Fig 1. SXU 2026 TEKKEN8 - Top 8

Fig 2. SXU 2026 SF6 - Top 16

Fig 3. SXU 2025 TEKKEN 8 - Top 8

Graphic Design

(Nov’26)

SXU 2026 VOD Thumbnails

For Standing Fierce

While most, if not all graphics aim to grab a viewer’s attention, YouTube thumbnails present an interesting problem where designers must account for the size of their graphic relative to the rest of the UI, and in turn compete against other designs by means of exaggerating the contrast, proportion and saturation of the elements in their thumbnails. Having worked on the VOD thumbnails for Southern Cross Up (SXU) in 2025, I felt that I was blindsided by the specifications imposed by the medium and ended up creating a somewhat bland design. As such, I wanted to experiment with how I could create something visually interesting without forgetting practical intent. I designed the initial template with a few samples from EVO and TNS in mind - two patterns I noticed were the prevalence of centre-aligned elements and saturated, coloured borders. The former prevents information from being blocked off by UI elements like duration indicators, while the latter provides effective contrast for otherwise low-key graphics. I used these patterns in conjunction with a linear gradient and accent strokes to replicate the colour schemes of each game, adding an extra layer of visual communication to the viewer to overcome restrictions in thumbnail size. I think pushing the limits on such a restrictive medium made for a very interesting design exercise. When I was discussing the design with Ethan (Zer0Warc), he brought up the point of whether we were doing too much with the serif font and overall styling. I fully understood where he was coming from - it was a clear departure from our design from last year and might not suit everyone’s tastes. However, I felt that it was a design that gave SXU 2026 its own unique identity relative to contemporary tournaments that opt for bold, sans-serif fonts. We iterated on the design a few times afterwards, but ended up settling on the original, as we felt the trade-off in legibility was worth it to create something unique. As a designer, I believe it’s imperative that we go along with the client’s goals and intent, but we should also strive to provide our informed opinion to create the best work possible.