YouTube Thumbnail Designer at WhatCulture

We produce trusted, high-quality content that inspires millions of people to explore the things they love, need and care about.

Covering a wide range of industries, including technology, gaming, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, sports, finance and more, our specialist brands connect audiences with their interests and passions every day.

Through our websites, magazines, newsletters, social media platforms and live events, we deliver expert content to audiences worldwide.

By combining specialist knowledge with innovative technology and data-driven insights, we create engaging experiences, build thriving communities and empower people to make informed decisions.

At the heart of everything we do is our people — a talented team of passionate experts, creative thinkers, innovators and problem-solvers committed to shaping the future of media.

About the Team

WhatCulture is a major name in pop culture media, reaching millions of fans across a diverse range of entertainment and fandom categories through its portfolio of YouTube channels, which collectively attract more than 8 million subscribers.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of Video, you will work across our network of channels, taking responsibility for designing and producing engaging visual content for YouTube and other social media platforms.

Your role will involve collaborating with different teams to transform video topics and scripts into eye-catching, high-performing thumbnails.

You will develop and present creative thumbnail concepts, contribute video ideas, and use YouTube Studio analytics and A/B testing results to understand audience preferences and improve content performance.

You will also monitor competitors and explore the wider YouTube landscape to identify emerging trends, creative techniques and industry best practices that can strengthen our content strategy.

Using professional image-editing software, you will source, manipulate and enhance images to create polished, high-quality artwork.

Additionally, you will develop reusable design templates and visual styles for the wider team, alongside producing other graphic design materials, including social media templates, promotional posters and related creative assets.

Skills and Experience

• Ability to develop creative concepts that attract clicks and encourage audience engagement.
• Strong understanding of visual storytelling, composition and effective design techniques.
• A flexible and versatile design approach that adapts to different content styles and audiences.
• Understanding of what makes a YouTube thumbnail successful beyond its visual appeal.
• Ability to recognise how thumbnails and video titles work together to attract viewers.
• Skill in creating curiosity and interest without misleading the audience.
• Extensive knowledge of YouTube trends, creators, content formats and the wider platform landscape.

Minimum Requirements

• A strong creative portfolio demonstrating proven experience producing high-quality, engaging and performance-driven YouTube thumbnails.
• Solid knowledge of YouTube analytics and the ability to use performance data to guide and improve creative decisions.
• Strong understanding of audience psychology, viewing habits and engagement behaviour.
• Good knowledge of graphic design fundamentals, including colour theory, composition and visual hierarchy.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Salary and Benefits

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary alongside a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Uncapped annual leave.
• Enhanced parental leave benefits.
• Discounted dental and private medical care.
• Performance-based profit-sharing bonuses when company targets are achieved.
• Employee referral programme with financial rewards for successful referrals.
• Well-being resources and access to colleague assistance programmes.
• Opportunity to purchase company shares through the Share Incentive Plan.
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme with employer contributions matched up to 5%.
• Access to a modern office featuring bespoke production studios, a games and relaxation area, and a fully equipped on-site gym with personal trainer access.
• Complimentary office drinks and snacks.

Work Arrangement: Hybrid. Employees are expected to work three days per week from the company’s Newcastle office and two days remotely from home. Full-time office attendance is also available for those who prefer it.

Internal Job Family Level: E7.

Inclusion and Diversity

At Future, we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining talent from diverse backgrounds while creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

We continuously review our recruitment practices and internal processes to minimise bias, promote equal opportunities and ensure that diversity is valued across our organisation.

We believe that creating content that represents diverse communities begins with building a workplace where different perspectives and experiences can thrive.

To learn more about our commitments, visit the Our Future, Our Responsibility section of our website.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. We are happy to provide the support you need.