Thumbnail Design

[Client] Practical Engineering is a YouTube channel produced by civil engineer Grady Hillhouse about infrastructure and the human-made world around us. [Problem] YouTube is more crowded than ever, with countless videos uploaded every minute and only seconds to grab attention. Independent creators must compete not only with others in their niche but with professionally produced videos, viral trends, and algorithm-driven recommendations. [Solution] A compelling thumbnail can be the difference between being ignored and being clicked on YouTube. Bold visuals, clear focal points, and readable text cut through the noise, while curiosity-driven design boosts click-through rates and algorithmic promotion. Over time, consistent visual language builds familiarity and trust, helping turn casual viewers into subscribers. [Result] In collaborated with the Practical Engineering’s creator, we created memorable and engaging thumbnails, boosting the channel’s subscriber count by over 54.4% from 2.98 million to 4.6 million.