Design System

Creator Style Guide

A practical reference for thumbnail styling, plus a quick checklist for reviewing your channel's core visual identity. Adapt these prompts to your platform and content.

Jump to the channel-branding checklist

Quick review

Channel-branding checklist

Check each item as you review your channel. Print this section for a paper copy.

Profile imagery

Use a consistent logo, portrait, or visual treatment across profile images.
Check the crop at small size so the main subject or mark stays clear.

Channel banners

Repeat visual cues from the profile image, such as its colors or shapes.
Keep important text and marks within the platform safe area; preview desktop and mobile crops.

Colors

Choose a small core palette and record its color values for reuse.
Check text contrast against each background where it appears.

Typography

Choose a display typeface and a supporting typeface, then reuse them.
Keep text hierarchy, casing, and weight consistent across banners and thumbnails.

1 — Color Palette

Primary Amber

#D97706

Main CTA color. Use for headline text on dark backgrounds.

Warm Highlight

#FCD34D

Glow effects, accent borders, icon backgrounds.

Title White

#FAFAF9

Large display text on dark studio backgrounds.

Studio Dark

#1C1917

Full-bleed backgrounds. Maximum contrast with amber/white.

2 — Face-Crop Rules

The rule-of-thirds grid below shows where to position and crop the face. Use these as repeatable framing prompts, then adjust for the subject and title.

Rule of Thirds

Face

Text

Face

Face occupies top-left or top-right cell (highlighted in amber above)

Chin line at ~30% from top — chin must sit below the first horizontal third

Eyes must have ≥40px clearance from the frame edge at 1280px

Text zone on the opposite third from the face

3 — Typography Specimen

Display — Headline copy

STOP SCROLLING

Font: Display (--font-display)Weight: 800 (ExtraBold)Min size at 1280×720: 96pxTracking: −0.03em

Body — Sub-label / supporting copy

Subscribe for more tutorials

Font: Body (--font-body)Weight: 500 (Medium)Min size at 1280×720: 48px

4 — Composition Rules

1
Rule-of-thirds grid — face on left or right vertical third.
Place the face along a vertical third to leave room for supporting text or other details.
2
Text zone always on the opposite side from the face.
Face left → text right. Face right → text left. Never stack them.
3
Primary title: ≥96px at 1280px wide, bold, max 4–5 words.
Check it at a small thumbnail preview size (about 200×112px); resize if the title is hard to read.
4
Sub-label (e.g. "PART 3") in brand amber, above or below the title.
Smaller scale (≈48px). Adds context without competing with the headline.
5
Single-color or simple gradient background — no busy textures.
The face and text must pop. Background is atmosphere, not content.

Thumbnail design support

Looking for help with your thumbnails?

Share your channel and what you're looking for in a thumbnail design through the creator inquiry form.

Inquire about thumbnail design