YouTube Channel Design

YouTube Channel Design


Abhinav Girdhar
By Abhinav Girdhar | Last Updated on April 13th, 2024 10:28 am | 5-min read

YouTube being the second largest search engine in the world is no longer just a place to watch music clips. From videos of people eating and playing board games to vlogs on travel, consumers are using over 1 billion hours of YouTube video content daily. YouTube is also the perfect social media platform for you to promote your brand. To do this, you need to have high quality and relevant YouTube channel art for your channel. YouTube channel art consists of a YouTube banner and video thumbnail. This blog will offer you some helpful tips for designing your own YouTube banner design and YouTube video thumbnail design.

What is YouTube Channel banner?

Channel Art, which is also known as a YouTube Banner is the large banner that goes across the top of your YouTube channel page. It is used to visually communicate a channel's brand image and personality.
(Above video is a part of a more elaborate course on Academy by Appy Pie. To access the complete course, please Click Here, or continue reading below.) A YouTube channel banner will take different dimensions depending on the platform you will use to view it. For example, a banner might have different dimensions when viewed on a TV, desktop, or mobile device. As per YouTube, the best channel art size is 2560 pixels wide x 1440 pixels tall. Other sizing requirements to keep in mind are Minimum file dimensions: 2048 x 1152. This blog will offer you some helpful tips for designing your own YouTube banner and will also give you the insight on using the best YouTube Thumbnail. How to create a successfulYouTube channel for Your Business

Tips to Design the Best YouTube Channel banner design

 
  1. Pick a YouTube banner layout that fits your vision

    When you plan to select a YouTube banner template, look for a layout that works for you, first check where you want the focus of your banner to be, and the effect you want it to have. Your banner can indicate to visitors what your channel will offer and what they are interested in.
    • Centered title layout:If you place your title in the center of your banner put emphasis on the font. The symmetrical layout will make your title look far more focused.

    • Asymmetrical layout:An asymmetrical layout looks more casual and playful. You would place your title to one side of the banner and maybe balance it out with a picture on the other side.

    • Sectioned layout:If you plan to incorporate multiple images into your banner, you can do it by dividing your banner into sections. To prevent your banner from looking cluttered, make sure that the sections are of even widths.

  2. Include your brand tagline or slogan

    To avoid cluttering your banner design, keep your tagline to one line or just include your website URL in your banner. That will help spread awareness about your brand. While including your brand tagline get into questions like - What’s your channel’s elevator pitch? What’s your core value proposition?
  3. Keep your YouTube banner design simple

    It is good practice to keep your YouTube banner design simple. Simply use a photo as the background of your banner, with your title as there isn’t a lot of space to pack too many design elements into your YouTube banner and complicate it.
  4. Use a font matching the mood of your channel and an easy to read font

    The fonts you use can communicate what the tone, style, and topic of your channel are. People usually tend to associate different personalities with different fonts. Different fonts are associated with different industries. Serif fonts are typical of more traditional industries like publishing however, sans serif fonts help branding tech companies. It’s important to remember a large number of YouTube viewers are on mobile devices so the small text is going to be impossible to read. It is recommended to use a large or bold font on your YouTube Banner.
  5. Make sure the photo is of high-quality

    The images you use in your YouTube banner should have a minimum resolution of about 100-150 dpi. A blurry image ruins a splendid design. If you are using your own original images, just make sure they are crisp and clear when you upload them on to YouTube.
  6. Coordinate your YouTube banner with your channel icon

    If you want your YouTube profile page to look professional, every design element should blend impeccably together. A good idea is to use the same color scheme and visual style in both images. Typically, you should use your brand colors. Be mindful of design trends in your niche.
  7. Create your own custom YouTube banner template that you can repurpose

    A custom template always comes handy if you want to switch up your banner design periodically. Once you’ve created a YouTube banner, turn it into a template that you can repurpose again and again? You could simply swap one element of the image based on what you are currently planning to promote.
  8. Include a subtle border around your YouTube banner

    Minimalistic design projects are popular of late because they feel simple and effortless. Designers use different elements to get their message across effectively. A simple border will give your minimalist YouTube banner a definable edge and direct the viewer’s eye to the center of your banner.
  9. Use the banner background image

    A vague image may actually turn off your potential viewers. If you want to engage them with your YouTube banner and not bore them, the background image should be perfectly selected. The background image reflects the theme of your channel. It should be interesting enough to catch the viewer’s eye and inform him about the channel. It should not distract the viewer from the channel’s tagline.
  10. Create a collage of images

    You can create a collage of images that offer a preview of what to expect on your channel. An easy way to create a collage is by using stills from your videos. In order for your design to be cohesive, make sure the images have a similar style, color scheme, and tone.
  11. Position your title in the corner of your YouTube banner

    If you want to use a more unconventional layout, try placing your title text in one of the corners of your banner. This is one way to stand out in a crowded space.
  12. Use simple icons and illustrations

    Use icons or illustrations that are related to your topic! Even if there was no text in the banner, your viewers should be able to guess the topic. Remember humans process images a lot faster than text, thus the use of icons can quickly get your message across.
  13. Add a color filter to your YouTube banner image

    A quick and easy way to solve the color scheme problem is to use a color filter. A color filter can personalize the image to fit the mood of your channel, or to match your brand colors. A color filter can also help your text pop from the background.
  14. Use drop shadows to give your banner design depth

    Drop shadow is a design term used to describe the effect of objects in your design shadows. This element gives the impression that the objects are raised above the background. This effect can give your YouTube banner design some depth.
  15. Include a brief channel summary

    You can make skimming easy for new viewers by offering a brief description of your channel. A simple, one-sentence tagline works. Try to make it direct and compelling.
Here are beautifully designed and most visited YouTube channels for you to get inspired and impressed. You can also study them and implement their design into your own channel to make it beautiful and attractive at the same time.
  • Death Wish Coffee Company
  • Adobe Creative Cloud
  • Bon Appétit
  • TauliaInc
  • Refinery29
  • TripAdvisor B2B
  • Nuvolari Lenard

What is YouTube video thumbnail?

What is YouTube video thumbnail?The YouTube thumbnails are small preview images used to represent videos. They attract people’s attention and convince them to watch the video. A good thumbnail can help you to get thousands of views. A bad thumbnail will lead your video to remain unseen. Amazing YouTube thumbnails will help your videos stand out from the crowd and will have a massive impact on the growth of your audience. But that’s not all. You can use custom YouTube thumbnails to increase your email marketing click rate.

Top Tips For Making the best YouTube video Thumbnail Design

 
(Above video is a part of a more elaborate course on Academy by Appy Pie. To access the complete course, please Click Here, or continue reading below.)
  1. Use Relevant Pictures

    One vital rule to always remember when creating thumbnails is to never use a picture that is irrelevant to your channel or video. Three ways to select your picture is:
    • Take a still-shot from your clip and use the thumbnail.
    • Take photographs from the video
    • Use a custom-made picture featuring simple graphics and video titles.
  2. YouTube Thumbnail Size and Resolution

    Take into account the photo’s own size. The original recommended size dimension is 1280 x 720px, since it may be used for the embedded player as a preview photo.
  3. Take into account Colors, Resolution

    As you have to compete with many other videos, choosing the right colors for your thumbnail will go a long way in boosting your content’s views and clicks. The trick is to use contrasting, bright or saturated colors. Dark shades might not likely show up very well in the video list’s sidebar.
  4. Take Advantage of White Spaces

    Your thumbnail will look clean and more organized and that is the result of high-quality appearance possessed by any professional photo. This high-quality appearance will come only if you make sure to take advantage of negative space.
  5. Use Readable Text

    If you must have text in your image, make sure it is huge enough that viewers can make out the characters even when the picture is shrunken down.
  6. Using Title

    Adding titles to thumbnails helps viewers identify the videos faster. The videos will appear in searches more often. The titles will also let your followers identify your videos besides capturing the attention of those viewers looking for your specific topics.
  7. Create Custom Branding for Your Thumbnails

    Giving your thumbnails some consistency is one excellent way to build awareness for your content on YouTube. Optimize by using different types of branding depending on the content you are publishing.
The below-listed brands have an amazing YouTube video Thumbnail Design
  • Frank Body
  • Gary Vaynerchuk
  • Skullcandy
  • Gymshark

Conclusion

Professional YouTube channel art will impress your visitors and even encourages them to subscribe to your channel. With a quality YouTube banner the best YouTube video Thumbnail, you are one step closer to growing your audience. So go ahead and embrace the above mention tips to create the best YouTube channel art with an eye-catching YouTube banner design and the best YouTube video Thumbnail Design.YouTubers can now even convert their YouTube channels into apps with help of Appy Pie.

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Abhinav Girdhar

Founder and CEO of Appy Pie

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