Redwan Belagha, better known as Red1, is a 20-year-old professional YouTube thumbnail designer from Algeria, currently studying dentistry. His design journey began at the age of 14, when he started making Minecraft tutorials on YouTube and needed thumbnails for his videos. Learning Photoshop for that purpose sparked his passion for graphic design and especially for Youtube thumbnails.
During COVID, Red1 reignited that passion with a clear goal to create something for his favorite YouTubers. He began working with creators across the Middle East, where his dedication and creativity helped him collaborate with some of the region’s biggest names and leading creative direction of Youtube thumbnails in content creation teams.
Beyond thumbnails, Red1 has always loved creating visually and manually whether through digital art or craftsmanship — a passion that connects both his work in graphic design and his studies in dentistry. Red1 is available for hire.
Twitter (X) → x.com/Red1Thumb
YT Jobs → ytjobs.co/@red1blgh
Featured design
Brief
The video titled “I Tried Luxury Versions of Everyday Places” initially had a concept featuring a split screen, with a fancy restaurant on the left and luxury hotels on the right.
However, I suggested changing the direction, since split-screen compositions work best when there’s a clear contrast. For example, “Cheap vs. Luxurious” – rather than comparing two similar high-end settings.
We decided instead to focus on one activity and showcase how it could be taken to the next, more luxurious level, creating a more engaging and visually cohesive thumbnail concept.
Initial Concept
Main Concept
I suggested this concept to highlight the luxurious experience of being front-seated with premium treatment while watching a movie, capturing the essence of comfort, exclusivity, and high-end enjoyment.
Inspiration
Rough Sketch
Editing process
Base: Using the rough sketch as a foundation, I began by working on the background, generating references from Freepik to find the most suitable scene – one that featured comfortable, empty seats to subtly convey a sense of exclusivity and “not affordable” luxury.
Subject: For the subject, I made sure to keep Ethan as clean and dominant as possible, occupying a strong portion of the thumbnail for visual impact. I created a custom suit for him by combining Photoshop editing, AI upscaling tools from Freepik, and seamless blending techniques to achieve a polished, realistic look.
Colors: Color is one of the most underrated elements in thumbnails. It plays a huge role in communicating the idea effectively. Initially, I tried a purple suit with gold snacks, but it didn’t complement the red seats well. After some experimentation, I swapped the palette to blue for the suit and yellow for Ethan’s seat, creating strong contrast against the red VIP seats in the background. The final color harmony of red, blue, and yellow gave the design the perfect balance and visual pop.
Final Touches: In the final phase, I refined and blended Ethan seamlessly with the environment. I added a blue light flare to simulate a film premiere atmosphere, and applied a lens blur to draw focus toward Ethan.
To ensure the best result, I created 11 different versions for A/B testing, which Ethan was genuinely excited about!
Workstation
Workstation Items
Main monitor: MSI G244F 165Hz 24″
Second monitor: ASUS VG24VQER 24″ 180HZ CURVED
Mic: FIFINE USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone
Headset: Casque Bluetooth W35 Max
Mouse: Razer DeathAdder V2 Mini
Keyboard: HAVIT GAMING KB885L MECANIQUE
Computer Specs
Graphics card: Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GAMING 8GB
RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB RS 32GB (2x16GB)
Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (3.4 GHz / 4.6 GHz) - Version tray.
Motherboard: ASUS PRIME B550M-K ARGB
Case: Case Xigmatek Endorphin Ultra White
Internal storage: SSD M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe HIKSEMI FUTURE 1024GB
Cooling: MSI MAG CORELIQUID E240 White
Tools
1. What’s the story behind the name “Red1”?
The name Red1 comes from shortening my real name, Red One, which sounds like Red Wan. I’ve always liked the color red; it feels bold and unique, so over time it became my brand and part of my identity.
2. How do you balance your studies and your design work?
Balancing dental school with design was never easy, but it motivated me. My studies are hands-on and intense, so designing thumbnails became my way to relax. I even bought a laptop just to take to college so I could work between classes. It helped me stay creative while studying something completely different. Having a secure plan and a diploma in your pocket is always better than having nothing.
3. What does thumbnail design mean to you personally?
Thumbnail design honestly changed my life. Working on something I enjoy, with people I look up to, in such a positive community feels special. I’ve lost count of how millions of millions of people have seen my work, and that’s the best part, knowing it reaches so many people without needing to show my face.
4. What’s your take on the future of thumbnail design?
I think thumbnail design EXCUTION will become even easier in the next few years thanks to AI. But when that happens, creators will start looking for people who can come up with strong ideas " Ideators / Conceptualizers " , not just people who can edit. That’s why I believe theory and creativity matter more than technical skills. Even if your execution isn’t perfect, a great concept can still make your thumbnail stand out.
5. What does your process look like?
I always start by asking the right questions about the strategy my client is going for and what might be holding back their growth. Once I understand that, we move into the ideation phase, brainstorming concepts and picking the strongest one. Then comes execution, which usually takes to 1-2 hours. I always make sure to take a short break or get some fresh air if I start feeling drained; it helps me stay creative and focused.
6. How did you train yourself as a thumbnail designer?
Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but real growth happens when you push yourself to try new things. I explored different niches like 3D, gaming, sports, Kids Content and IRL. Each one taught me how to approach design from a new angle and connect with different audiences. That’s how I learned to solve creative problems and improve my overall style.
7. What’s one tip you’d give to new thumbnail designers?
Create more and consume more. Don’t just look at thumbnails, look at all kinds of design. Scroll through YouTube every day and break down what makes each thumbnail work. Ask yourself how they made it and why it looks good. Keep your inspiration folder full and never be afraid to ask for help. Join design communities like Thumbnails 101, people there are always happy to share advice and feedback.
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