Thumbnail Designer
About the Role
We are looking for a Youtube thumbnail designer. You will primarily be working on our 1.3+ Million subscriber Youtube channel as well as channels for our clients.
Type: Full-time
Location: Remote
About Us
Hi, we’re Mike and Matty and we're the founders of Koi Media, a creative agency focused on content that helps brands grow their audience on YouTube. We partner with a select group of education-based, research-backed creators and brands that are transforming their industries.
We've built our own channel to over 1.3 million subscribers, and now we're looking for a talented creatives who can help us maintain that standard, across our own content and for the clients we work with.
What You’ll Be Doing
Thumbnail design. Designing high-converting YouTube thumbnails from a creative brief that includes the video title, hook, and key message. Your job is to stop the scroll and earn the click.
Brand-consistent design. Following our brand kit so every thumbnail reinforces the channel's visual identity — color palette, typefaces, composition style, and the visual language that makes the content instantly recognizable.
Concepts and variations. Delivering multiple thumbnail options per brief where needed so the team can A/B test and optimize for CTR over time.
Revision turnaround. Incorporating feedback quickly and accurately, without needing multiple rounds of revisions.
Weekly creative sync. Attending a weekly meeting with the Creative Director to review work, align on upcoming briefs, and discuss performance data where relevant.
Requirements and Expectations
Proven YouTube thumbnail experience. You have a portfolio of thumbnail work with demonstrable results. You understand what makes someone click and how to communicate a video's hook visually in under a second.
CTR-focused design thinking. You know how to use contrast, facial expression, text hierarchy, and composition to create thumbnails that perform, not just look good.
Technical proficiency. Expert-level skills in Adobe Photoshop or equivalent. Comfortable working within a brand kit while still bringing fresh creative ideas to each brief.
Remote-ready communicator. Fluent in English, experienced in remote teams, and available for meetings multiple times per week within PST business hours.
Reliable and organized. Deadlines met, files delivered cleanly, revisions turned around fast. You manage yourself well without needing to be chased.
What We Offer
Impact. Your work will be seen by millions and have a direct role in changing the lives of hundreds of thousands of loyal subscribers. Every video you touch shapes the next era of the brand.
Ownership. You'll own the editing function with real creative authority, building your vision alongside the team.
Growth. You'll be working at the intersection of content, strategy, and education with access to data, AI tooling, and a brand that opens doors.
Get familiar with our thumbnails
Before applying, spend time reviewing the thumbnails on our YouTube channel. Understanding the visual style, color language, and composition approach is one of the first things we'll look for in your application and trial.
View thumbnails at @mikeandmatty on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeandmatty
We review every application personally.
Fill out the application form below and include a link to your portfolio or past thumbnail work. As part of the process, you'll complete a short trial task so we can see how you think and design. Keep it on-brand and focused.
Trial Task: After you submit your application, we'll send you a brief with a video title, hook, headshots, and brand assets to work with. You'll design one thumbnail that shows us your ability to match the brand, communicate the video's hook visually, and create something that earns the click. This is the fastest way for you to stand out.
If we'd like to move forward, we'll be in touch within 2-3 days of your submission.