It's so important to make your podcast stand out from the rest. And one of the best ways to do that is by having great artwork. In this article, we’ll unpack what makes good podcast artwork, as well as some tips and tricks for creating an aesthetic that accurately represents your show. Whether you're starting from scratch or simply need to give your current artwork a new lease of life, read on for Acast's ultimate guide.

How to create engaging podcast artwork

Your artwork needs to be captivating to attract potential listeners as they're searching for their new favorite show. With so many podcasts competing for their attention, your podcast graphics need to stand out.

Make sure your artwork is both high quality and visually appealing. If you're using illustration, perhaps consider inviting an artist to help create something special. Conduct some research around different styles of illustration and find one that suits the tone of your show. For example, if your show is light-hearted you can lean into more playful styles. However, if you're taking things a bit more seriously, you might want to find an illustration style that's a little more subdued.

If your personal brand is important to your podcast, you might want to lead with photography. Could you employ a photographer to take professional headshots? It'll make all the difference and immediately validate your show — especially if it's brand new. Without exploring on social media, it’s the only visual reference that new listeners will have for you.

And remember that color matters. For example, a comedy podcast is unlikely to strike the right tone with darker shades. Similarly, if you're venturing into true crime, it probably doesn't warrant including every shade of the rainbow.

Don't forget: every podcast artwork needs a font

There are a few things to consider when selecting the right font for your show. Again, you need to set the right tone. You don't want to use a font that feels a bit 'out there' for a serious news-based show, for example.

You also need to make sure the name of your show is legible and easy to read. You want potential listeners to be able to see your title and get a sense of what your podcast is about immediately.

What about podcast artwork sizes?

In terms of size, podcast artwork should be at least 1400x1400 pixels and no larger than 512KB. This will ensure that your artwork looks great on all devices and won't get cut off when someone is viewing it on their phone.

Podcast artwork that strikes the right tone

As the world's leading independent podcast company, we're fortunate to see a huge number of amazing pieces of podcast artwork across all genres. Here are a few that we think set the tone perfectly.

The Adam Buxton Podcast

The tone of Adam’s show is usually lighthearted, as he embarks on conversational rambles with guests. The artwork here demonstrates this informal tone through an illustrated expression, bright colors and a playful font.

The illustration isn’t too obtuse, and is very obviously Adam Buxton, to encourage those who recognise him to stop scrolling and tune in.

The Last Laugh

Communicating comedy through color and bold typography, it’s clear what the content of this podcast will be. 

The microphone intersecting the elevated three dimensional font helps to create the language of a comedy stage, indicating that the guests will be comedians and stage performers.

Revolutions

Once more, the theme is made very clear from the outset with this artwork. It’s clear that this podcast is a history/education-based show.

The font is interesting here, as it doesn’t fit with the tone of the picture. Rather, it juxtaposes it, creating a bold and eye-catching contradiction that represents a modern take on the topics the podcast unpacks.

Squiggly Careers

We’ve selected this artwork to hero the very apt, free-flowing fonts that spell the name of the show.

The podcast also makes use of high quality photography to allow people to become quickly familiar with the voices behind the show.

Based on the colored background, expressions and typeface, we can expect a lighthearted take on career development from Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper.

This artwork plays into a very physical aspect of the subject matter - while keeping the name of the show and the presenters clear and easy to read - which can be a hard balance to strike. From this attention to detail, in conjunction with the names of two very well-known comedians, we would expect witty and detailed football-based commentary.

If this article has inspired you to think more deeply about your podcast artwork, take a look at Acast’s roster of amazing, unique voices. You can find a huge range of podcast artwork to help you make your creative mark.