Graphic Designers are Bad Thumbnail Designers - Here’s Why

[@RuleofThumbYT]

Answer my 20 Second Survey 👉👈 forms.gle/yyoCGcCMkKCRbTCu7

[@ThePancakeJedi]

I’m a licensed graphic designer from the olden days. I found this video excellent. Really an eye opener for me.

[@IkeDesign]

I'm a graphic designer turned thumbnail designer. You hit the nail on the head with each of these talking points, and even though the redesigned thumbnails are not aesthetical masterpieces, they are far better KZbin thumbnails than the originals. Well done.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thank you :)

[@WayOfTheZombie]

Thumbnails ONLY need to get a click. They do NOT need to be anything else

[@IkeDesign]

@@WayOfTheZombie Respectfully disagree? I feel like they *primarily* need to get a click, but thumbnails are also branding and statements about your channel. Quality-wise. Tone-wise. Some of that bleeds into getting the click, but I'd say there is a difference between a "maybe" click and a very determined "I've always wanted a video like this" click. And a thumbnail can make that difference.

[@WayOfTheZombie]

@@IkeDesign as vid iq says 'people need to spend twice as much time as they currently are on thumbnails'. Thumb should be a question that can only be answered by clicking. Text needs to be simple and readable. No more than 3 words if needed. Do not be clever. Don't use big words. But do use big font. Never repeat the title on the thumbnail, it's wasted real-estate.

[@zekiz774]

@@WayOfTheZombie That's genereally a good rule of thumb but like with every rule there are exceptions. I could see it working if it's just one word. Like for example if you would make a video about long words I would call it something like "I found the longest word" and then put it in the Thumbnail. It needs to create curiosity and guide the viewers attentions to the title. There probably are better ways since I really havn't thought about this too much and don't even know if such a video exists

[@116stuart]

As a graphic designer myself you called me out on so many things, it's very hard resisting the urge to treat thumbnails like they are billboards. Awesome content

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thank you! glad I could help :D

[@JorgeALXNDR]

One thing that I see that works really well on KZbin is thumbnails being so clear and simple that they're just designed to be ambiguous and even confusing sometimes in order to make you curious

[@Raletia]

One thing I prefer as a viewer is consistency in some element, to make it easier to see creators I care about at a glance. It could be a face or an emblem, border style or w/e but it's really frustrating to be unable to tell apart videos from a specific creator in a sea of thumbnails.

[@ayoubthegreat]

Yes. Pattern recognition 👍

[@pemanilnoob]

I definitely agree. It creates a sense of comfort, as you know what to expect

[@weirdisnormal2301]

Clicks on a video with a blue border… HEY ALL-

[@sirkovaleski]

Regarding logos, I think one really important thing to remember is that your logo IS already on every thumbnail. Your channel name and photo are underneath every one of your videos on the home page.

[@lao-ce8982]

All right, after watching the video and reading the comments, I have to say that a lot of people really don’t know what they’re talking about. Thumbnail design isn’t separate from graphic design-it’s just another subcategory of it. Of course, some rules will differ when designing a billboard, an Instagram ad, a book cover, or, in this case, a KZbin thumbnail. However, there are universal principles that can and should be applied across all branches of graphic design, such as hierarchy, similarity, repetition, contrast, negative space, the golden ratio (or rule of thirds) It’s like comparing apples to bananas and saying that if you like apples, you can’t like bananas, just because they’re both fruits.

[@CorralSummer]

Yeah I'm really confused by the video and the comments here. Graphic design isn't just billboard design, it's just design for graphics. The video should be more accurately titled "Good billboard design isn't good thumbnail design" but like... that's obvious and I'd be shocked if anyone thought they were. Part of graphic design is knowing what the design is for, what context it's going to be in, and what the goal is.

[@jorgehaswag7294]

Maybe a good traditional media analogy for thumbnails is a book cover

[@ANUBASS]

book covers are designed mostly the same as a poster or album cover to catch the viewers eyes and conceptualize briefly what the books about (in some cases) the only traditional analogy is media and advertising that use psychological tricks to subconsciously encourage people to consume or view their product

[@2kcol]

I'd say closer to tabloids (headline only), an advertising media to create curiosity and take action immediately.

[@sherlan1886]

I’m a graphic designer with more than 12 years of experience and I got to admit, even before watching this video, I knew I was terrible at designing thumbnails, I just didn’t know why. Thanks so much for this.

[@Jaketsx45]

Thumbnail Design is Graphic Design. A pro graphic designer understands the goal of whatever the design is. Whether that be a billboard, poster, website, flyer, or thumbnail

[@zekiz774]

Yes, but Billboard design isn't Thumbnail design. This video is about why "traditional" graphic designers struggle to create good thumbnails.

[@Jaketsx45]

​@@zekiz774 Of course they are two different sectors of Graphic Design but they are still both Graphic Design. A quality "traditional" Graphic Designer would be able to transfer their skills and knowledge over to Thumbnail Design. The end goal of each is not the same but underlying fundamentals of design are.

[@zekiz774]

@@Jaketsx45 well yeah they both try to "guide" the viewers view, but the way they do it is quite different. Only the fundamentals are the same like color theory and typography. A pro billboard designer doesn't make a good thumbnail designer and a good thumbnail designer probably also doesn't make a good graphics designer

[@Jaketsx45]

@zekiz774 the fundamentals and design theory provide them the tools they need to guide the viewer and achieve the goal of the design. It is just a matter of knowing the end goal and then using those tools to get there. If a pro billboard design knows the goal of a thumbnail design and knows his 'tools' well, then they should be able to make good thumbnails. This video is more about how thumbnail design has different goals than billboards or posters, but it's a framed in a click baity way that puts down graphic designers. Really, a good designer is capable of both.

[@peheros_]

The realization that graphic design and thumbnail design are different things came to me a while ago, but I could never put my finger on exactly how they are different. You just removed a veil from my eyes with this video.

[@lao-ce8982]

But it’s not. Thumbnail design is just another branch of graphic design. You can -and still should use basic graphic design rules. Like repetition, hierarchy, balance, negative space, the golden ratio or rule of thirds.

[@suitNtie22]

good info. I hate this style of thumbnail, I know it works but I am curious if others are getting sick of it too and we'll see a new style take over. I am aware I clicked on this video so I guess it still works but I am curious on the future cause lately I get extremely turned off by this style.

[@VHS_NEON]

Same I really can't stand this modern type of thumbnail design. It's awful. That's why I try to at least stylistically change things up.

[@pemanilnoob]

I’ve actually noticed I click more on videos if I don’t see the thumbnail and only the title Like a bug happened where the thumbnail didn’t load for videos, and I read the title of a video and thought “that’s interesting” and I clicked on it, after having seen it with the thumbnail multiple times and feeling nothing I guess it’s just that annoying loud bright thumbnails just make me feel like it’s fake? Even when the video isn’t? I think the only think you need to know for thumbnail design is just “don’t give the answer in the thumbnail, give the viewer a reason to click the video” idk

[@tobiaslofi]

Your message was totally on point but the first half of this video felt really looong, I just couldn’t wait to see the redesigns. Which were great!

[@RuleofThumbYT]

fair enough :) appreciate the feedback

[@ekswhayzee]

You look like if Mr. Beast and Schlatt did the fusion dance

[@Thesmus]

XD why is this kinda truee lol

[@akushisui]

oh god 😭

[@kier0063]

It's like... their offspring...

[@Charl4tán]

XD

[@kenonerboy]

He about to defuse after the video

[@ukaszrodziewicz1592]

I don't think that "graphic design" and "thumbnail design" are two completly different things. The thing is thumbnails have a different purpuse than billboard or book cover or a poster or Facebook ad. As a graphic designer you have to be aware of those purpose and that's all. You should still apply the principles of good graphic design in your work

[@SynFlood0]

A quick tip for people working on thubnails. Use the Navigator window! Resize it so it's about the size of the thumbnail on KZbin and you have a live check to see if it's too detailed etc. Also create a KZbin front page mockup, put 16 or so high quality thumbnails from the same niche you are designing for and put yours in there. Does it stick out? Would you want to click it? No? you've got some more work to do then.

[@wackster1]

Dude really made one good point 12 times in a row

[@En0834]

5000 ads per day? Dude so glad I see 0 ads per day 🙏

[@otryization]

Damn you literally dissected all the issues I've had in designing thumbnails. I just couldn't put my finger on why since I assume I could just transfer my graphic design skills to thumbnails easily. Thank you for this video.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

appreciate it! :D

[@tomislavmatic4458]

Bro, graphic designers are not one dimensional beings, they vast majority of them work with different formats, if you honestly think that a half decent designer can not learn the rule set for creating thumbnails, you are in serious denial. Thumbnails are in fact graphic design, they just don’t function like billboards, and of course they don’t because they are not in fact billboards. You made a 20 min video about stuff that can be explained in 5 .

[@0.1gError]

Why so mad? You could have said all of this waaay less aggressive, relax dude

[@arth00r72]

I get what you're saying, but I think the point he's trying to make is that a graphic designer with no prior experience in thumbnail making can't just do what they usually do and succeed as if they were the same thing.

[@tomislavmatic4458]

@@arth00r72 thumbnail design is graphic design, thumbnail design is not the same as billboard design. Format is different, certain set of rules has to cater to the You Tube algorithm, but the fundamentals of good graphic design still apply. Fundamentals will not change, and trends and algorithms will.

[@tomislavmatic4458]

@@0.1gError Just passionate, not aggressive, also I am a part of a different generation- the one that was not afraid to call bullshit, bullshit and that is not afraid to recive criticism straight to their faces as blunt as it gets. I say it like it is, you may feel it’s blunt, but back in the day we used to call it the truth.

[@lao-ce8982]

Exactly my thoughts. The rules one uses for a billboard are not compatible with those for designing a magazine cover, an Instagram reel ad, or, in this case, a thumbnail. Simply put, they’re not the same-not in target audience, and not even in aspect ratio. It’s like comparing apples to bananas and saying that if you like apples, you can’t like bananas, just because they’re both fruit.

[@KilloxsTN]

Really appreciated your point on this it’s insightful and thought-provoking!

[@orbitforcreators]

Thank you for taking about podcast thumbnails. It really is a challenge to make engaging packing that is consistent for conversation based channels

[@JuhoSprite]

fantastic video. i rarely find new channels that I actually wanna sub to like usually I'm like "eh good video but I don't wanna have it in my sub list" but man this was genuinely so insightful

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks so much! :D

[@ariabk]

are you me?

[@KRXOVRmedia]

I appreciate this a lot. As a designer myself, I battle with a lot of these things. I will be returning to the drawing board with your advice.

[@Roberto01araujo]

Lot of content , big up!!

[@Teti_K]

It would be so great to see how the CTR of these his videos improved after replacing the thumbnail with your design. Thank you very much for the great video!

[@apebale]

The person is the brand..I'll take note on this. great video

[@Snaiel]

pls consider dark mode videos my eyes are burnt after watching this great video

[@BonytoBeastly]

I have a degree in graphic design. This was really helpful. Great points.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

ay! thank you :D appreciate that

[@HeatherCashArt]

This was amazing, definitely painful but what I needed to hear 😅 I love working on those small details argh! But also I do have a hard time simplifying sometimes because I create tutorials so for example I have to say what software program I'm using and what I'm doing in it and what platform it is for (like, Create a spread in Canva for your KDP children's book)

[@RuleofThumbYT]

hey :) I had a look through your channel. Great work! Email me, I have some advice :D

[@HeatherCashArt]

@RuleofThumbYT OMG! Ok thank you!!!! 💗

[@HeatherCashArt]

​@@RuleofThumbYT I couldn't find your email address so I filled out your form 🙂

[@TheRareOcelot]

The boring road gets me every time I just cant focus on billboards.

[@Listaroo]

finally someone addressed the issue, many companies or senior designers make graphic designers treat youtube thumbnails like ads which ends up failing most of the time if not always

[@RuleofThumbYT]

100%

[@ሸ፞]

Great video! I’m really happy to see people who love to create tutorials who care about what they’re talking about, keep it up!

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thank you!

[@dfpcmaia]

Where did the 5,000 ads per day figure come from?

[@olisano1]

As a thumbnail designer and graphic designer I've always wanted to talk about this. I design for a lot of KZbinrs, i remember offering to help a graphic design channel with their thumbnails and they felt like they knew it all because they are designers haha, i explained to them why it's more complex than it seems

[@LeonLucena]

Hey fellow designer! I had some prior knowledge, but you putting into words so easy to undestand was fantastic! Masterclass!

[@tripplejaz]

Basically, the age old wisdom of Keep It Simple Stupid. Great video!

[@designsbyNILE]

I’ve watched a lot of videos on thumbnail design but this is the first one that has explained it in a way that is not overly complicated and actually practical. Much appreciated. You got a new follower 🤝

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks!

[@paolabueso]

Excellent video!! Thank you so much for sharing this 🙌🙌🙌

[@lmaopew]

I'd say you must be right, because i did click on your video... So the Thumbnail was spot on

[@wanfaris14]

I personally love when a video thumbnail matches the visuals of the video itself. It ensures that viewers don't feel deceived, especially when the thumbnail is of high quality but the video content falls short. Authenticity is key, and there are certain channels, like Vox, that exemplify this standard. These types of channels prove that a thumbnail isn't just clickbait. The video content is equally high-quality and lives up to the expectation of the thumbnail. This consistency builds trust and sets a high standard for content creators.

[@aminansar5294]

Very valuable information. Thanks a lot for sharing! You deserve a lot more subs

[@joemchang]

If i were to make an attention grabbing thumbnail design, i would definitely use my same graphic design skills it probably wont be as extensive but the same rules apply regarding stuff like space, color, lines typography and image effects etc.

[@youknowmewell]

Thanks Algorithm, this is a drop recommendation. Super video!

[@lucarapisarda3517]

Amazing video man. Keep it up!

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks!

[@kxdsh]

Wow. thank you. This is genuinely so helpful

[@TonyTylerDraws]

It’s not even just the algorithm you have to fight. Almost all the videos I watch are through my Subscriptions page, and channels with boring or unclear (or inconsistent) thumbnails get passed over. It’s a *curated* list and I still go past them

[@rebelmage6929]

I hate when things don't have numbers... I like starting at the beginning of things and watching them in order! But I'm aware I'm an outlier.

[@blenderdiscord]

Great information!

[@GGGG_3333]

This was a eye opening. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us 🙏.

[@RodrigoSouza-b4d]

Good tips. especially the billboard vs thumnails comparasion, although some of them has been overused. "Unlock Bigger Clients", for example, sounds a little like a sales man/marketer making promises, in my work experience I see straight foward utilitary text peform better.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

I agree, something like "Get Bigger Clients" would work better

[@gdayfrank]

I feel seen - maybe because I'm in one of Mike's thumbnails as I was guest on his podcast 😅 but also that my thumbails are total shit and I'm a graphic designer coming at it with graphic design principles. Thanks for the food for thought

[@RuleofThumbYT]

hey :) email me mate. Would love to chat

[@NAIOWKNH]

Great video! Thank you man/

[@lorejenflourite7767]

Oooh. I liked this. You're great!!!

[@TheTorseHumtunja]

This is some fantastic design tips! Appreciate the lessons, and keep it up. Subbed. :D

[@sumantamondal_]

Dude, This is a master class.

[@hellotank66666]

Your content is always valuable! Love it!

[@andreichecko]

Great video, thanks

[@ilsldfjgeort]

You're absolutely right and you are making graphic designers to rethink the thumbnail design. But, while I'm interested in these videos, I wouldn't click on the first thumbnail you created. Why? Because English isn't my first language, and even though I use it daily at work, I communicate with people worldwide using clear, simple words or emoticons. It took me 2-3 minutes to understand "Nah..." and guess where you might be from. Informal language like this can confuse non-native speakers. For example, I write in a Greek dialect that's understood by very few. So, aim for accessibility without oversimplifying to the point where the video's purpose becomes unclear.

[@DutchPlanDerLindeFromTahiti]

Thanks man im learning graphic design too, I needed this

[@th.e.nglish]

A good graphic designer embraces the brief, does research and designs a good thumbnail

[@virtualcuriosities]

Very informative video. Thanks. :-)

[@oscarmosh]

Billboards work in a different context than a wall of thumbnails. The rules design Apply, just not the same way and this a very generalized statement, A GOOD DESIGNER CAN MAKE A GOOD THUMBNAIL, period.

[@ReddStrider]

i think the best thumbnails are drawn from scratch not composited in photoshop. there's a person who's devlogging his video game by the channel Watt Designs, and i really love his thumbnails since they all have a unique style that i can associate with his videos, almost as addition to serving as a good thumbnail they become a standalone piece of art.

[@xansurnamehere]

Yes, I do watch some series of videos in order! Or I love to have a number in the thumbnail, so I can remember if I watched it or not! 🗿

[@arepasxo]

Ads inside youtube videos should be like the road ads billboards

[@rosetancey]

You will make it big😁 continue with your work.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks so much!

[@beautifulari1648]

This was very informational thank you fr

[@dmytrochaika7570]

Great video! Creates an urge to redesign (again) all clients' thumbnails😅

[@RuleofThumbYT]

hahah thanks

[@2fast_ae]

"Billboards are the same as thumbnails" said no one ever

[@VladIepure]

Solid video! Thanks

[@aerofxunme]

Please we want that video on how to click good photos for thumbnails. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@markiemooart]

i'm probably way out of my league in saying this (even though i absolutely agree with everything you're saying), but that first redesign feels a little off. with the text bubbles, my first intuition is that the right (yellow) bubble is me speaking & the left (white) bubble is the client, but in this case it's switched (which i see why you did that because the figure is on the left and not the right, but it could probably be fixed with some easy flipping). i would also add in a question mark after "proposal" so it seems like i'm asking the client to accept my proposal rather than just giving it to them... granted this is probably just nitpicking at this point, but i guess it also tied in with the previous remark about the confusion i had of who's talking to who, so maybe its not that necessary. overall still infintely better than the previous ones i just feel like i had to say somethin about that sorry😭😭

[@markiemooart]

also just noticed i wasnt the first one to call out this design choice, my bad on fanning the flame lmao

[@Hangtime37]

good video

[@RuleofThumbYT]

appreciate it :)

[@hosseintm165]

Thank God for this video

[@thomoclock]

thanks. i have a background in advertising/graphic design and this video changed the way i thought about making my thumbnails. let's see if this makes a difference for my stuff in the future

[@donotforget2havefun]

I absolutely love this video.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

Thanks!

[@themclloyd]

"Bravo! I've learned something new. You've gained a subscriber."

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks! :D

[@fafaaye]

finally, an interesting video

[@fanplexgraphics]

Very simple suggestion for 13:46. Add who the message is from to provide quick additional context (Client: "nah") But make sure it doesnt distract the viewer too much.

[@vasilicarafizi]

Gold right here, thank you for sharing mate

[@kennethlaino9115]

I’m not a designer or creator, just a consumer, but did have a question on how someone might approach this situation. I can see that people would want that episode count for things like in-depth Let’s Plays, where the order matters, or videos with multiple parts. Would that justify using the real-estate in the thumbnails? Or should it be listed in the title?

[@RuleofThumbYT]

that's a great question! I think for something like that or Ryan's Penny Series for example, it does make sense to use the episode number. But in 99% of cases it's not worth it :)

[@pauline_f328]

15:45 Ok, so I'm not well-versed in this stuff, but there are definitely exceptions to this. To be clear, stuff that you can listen to in whatever order doesn't need the number, HOWEVER, if the order is necessary, the PLEASE INCLUDE IT IN THE THUMBNAIL. I watch a lot of reactions to anime episodes, and since sometimes the title of the videos doesn't display in its entirety, I often have to rely on the thumbnail to know the episode number and check whether I'm not skipping over one. And some channels don't include them which makes them HELL to navigate But yeah, if the order doesn't matter much, no need to put it obvs. Just wanted to add this, because you really made it sound like it's NEVER useful Edit: Also, yes, I do click on videos of this kind when I recognize the youtuber (so face is rather essential) and know that I've watched the previous episode. Actually, if it's been a while and I notice the episodes have gone from two digit numbers to three digits, it motivates me to go to the person's channel to catch up on all I missed. Like a reality check of "holy shit it's been that long??" So it serves a purpose when displayed in my regular feed too

[@JayThoriya8]

Great video brother! Very helpful, you've got a subscriber ‼️

[@RocknRolla_official]

Well done man. All of the content here make sense...just one proposal from my side...change your presentation style to a more "eye friendly" one...i cant look your video in the bed, cause it is to bright. ;-) Hope your channel will grow...

[@beautifulari1648]

Nah i am leaving scnd comment for engagement, really killer and simple to understand video

[@RuleofThumbYT]

hahaha thanks!

[@ShantanuGGs]

Great video brother! I have a perspective over this though, You mentioned that thumbnails don't need 'eps no.s' or 'logos', I think that it isn't applicable to those big channels.. I mean since they already have a huge audience, if they really want to add logos or eps no.s, they can and they'll still get good amount of clicks. Basically, once you had done the hard work and you are famous, if you want you can or cannot follow the rules you mentioned, but you have made an excellent video 🙌

[@RuleofThumbYT]

interesting take, I'd actually say the opposite haha. Why have a logo on a small channel's thumbnail when no one recognises that channel's logo? The only reason to include a logo is familiarity. But if you're a small channel, no one will know the logo :D

[@ShantanuGGs]

@RuleofThumbYT it's true actually, no one really cares that you have a logo being a small channel, but for big ones, it won't affect their audience at all..

[@juliuscagara]

Awesome video! Very informative 🙂

[@RuleofThumbYT]

appreciate it :)

[@AminTheEditor]

maan this is a masterclass , you really understand what you are talking about

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thank you so much! :D

[@thomascomptoniv6076]

Thumbnails are still a graphic, so if you design thumbnails you're a graphic designer...

[@noemartinez832]

Guys I don't think billboards are thumbnails 😮

[@pratyushtiwari4659]

Amazing breakdown. This video will definitely do numbers :)

[@RuleofThumbYT]

appreciate it! :D

[@blender_tom]

Q: What extension/services are you using to get VPH (8:41) and the best performing value x100 (8:52)

[@Nyytti1]

VidIQ

[@andreichecko]

Mate, did you find out what it is?

[@Nyytti1]

@andreichecko It's VidIQ idk why my comment got removed

[@RuleofThumbYT]

Vid IQ chrome extension :D

[@andreichecko]

@@RuleofThumbYTthanks bro

[@Dachusttin]

CTR Brand Awareness VS Conversion

[@RomboutVersluijs]

I think the original text plus your new photo would be the better design. The yellow text against the black backgrtuas a better color rstionvs those talking bubbles on a gradiënt background. The original text explains the message better than those 2 talking bubbles

[@Nyxtia]

Maybe it's digital brainrot but I think the "proposal? nah." thumbnail would have confused me because I associate the right-side speech bubble as being from the person making the video. So to me it looks like a thumbnail about turning down projects from clients. But I like the overall aesthetic.

[@RuleofThumbYT]

good point! :D

[@bbatzen7397]

So much value in a free video. You earned yourself a sub. Thanks a lot!

[@RuleofThumbYT]

thanks!

[@etnevel.naitzsirk]

18:30 "I'm the product." - Joe MacMillan, Halt and Catch Fire

[@ArtisticAroma]

you should have used red color for nah. red stands for like danger or rejection which makes it more eye catching and that stands out from getting blended in yellow background light too, same with color of t shirt.. he is designers obviously let his creativity reflect through colors

[@fermion4945]

I think I have landed on wrong Mr.Beast channel 😂😂❤ BTW,jokes apart ,your contents are amazing 👏