Designing Engaging Thumbnails With Mr. Degree's Videos

In the competitive world of YouTube, where 500 hours of content are uploaded every minute, standing out is no easy feat. Yet, Mr. DegrEE has gained a staggering 30.6 million subscribers in just seven years. How? Through the power of the perfect YouTube thumbnails.

For YouTubers looking to boost views, the secret is often overlooked: thumbnails. A striking 90% of top-performing YouTube videos use custom YouTube thumbnails. In today’s landscape, creating eye-catching YouTube thumbnail images is just as important as the content itself.

So, what makes a thumbnail irresistible? Mr. DegrEE's YouTube thumbnails consistently draw over 200K views per upload, turning casual viewers into loyal subscribers. In this blog, we’ll break down Mr. DegrEE's YouTube thumbnail design strategy and reveal the thumbnail design techniques that could transform the growth of your YouTube channel. Let’s dive in!

Who is Mr. DegrEE?

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of YouTube thumbnail design, let's get acquainted with our star. Mr. DegrEE, a YouTube sensation, has been gracing our screens since February 2, 2017.

In just seven short years, they've amassed 30.6 million subscribers and uploaded 1.7K videos. This growth speaks volumes about their ability to capture and maintain audience attention. A key player in this success? Their evolving custom YouTube thumbnail design.

The Thumbnail Evolution of Mr. DegrEE

1. The Humble Beginnings

A person wearing red gloves holds a yellow heat gun pointed at a red Coca-Cola can. The can is being heated to create a bowl.

When Mr. DegrEE first started creating YouTube thumbnails, they were basic, typically set against a plain black background. This early approach was functional but didn’t stand out.

2. Experimenting with Colors

A person squeezes toothpaste into a bottle of Coca-Cola, then adds both to a blender filled with Mentos candies.

After about a year, they swapped the black backdrop for blue and experimented with yellow. This small change led to their first million-view video, showing how eye-catching thumbnails can influence views.

3. Enter the Human Element

Before and after comparison of a woman looking sad and then happy while embraced by a man, with sad and happy face icons included.

Next came the game-changer: faces. Mr. DegrEE's YouTube thumbnails started featuring expressive human faces, naturally grabbing attention. This thumbnail design increased views and created a recognizable style for the channel.

4. The Final Form

Before and after comparison of a woman bound and gagged in a car trunk and later freed, showing sad and happy face icons respectively.

Today, Mr. DegrEE’s YouTube thumbnails are finely tuned for engagement. They primarily use two types of thumbnail designs:

Three vertically split images
Two vertically split images

These designs often feature emojis and minimal text, with high quality images giving a sneak peek into the video.

Breaking Down Mr. DegrEE’s Thumbnail Success

Do you want to know Mr. DegrEE's YouTube thumbnail best practices? Let’s break it down:

1. The Power of Faces

Every thumbnail features expressive faces, making Mr. DegrEE YouTube thumbnails visually magnetic. Faces with strong emotions attract viewers, boosting engagement.

2. The Split-Image Technique

Using two or three split images in thumbnail designs adds visual interest. It gives viewers a quick snapshot of the video content and sparks curiosity.

3. Strategic Use of Emojis

Emojis quickly convey emotions and direct the viewer’s attention. An arrow might guide the eye across the YouTube video thumbnail, setting the tone for what’s to come.

4. Minimal Text

Mr. DegrEE keeps text minimal, letting the thumbnails do the talking. This approach ensures clean, digestible visuals.

5. Consistent Style

While the images vary, the overall style remains consistent. Viewers recognize Mr. DegrEE YouTube thumbnails instantly, helping to build brand recognition.

The Results Speak for Themselves

YouTube channel page for Mr. Degree, a comedy channel featuring most popular videos including views and release date.

The impact of good YouTube thumbnails is evident in Mr. DegrEE's latest uploads. Videos consistently rack up over 200K views, with some breaking the million-view mark thanks to well-crafted video thumbnails.

Lessons for Aspiring Content Creators

Faces Sell: Don’t hesitate to feature expressive faces front and center in your thumbnails.
Consistency is Key: A recognizable thumbnail style boosts brand awareness.
Show, Don’t Tell: Let the images and design elements do the heavy lifting. Keep text minimal and impactful.
Emotion Matters: Use images that evoke strong emotions.
Experiment: Like Mr. DegrEE, refine your approach over time.

Taking Your Thumbnails to the Next Level with Rizzle

'Features with Custom Thumbnail' written with carious image previews with repective feature names.

Now, you might be thinking, “This all sounds great, but I’m no graphic design wizard!” Well, that’s where Rizzle comes in. Rizzle's custom YouTube thumbnail maker feature helps you create professional YouTube thumbnails with just a few clicks.

With Rizzle, you can:

Premium Stock Images from Getty

Rizzle gives you access to millions of royalty-free images from Getty Images. Stand out with high-quality, professional visuals that make your thumbnails pop on any platform.

AI Predicts the Best Thumbnail

No more guessing! Rizzle’s AI analyzes your options and predicts which thumbnail will get the most clicks and views, helping you choose the top performer.

AI Speaker Detection

Automatically highlight key moments in your video. Rizzle’s AI identifies and features the speaker, ensuring your thumbnail captures the most important parts.

Smart AI Layouts

Rizzle’s AI Dynamic Layouts select the best frames and elements from your video to create striking thumbnails. Choose from multiple options that are designed to stand out.

Thousands of Templates

Need variety? Rizzle offers thousands of pre-designed templates tailored to different video styles, so you’re never short on fresh ideas.

Unlimited Regeneration

Keep tweaking until it’s perfect! Rizzle allows unlimited regeneration, giving you fresh thumbnails with new layouts and action shots every time.

The best part? Rizzle offers free YouTube thumbnail templates, giving you access to high quality thumbnails that look professionally designed. Whether you're creating thumbnails for your next YouTube video or social media posts, Rizzle's thumbnail maker ensures your videos grab attention.

Wrapping It Up

There you have it—Mr. DegrEE’s secret to YouTube thumbnail success. From basic thumbnails to a well-oiled engagement machine, their journey is a lesson in the power of high-quality thumbnails.

Remember, your YouTube thumbnails are more than just a cover for your videos. They tell a story, evoke emotion, and compel viewers to click. Whether you’re designing YouTube video thumbnails or video thumbnails for other platforms, tools like Rizzle make it easy to create eye-catching thumbnails that drive views.

Ready to give your thumbnails a makeover? Start exploring Rizzle's templates and make your YouTube videos stand out from the crowd!

No items found.

Vineet Naik

October 17, 2024