What is a thumbnail brief, and how do I write one?
A thumbnail brief is a form where you describe what you want from the image before it is designed: the concept, where the subject sits, the emotion, and what the text should do. Only the brief title is required; everything else is optional. It can be linked to a script, a project and a scheduled publish. Available on every plan, with Free allowing one brief and the paid plans unlimited.
The fields
Only the brief title is required. Everything else is optional, and each field takes up to five thousand characters:
- Concept: what the image says at a glance.
- Subject placement: where the person or object sits in the frame.
- Emotion: the expression or feeling wanted.
- Text direction: what goes on the image, and where.
A brief can also be linked to a script, a project and a scheduled publish.
Why write one at all
Because "make me a nice thumbnail" is not an instruction. A written brief turns what is in your head into something that can be executed, reviewed and disagreed with before it is designed rather than after.
Working with a designer, the difference between a brief and a phone call is the difference between one revision and three.
Limits
| Plan | Briefs |
|---|---|
| Free | 1 |
| Creator | Unlimited |
| Pro | Unlimited |
| Studio | Unlimited |
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Last updated 15 August 2026