Visuals three years ago, innovating on formats and providing direction for breaking news, enterprise and social packages. He helped grow the newsroom’s motion graphics staff, and he developed new approaches — and his work was critical to last year’s rollout of the Watch tab. He has mentored colleagues and strengthened visual standards by building design systems that have improved how our journalism is expressed on and off platform.

James worked on a series of videos on the Department of Government Efficiency, including Elon Musk’s cost-saving claims, the initiative’s big errors, DOGE’s false claims and its misreported savings, that won an Emmy.

Mona Lalwani, a Video deputy, says, “As the art director on Reporter Video, James helped define how our journalism looks and feels in this new and ever-evolving format. He’s been a creative force across productions and a visual guide to many on the team. He operates with incredible kindness and generosity, even when he’s juggling multiple stories.”

Prior to Social Visuals, James worked with Visual Investigations and Research and Development. Before that he was a motion graphics editor at NBC News, where he led a small team. James received his Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication from George Washington University.

Stephanie Swart

Stephanie Swart has joined the Motion Graphics team as a full-time graphics and multimedia editor. Stephanie will continue to work with Video and create original designs and animations.

Stephanie began working with the Digital News Design desk last year on a temporary assignment as a motion graphics editor, collaborating closely with Reporter Video. Since then, she has shaped the look of many culture, data and science stories, crafting complex visuals that have mapped the depths of Antarctica’s Thwaites glacier, taken viewers inside the Louvre jewelry heist, traced the workings of the New York City subway system and explained why your zodiac sign is out of date. Her work earned a gold medal from the Society for News Design, recognized for its “smart, precise execution.” More recently she has focused on urgent daily news videos, demonstrating strong editorial judgment and flexibility in a fast-paced environment.

As Anna Casper, Reporter Video senior producer says, “Steph leaves a distinct and personal touch on everything she creates. Whether it’s iterating on and improving maps or thinking through templates that could improve future workflows, she greets every challenge with infectious enthusiasm and excellence.”

Across it all, Stephanie sharpens the coverage and makes the work feel fresh. She is a thoughtful, collaborative problem solver who meets each challenge with creativity and care, all while bringing levity to the work and the team.

Prior to The Times, Stephanie spent more than a decade as a freelance designer, creating motion graphics for Vox, Quanta magazine, The Wall Street Journal, TED, The Pudding and others. Her work has garnered several Emmy nominations.

Stephanie earned her degrees through a dual program at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in film, animation and video, and Brown University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in cognitive science.

Rounding out this team are: senior visuals editor Aaron Byrd; Laura Salaberry, June Kim and Joey Sendaydiego, graphics multimedia editors; and London-based motion designer Rafaela Balster, who will maintain a strong link to this unit.

Welcome to Ana, congratulations to James and Stephanie, and thank you to all who helped build and support this team, especially Andrew Kueneman and Rumsey Taylor.

Steve Duenes is deputy managing editor with The New York Times.