From short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels to interactive data visuals and connected TV ads, today’s internet user is surrounded by catchy visuals designed to grab attention. Add to this the emergence of new traffic channels and intense competition, and you have the perfect recipe for a tough market.
So does this mean you’re just going to give up?
Things have always been tough, one way or another. Yet, people have always made room in their lives for well-designed brands that are willing to walk the extra mile for their audience.
In today's climate, that extra mile may mean finding new ways to capture customers with clever visuals that leave a lasting impression. This starts with strong foundational elements like logo design, which is the cornerstone of your visual identity across all channels.
Stick with us until the end to learn how to use the talents of high-end designers to make your brand pop, regardless of channel.
Connected TV & OTT Ads
Think TV is dead? Not even close.
Connected TV (CTV) and OTT (Over-The-Top) platforms are booming as viewers cut the cable cord but binge more than ever. Digital advertising spending is expected to grow by 7.3% this year, with CTV grabbing a big slice of that pie.
The trick with CTV visuals is to forget long-winded commercials. Your ad design needs to grab attention in the first five seconds, or viewers will skip it. Think bold colors, clean animations, and a visual story that hooks before the sound even kicks in.
This is where you need a professional graphic designer’s input, as they can create storyboards, motion graphics, and sleek transitions.
Short-Form Social Media Videos
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Short-form content thrives on energy. Vertical videos, quick cuts, AR effects, on-screen captions; everything needs to scream “watch me” without feeling forced.
The only way to stand out in this speed-fueled world is with visually striking templates. It may sound impossible, but other brands have done it, and quite successfully, we might add. So yes, you can do it as well.
All you need is a good design team that knows how to choose the right color palettes, overlay styles, and put together snappy animations. Besides jaw-dropping visuals, the main secret to a thumb-stopping design is how it makes people relate and connect.
Pro tip: Even on TikTok, SEO matters. Use a keyword rank checker to find trending hashtags or search terms your audience is already looking for. A video that’s eye-catching, relevant, and strategically optimized is far more likely to find its way to the For You Page.
Search and Interactive Data Visuals
Search results, especially in popular engines like Google or Bing, have changed several times over the last couple of decades.
From simple lists of blue links organized based on keywords to featured snippets and images to today’s AI-generated search results, we’ve come a long way. Nowadays, you can’t be in the top 10 results in SERP without proper visuals, good text structure, and well-researched facts.
And it’s not just about polished images anymore either. Both search engines and users want visuals that help them see the story behind the data. Graphic elements like interactive dashboards and eye-catching infographics that change dynamically are the tea nowadays.
Let’s take the example of a debt relief company. The people who need these services are actively looking for solutions to their mounting financial obligations (credit card debt, medical bills, or loans).
They don’t want glamorous pictures or fancy graphic elements that don’t convey any value. Still, this doesn’t mean the company can’t use visuals to catch users’ and Google’s attention.
Instead of posting a wall of text about “how to get out of debt,” they could design an infographic that shows a step-by-step 5-year debt reduction journey. It’s shareable, digestible, and builds trust.
Audio Ads and Podcasts
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Audio ads and podcasts are thriving, with podcast ad revenue projected to hit $4.4 billion globally this year. With over 584 million podcast listeners worldwide, few brands can afford to ignore this niche.
But why do visuals matter in an exclusively audio environment?
Well, there’s more to a podcast than talking and listening. You can grab people’s attention with amazing cover art and episode thumbnails. When people scroll apps like Audible, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts looking for something new to listen to, you want your visuals to grab them by the eyeballs.
Plus, you can clone your voice for consistency across formats, and use the visuals on social media to promote a collaboration with a famous podcaster or create visual extensions of audio campaigns (such as branded audiograms or animated soundbites).
A high-end graphic designer can craft podcast artwork or video snippets that make listeners curious enough to click.
Organic Social and Brand Storytelling
Organic social isn’t dead; it just demands more effort (and way more creativity). Modern audiences crave authenticity and novelty, but also want to know the story behind your brand.
A good example of how visuals can help share an authentic brand story comes from Stairhopper Movers.
Source: Stairhopper Movers’ Instagram account
Adrian Iorga, the company's founder and president, said, “We realized that people don’t just want to see trucks and moving boxes; they want to see the people behind the work. By sharing video testimonials from clients, short-form clips of our team in action, and visuals that show our journey, we’ve connected with our audience in a way that static ads never could.”
Visual storytelling can become the bridge connecting a brand with audiences worldwide. These organic posts often become shareable stories, creating emotional connections that paid ads can’t replicate.
However, you still need the magical touch of a professional designer to keep the visuals in line with the branding. Also, consistency is key. A designer can create a cohesive visual language (fonts, colors, templates) that keeps your content instantly recognizable across platforms.
Organic storytelling is your chance to build brand loyalty slowly, meaningfully. Done right, it makes your paid campaigns even more effective because people already trust your voice and visuals. Integrating it into a market penetration strategy can help expand your reach while strengthening customer relationships.
Emails and Newsletters
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Every couple of years, you hear something on the lines of “Email is dead, there’s no reason to include it in your marketing budget moving forward.”
Yet, even in the age of AI, email marketing remains one of the highest ROI channels, with $36 earned for every $1 spent. But there’s the catch: your emails/newsletters must be visually appealing (and create value, of course).
Just text won’t do the job these days. You must use custom-designed visuals to grab attention and guide readers through your message.
Here are a few graphic elements that can boost your open email rate:
- Bold, branded header graphics that instantly show your identity.
- Illustrated CTAs that pop off the page.
- GIFs or micro-animations that add personality without slowing load times.
A great designer can make these components look clean, on-brand, and mobile-friendly.
Wrap Up
Whether you focus on new channels, stick with the old ones, or practice a healthy mixture of the two, the secret to standing out is exceptional design. A sharp visual identity captures attention and builds credibility in a sea of generic content.
In today’s fast-moving digital landscape, the brands that win are those that pair strategy with creativity and execute both flawlessly. So, if you’re ready to bring your brand to life, check out DesignCrowd’s talented designers and start creating visuals that truly resonate with your audience!
Original Artwork by Khim John Blazo
Written by DesignCrowd on Thursday, August 14, 2025
DesignCrowd is an online marketplace providing logo, website, print and graphic design services by providing access to freelance graphic designers and design studios around the world.
