Artistic design has become one of the most crucially important features in the modern entertainment industry. This is thanks to the rise of online libraries for everything from television to games. People are likely to make snap judgments about the pictures they see on the thumbnails in front of them and, if these designs don’t immediately grab the attention, the entertainment choice stands to lose out to a rival. Online entertainment providers need to be aware of just how important first impressions are, and design their offerings accordingly.
Audience Attention is More Discriminating Than Ever
There has been a vast amount of research into whether people’s attention spans are getting shorter, with some studies suggesting that the average human is nine seconds. However, others have been quick to point out that it is a vague statistic and something that isn’t perfectly measurable anyway.
Perhaps what is more likely is that the modern generation of internet users have much more selective attention than those who existed twenty years ago. What all researchers can agree on, though, is that online businesses and entertainment options only have a limited amount of time to grab someone’s attention before they move on to something else.
Users Know They Have an Abundance of Choice
The fact that there is just so much out there to choose from has led to this need for online businesses to capture audience attention instantly. Users are well aware of the abundance of choice in every industry. One of the biggest factors towards this has been the library model in entertainment, which was made famous by Netflix. This involves users scrolling through long lists of films and television shows, looking for one that catches their eye. The picture used here is so important, as it needs to stand out from all the others on the list.
Netflix has inspired numerous other streaming services, and the concept has also spilt over to gaming as well. Online casinos have been using this model for some time, as it is the best way to display the vast lists of games on offer. This is especially true for slots, where abundant choice is the best way to pull in players. At Vegasslotsonline there are hundreds of games to choose from, and developers probably have less than a second to capture players’ attention. This is why the thumbnails need to be bright, colourful, and instantly appealing. Some examples of this can be seen with offerings like Starburst, which has large font and multiple colours, and Mega Moolah, which also has bold writing and a scattering of gold coins in the image.
The library model is set to become ubiquitous in other sections of the gaming industry in the years ahead. This is thanks to the rise of cloud-based subscription services on consoles and PC. Options like Google Stadia allow players to pay a monthly fee to have access to a wealth of games, rather than having to buy individual titles. This means that players will spend less time deliberating on what they are going to play, knowing that they are not making a large investment for that game. With this in mind, developers need their titles to stand out, and this will all come down to the design of the thumbnails shown on screen.
How Important is The Design of The Thumbnail?
Because of the seemingly endless options on offer in the entertainment industry, the design of the thumbnail of a film, television series, game, or YouTube video is so important. It needs to serve multiple purposes if possible. This includes an image that is going to catch the eye of users immediately, a brief description in some cases, the name, and something that conveys the genre.
Going back to the slot game example, it seems that developers here have managed to master the art of incorporating these things into a tiny square on a screen. Book of Dead, for instance, shows a picture of a rugged explorer, a striking gold artefact, and a background of ancient tombs. It also has the name of the game in large, visible writing. From this, players can easily gather that it is an adventure offering set in Ancient Egypt.
Film posters need to give viewers the facts they need to sway their decision as to whether they want to watch. This includes names of popular actors or directors or a reference to a famous title from the same filmmaker. When it comes to thumbnails on streaming platforms, however, there is even less room available for these things. Therefore, designers need to be selective in what they show. Superhero offerings on Netflix are a good example of making use of limited space. For example, the Spider-man titles show the hero pitted against the main villain in each film.
There is no doubt that first impressions count when it comes to modern entertainment. Designers of thumbnails have a split second to capture the attention of users, who are well aware that they have a lot of options to choose from. Those who can master these designs will enjoy success in the modern age.
