Rocket League/Gaming YouTube Thumbnail Designer (Long-term Opportunity)

I'm looking for a talented YouTube thumbnail designer to potentially work with me long-term on my Rocket League gaming channel. This first project will be a paid test thumbnail for an upcoming video: *“GC With No Boost vs. GOLD With Rumble”* If we work well together and the results are strong, I'm looking for someone who can consistently make thumbnails for future uploads. The concept is simple: I'm a Grand Champion Rocket League player, but I can't use any boost. I'm playing against a Gold-ranked player with no handicaps, and he gets access to Rumble power-ups. The video tests whether the massive mechanical/rank advantage of a GC is enough to overcome that handicap. The thumbnail should make someone understand that conflict almost instantly. What I'm Looking For The biggest priority is clickability and clarity at a small size. It needs to communicate a compelling idea in roughly a second. For this video, the core visual story is: GC / high-level player → NO BOOST vs. GOLD / lower-level player → RUMBLE POWER I'm specifically interested in designers who can communicate ideas visually instead of relying on lots of text. Thumbnail Philosophy I'm looking for: * One immediately understandable visual idea * Strong contrast and composition * Clear visual hierarchy * Large, readable subjects * Emotion, tension, or curiosity * Rocket League cars/ball/action that feel dynamic rather than like random gameplay screenshots * Minimal text - preferably none unless it genuinely improves the concept * A thumbnail that still works when viewed very small * Professional image manipulation/compositing rather than simply placing screenshots next to each other The channel's visual identity leans toward a **dark green/black base with high contrast, motion, and some glitch/energy elements**, but clickability is more important than forcing every brand element into the image. Creative Freedom I'm hiring a thumbnail designer because I want someone who understands YouTube packaging and can bring their own ideas to the table. I'll provide the video concept, title options, and additional context. From there, I want you to think about: “What image would make a Rocket League viewer NEED to know who wins this?” Feel free to pitch a completely different composition if you believe it would perform better. Style / Audience The channel is built around entertaining Rocket League challenge videos with: * Fast pacing * Comedy * Skill * Personality * Clear challenges/stakes * Strong storytelling * High viewer retention The target audience is primarily Rocket League players and gaming viewers who enjoy challenge-based content. The video itself has a more personality-driven, entertaining feel. Paid Test This first thumbnail will be a paid test. When applying, please include: 1. Your portfolio or 3–5 thumbnails that best represent your YouTube work 2. Any gaming thumbnails you've made, especially if you've worked with Rocket League or similar games 3. Your price for this test thumbnail 4. Your normal turnaround time 5. Your availability for ongoing work 6. A sentence or two describing how you might approach **“GC With No Boost vs. GOLD With Rumble”** You do not need to create a free sample. I'm much more interested in seeing your existing work and how you think about the concept. Long-Term Opportunity I'm looking for someone I can build a consistent workflow with rather than finding a new designer for every upload. If you're someone who understands that a YouTube thumbnail is a marketing asset first and artwork second, I'd love to see your work. **Please include the word “OCTANE” somewhere in your application so I know you read the full post.**