Kashyap is a 19-year-old thumbnail designer from India. He started designing thumbnails in 2025, but before that he was making his own content on YouTube — Shorts and documentaries about people. He loved making content, but it wasn't earning him anything, so he switched from content creation to thumbnail design.
Twitter (X) → x.com/Kashyap_Dgn
Instagram → instagram.com/kashyap_dgn
Behance → behance.net/chikitech
Featured design
Overview
Hi everyone. For this challenge I brainstormed a lot, but I just couldn't land on a strong idea. So I started scrolling Pinterest for inspiration, and I came across a Ben 10 poster of the Heatblast transformation. It hit me with a wave of nostalgia, and that's when the idea of combining Ben 10 with VR came to me.
Challenge brief
The Pinterest board that started it — Ben 10 Heatblast transformation art, plus a close-up of the Omnitrix I used for the watch design.
References
Editing
Here are the full editing steps, kept simple.
First I generated a custom background with AI. This sets the whole mood and becomes the base layer everything else is built on.
Then I took a 3D hand model and placed it over the background, matching the angle and lighting carefully so it sat in the scene naturally.
I converted that 3D hand into a photorealistic human hand, then added the Ben 10 Omnitrix onto the wrist for the nostalgic touch.
Steps 1-3: AI background plus the raw 3D hand model (top), composited together with the Omnitrix added (middle), then converted into a photorealistic hand with the green energy running through it (bottom).
I placed a VR headset in POV style, so it feels like you're seeing the whole scene through the wearer's own eyes.
Once the visual was locked in, I added the text overlay — sized and positioned to grab attention without covering anything important.
Last step: I added a transform and distortion effect around the hand and watch to give it that extra dynamic pop.
Steps 4-6: The scene dropped inside the VR headset for the POV look (top), the text and HUD elements added (middle), and the final version with the Heatblast lava transformation burning across the arm (bottom).
Unlayered
Workstation
Hardware
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD
Display: 15.6" Full HD (1920x1080)
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
OS: Windows 11
Weight: ~1.6 kg
Tools
Communication: Discord
Editing: Affinity Photo (free)
AI: Gemini, ChatGPT
How did you get into thumbnail design?
I got into thumbnail design because I was fascinated by YouTube and wanted to learn how visuals influence clicks and storytelling.
What do you enjoy most about making thumbnails?
I enjoy turning simple ideas into visuals that instantly grab attention and tell a story.
What's the hardest or most frustrating part?
The hardest part is balancing creativity with performance — making a thumbnail that looks great and gets clicks.
Best thumbnail you've ever made?
The glass effect catches the eye straight away, and the close-up shot breaks the viewer's scrolling pattern easily. That's why I love it.
Best thumbnail you've ever seen?
The thumbnail is very creative and the colour choices are so good.
If you found this edition of Unlayered helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who might benefit from this workflow too! 💙