Surviving the Arctic

This thumbnail was designed for a 14-hour Arctic survival challenge video, where click-through rate (CTR) was critical to success. I crafted the composition around intense emotion and storytelling — placing the subject's shocked face front and center, paired with a roaring polar bear and concerned penguin to instantly trigger curiosity.

The dramatic lighting, cool-toned color grading, and crisp separation from the background ensure it stands out on YouTube’s busy feed. The bold “Hour #14” adds urgency and encourages viewers to wonder what happened next.

✅ Result: This design helped the creator achieve a 15–20% higher CTR compared to previous uploads, proving that high-concept thumbnails can convert clicks without clickbait.