Thumbnail Concept Artist

ABOUT AIRRACK
Airrack is a tight-knit team that pulls off ambitious, innovative YouTube videos that get millions of views. We're creative, gritty, and passionate about making content no one else dares to. We work hard, have a great time doing it, and we're always pushing to see how far digital storytelling can go.
THE ROLE
We're looking for a world-class freelance

Thumbnail Concept Artist

— the creative brain that comes before the design software ever opens. You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that

stops the scroll : sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint — lighting setup, camera angles, facial expressions, wardrobe, props, color direction, everything.
You don't just make things look good. You know

why

things get clicked. You understand the human brain, creator culture, and the visual grammar of YouTube at a deep level — and you use all of it to build concepts that convert.

HOW TO APPLY
Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/xuUfLoBiOeM
Requirements
Requirements
Concept and sketch multiple thumbnail ideas per video from a title or brief alone
Generate high volumes of variations quickly and kill weak ideas fast
Provide complete production direction to photographers and designers: lighting, camera angles, expressions, wardrobe, props, color, and framing
Collaborate with the creative director and editors to understand the emotional core of each video before concepting
Study top-performing thumbnails across YouTube consistently — understanding what drives CTR and why
Take intense, direct feedback without ego and turn revisions around fast
Bring new ideas proactively and push the team's creative vision forward
What We're Looking For
A portfolio that shows your concepting process — sketches, wireframes, mood boards, and variations, not just final designs
Deep knowledge of what's performing on YouTube right now and why
Experience concepting thumbnails for high-performing channels, ideally in lifestyle, challenge, prank, or viral content
Ability to generate a high volume of ideas fast and cut to the best ones ruthlessly
Thick skin — direct feedback is the norm here and you use it to get better
Obsessive passion for YouTube, creator culture, and the craft of the thumbnail specifically
Background in art direction, photography, or storyboarding is a strong plus
Preferred Qualifications
Experience concepting thumbnails for high-performing YouTube channels (lifestyle, challenge, prank, or viral content preferred)
Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development
Familiarity with what makes thumbnails perform across different audience segments and video formats
Ability to reference and analyze competitor thumbnails and extract strategic insight
Benefits
Compensation: This is a project based position which pays a base fee per project as well as performance bonuses
Why Join Us?
Be part of a groundbreaking team creating content that millions of viewers love.
Opportunity to lead and innovate in a highly competitive digital media space.