YouTube Channel Thumbnail Designer (Freelancer) - fern and Simplicissimus

An opportunity to join an exciting, well-funded and fast-growing creator economy business

Electrify Video Partners is a dynamic new digital media company that invests in and scales creators with an established YouTube presence. We have invested in various leading channels, and fern and Simplicissimus are two of the channels in our portfolio.

Fern and Simplicissimus are cutting-edge digital outlets for political and social topics with 4 and 2.5 million subscribers respectively. We have received national and international recognition, including the DAfFNE award, the Environmental Media Award, the NYT TV & Film award, and nominations for the prestigious Rudolf Diesel medal and the German Television Award. We focus on investigative research, video essays, and documentaries for a curious, engaged audience that always seeks deeper answers.

Come and build the future of media with us!

About the role

We are looking for a Thumbnail Designer (Freelancer) to support our YouTube channels fern and Simplicissimus. As a Thumbnail Designer, you will be responsible for creating striking, effective, and on-brand visuals that attract millions of viewers.

Tasks

• Design engaging, high-performing thumbnails for YouTube documentaries and video essays
• Develop creative visual concepts that capture the essence of each story and align with the channel’s visual identity
• Select and retouch images, composite elements, and use typography effectively to create bold, clear, and scroll-stopping visuals
• Create and integrate 3D elements, objects, or environments into thumbnails to enhance visual depth and storytelling impact
• Maintain a consistent, high-quality design standard that reflects the tone and credibility of fern and Simplicissimus
• Manage feedback cycles efficiently and deliver on tight deadlines
• Stay on top of YouTube and media design trends to keep our channels visually ahead of the curve

Requirements

• Proven experience designing YouTube thumbnails or visual assets for digital media
• Excellent sense of visual storytelling, composition, color, and typography
• Strong skills in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Blender or Cinema 4D for 3D work
• Understanding of how thumbnails influence click-through rate and viewer engagement
• Ability to translate abstract or complex topics into clear, emotionally engaging visuals
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Business-level English and ideally basic knowledge of German

Desirable

• Experience in digital journalism or documentary content
• Familiarity with 2D and 3D animation or compositing workflows
• Understanding of YouTube analytics and A/B testing for thumbnails
• Experience working with project management tools such as Monday.com

Benefits

Electrify Culture

• Dynamic environment – We are dedicated to providing a world-class creative culture where our employees can thrive. We’re looking for self-starters with an entrepreneurial mindset who want to be part of our success story. You’ll discover new opportunities, take ownership of important initiatives and learn at a fast pace.
• Work anywhere – We are a remote team with employees around the world. This means you are free to work from anywhere with a good internet connection.
• Our Values – We are committed to fostering a culture that values innovative thinking and the ability to drive positive change.
• Force for good – We believe in leveraging the power of Electrify to change lives and have set up our Creator Foundation. For each established creator that we invest in, we will provide both the cash and production support for an emerging creator to produce and distribute a video that tells an important story linked to one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What we offer

• Competitive compensation
• Work from anywhere with an allowance for tech
• Flexible hours
• The opportunity to work in a vibrant, dynamic, and innovative environment
• A supportive and collaborative team
• Regular team events in Amsterdam and across Europe
• The opportunity to shape meaningful journalistic content and documentaries.

Electrify is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment with the best employees. We provide employment opportunities without regard to age, race, colour, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.