How to find good podcast cover art
Your podcast cover art is a thumbnail-sized first impression next to thousands of others. Keep it simple, readable on a phone, and on-brand.
Specs: at least 1400 x 1400 pixels, JPG, under 500kb. Apple recommends 3000 x 3000 but those files are heavy and cause RSS feed issues — go smaller.
It'll almost always be viewed as a thumbnail on a phone, so don't cram small text. The only text on there should ideally be your podcast name. Simpler is better — your title covering most of the space, your brand colours, a background image or small illustration.
Canva is free and has podcast logo templates. Or hire a freelancer on Fiverr. A designer's real benefit is helping you encapsulate your branding.
Cover art is like choosing a name. Balance descriptiveness, cleverness, and quirkiness — and make it still work at thumbnail size.
Write a cover-art brief
Three fields. Whether you DIY this in Canva or hand it to a freelancer, the brief is the same.