Thumbnail Designer (YouTube + Social Design)

Salary: $55,000 – $60,000 CAD
 In-Studio, Kelowna BC

About Us

Martell Ventures is not your typical venture studio. We’re an AI-native incubator backed by world-class operators, built to launch scalable companies that solve real problems for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) around the world.

Why you shouldn't work here – Radical Transparency from our CEO

What Applying Looks Like

We keep it transparent and efficient. Here’s what to expect:

1. 1-min intro video (Loom, Vidyard, or Google Drive – share your link below)
2. Application review
3. 15-minute intro call
4. Strengths assessment – how you learn and do
5. In-person interview – values and culture fit
6. Paid test project – work with us, like you're already on the team
7. Final call with our CEO
8. Offer– if we’re both excited, we move forward fast

About the Role

The Thumbnail Designer owns the visual “first impression” of our content—primarily YouTube thumbnails, plus supporting social media and brand design assets. Your north-star metric is CTR and retention support (thumbnails that match the promise and drive the right click). You’ll collaborate closely with the YouTube Producer, Editors, and Creative Team to design high-performing thumbnail systems that scale across formats and series.

What You’ll Do

YouTube Thumbnail Design (Primary)

• Design high-impact thumbnails optimized for CTR, clarity, and emotional pull.
  
  
• Translate video concepts into simple, bold, curiosity-driving visuals (fast).
  
  
• Develop repeatable thumbnail “systems” for series, formats, and pillars.
  
  
• Create multiple options per video and iterate quickly based on feedback + performance.
  
  
• Maintain consistent visual standards: typography, lighting, composition, facial expressions, contrast, and hierarchy.
  
  

Creative Optimization + Performance Iteration

• Use performance data (CTR, impressions, watch-time quality) to refine creative decisions.
  
  
• Participate in thumbnail reviews and pitch improvements proactively.
  
  
• Run rapid A/B exploration (concept variations, hooks, layouts) to improve results.
  
  
• Build and maintain a swipe file and internal playbook of what’s working.
  
  

Social Media + Other Design Work (Secondary)

• Design assets for Instagram, TikTok, Shorts, LinkedIn, X, email banners, and occasional ad creative.
  
  
• Create supporting graphics: carousels, quote cards, story frames, promo tiles, thumbnails for other platforms.
  
  
• Contribute to brand consistency across all touchpoints while keeping content feeling modern and native.
  
  

Collaboration + Workflow

• Partner with producers and writers to understand the hook, the promise, and the audience pain.
  
  
• Work with editors to pull strong frames and ensure visual continuity with the video content.
  
  
• Manage deadlines across multiple weekly deliverables without sacrificing quality.
  
  
• Organize source files and templates so the machine runs without bottlenecks.

What You Bring

Required

• 2–4+ years of design experience, with a strong focus on digital content (YouTube preferred).
  
  
• A portfolio showing thumbnail work (or comparable high-performance digital creatives).
  
  
• Strong command of Photoshop (and/or Photopea), plus solid typography and composition instincts.
  
  
• Ability to design for speed and quality—fast drafts, faster iterations.
  
  
• Deep understanding of what makes visuals “click” (clarity, contrast, emotion, curiosity, simplicity).
  
  

Preferred

• Experience designing in a high-output YouTube environment (3+ videos/week).
  
  
• Familiarity with YouTube analytics and creative testing.
  
  
• Experience with motion/animation basics (After Effects) or basic editing (nice-to-have).
  
  
• Understanding of Dan Martell’s tone/style and direct-response principles.