TL;DR

YouTube Channel Thumbnail Designer (YouTube): Designing striking, effective, and on-brand visuals for YouTube documentaries and video essays with an accent on visual storytelling, composition, and typography. Focus on creating scroll-stopping visuals, integrating 3D elements, and staying ahead of YouTube and media design trends.

Location: Remote (Global)

Company

%hirify_global% is a dynamic digital media company that invests in and scales creators with an established YouTube presence, focusing on investigative research, video essays, and documentaries.

What you will do

Design engaging, high-performing thumbnails for YouTube documentaries and video essays.
Develop creative visual concepts that capture the essence of each story and align with the channel’s visual identity.
Select and retouch images, composite elements, and use typography effectively to create bold, clear, and scroll-stopping visuals.
Create and integrate 3D elements, objects, or environments into thumbnails to enhance visual depth and storytelling impact.
Maintain a consistent, high-quality design standard that reflects the tone and credibility of fern and Simplicissimus.
Manage feedback cycles efficiently and deliver on tight deadlines.

Requirements

Proven experience designing YouTube thumbnails or visual assets for digital media.
Excellent sense of visual storytelling, composition, color, and typography.
Strong skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender or Cinema 4D for 3D work.
Understanding of how thumbnails influence click-through rate and viewer engagement.
Ability to translate abstract or complex topics into clear, emotionally engaging visuals.
Excellent organizational and time management skills.
Business-level English and ideally basic knowledge of German.

Nice to have

Experience in digital journalism or documentary content.
Familiarity with 2D and 3D animation or compositing workflows.
Understanding of YouTube analytics and A/B testing for thumbnails.
Experience working with project management tools such as Monday.com.

Culture & Benefits

Dynamic environment with opportunities for ownership and fast learning.
Work from anywhere with an allowance for tech.
Flexible hours.
Supportive and collaborative team with regular team events in Amsterdam and across Europe.
Opportunity to shape meaningful journalistic content and documentaries.
Committed to fostering innovation and driving positive change.