Thumbnail Designer

About Pocket FM

Once upon a time, stories lived only on pages. Then, we brought them to life through sound.

Pocket FM is revolutionizing audio storytelling, turning immersive fiction into long-form, binge-worthy experiences. With over 100,000 hours of content, 200,000 creators, and 100 million listeners, we are one of the world’s largest audio streaming platforms. Our listeners spend an average of 150+ minutes per day with us, streaming more than 4 billion minutes of audio series every month.

Role Overview

The Thumbnail Designer will be responsible for designing visually compelling thumbnails and key art that drive clicks, listens, and retention across Pocket FM’s platform and marketing channels. The ideal candidate has a strong understanding of visual storytelling, streaming aesthetics, and performance-driven design, with experience creating thumbnails for audio, video, or serialized digital content. This role requires someone who can balance creativity with data, iterate quickly, and collaborate closely with creative, marketing, and growth teams.

Responsibilities:

• Design eye-catching thumbnails and key art for audio series across multiple genres, including Crime, Thriller, Romance, Drama, and Fantasy.
• Translate story concepts, tone, and genre into clear, compelling visual assets optimized for small-screen and mobile-first viewing.
• Collaborate with Creative Development, Marketing, and Growth teams to align visual direction with series branding and audience strategy.
• Iterate on designs based on performance data, A/B test results, and stakeholder feedback.
• Ensure all thumbnails adhere to brand guidelines while still feeling distinct and competitive within the streaming ecosystem.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Optimize assets for various formats, platforms, and aspect ratios.
• Support experimentation initiatives, including A/B testing and rapid creative iteration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in graphic design, digital design, or visual design, preferably within streaming, entertainment, media, or mobile-first products.
• Strong portfolio showcasing thumbnail design, key art, or performance-driven creative for streaming, video, audio, or digital platforms.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop required; Illustrator and After Effects a plus).
• Strong understanding of composition, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.
• Experience designing for mobile-first environments and small-format assets.
• Ability to take creative direction while also contributing original ideas.
• Excellent communication, organization, and time-management skills.
• Comfortable working with tight timelines, rapid feedback loops, and high-volume output.

Strong Preference for Candidates Who

• Have experience designing thumbnails or key art for streaming platforms (audio or video), YouTube, podcasts, or serialized digital content.
• Understand genre conventions and visual tropes—especially within Crime, Fantasy, Thriller, Romance, and Drama.
• Are familiar with performance marketing creatives and data-informed design decisions.
• Have experience with A/B testing creative assets and iterating based on results.

Please have your portfolio linked to your Resume or uploaded in place of one.

Location: Culver City, CA

Term: Contract Role (with potential to move into fulltime)

Compensation: Dependent on experience and scope of deliverables