cover-design
Use when designing Xiaohongshu post thumbnails or first images, creating eye-catching cover images, improving click-through rates, or A/B testing cover designs
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Install
Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.
npx skills add https://github.com/vivy-yi/xiaohongshu-skills --skill cover-design- 01
Install
Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.
- 02
Describe the task
Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads cover-design automatically when relevant.
- 03
Review the result
The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.
SKILL.md
The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.
Cover Design (封面设计)
Overview
Cover design is creating compelling first images (thumbnails) that grab attention in feed, entice users to click, and set expectations for your content - the single most important factor for content discovery on Xiaohongshu.
When to Use
Use when:
- Creating cover image for carousel posts
- Designing video thumbnails
- Optimizing click-through rates
- A/B testing cover designs
- Improving content visibility
Do NOT use when:
- Editing full photo set (use xingtu-tool)
- Designing complex graphics (use canva-tool)
Core Pattern
Before (boring cover):
❌ Plain product photo
❌ Small or no text
❌ Low contrast
❌ Doesn't stand out in feed
❌ Unclear what content is about
After (click-worthy cover):
✅ Bold headline text
✅ High contrast colors
✅ Clear subject or product
✅ Intriguing or promising
✅ Sets clear expectations
5 Cover Design Elements:
- Hook Text - Bold headline (3-5 words)
- Visual - High-quality image or subject
- Colors - High contrast, eye-catching
- Composition - Clear focal point
- Branding - Consistent style
Quick Reference
| Cover Type | Text Style | Color Scheme | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial | "How to..." / "5 Ways" | Bright, warm | Educational |
| Review | Product + verdict | Clean, professional | Trust |
| Listicle | "7 Things..." | Colorful, fun | Curiosity |
| Before-After | Split comparison | Dramatic contrast | Transformation |
| Secret/Tip | "Nobody tells you..." | Mysterious, dark | Curiosity |
Implementation
Step 1: Write Hook Headline
Effective hooks:
- Number: "5个..."
- Promise: "让我...的方法"
- Curiosity: "没想到..."
- Negative: "别再...了"
- Question: "你知道吗...?"
Examples:
- ✅ "学生党必看: 5个平价好物"
- ✅ "坚持30天,变化惊呆"
- ✅ "这个习惯毁了皮肤"
Step 2: Choose or Create Visual
Visual options:
- Product photo (clean background)
- Portrait (face to camera)
- Before/after side-by-side
- Flat lay or overhead shot
- Lifestyle action shot
Requirements:
- High resolution (1080x1440+)
- Good lighting (bright or dramatic)
- Clear subject (not cluttered)
- Vertical format (3:4 or 4:5)
Step 3: Add Text Overlay
Text principles:
- Size: Large (30%+ of image height)
- Font: Bold, sans-serif
- Color: White text with black outline OR black text with white glow
- Position: Top or center third
- Contrast: High contrast against background
Tools:
- Xingtu (醒图) - Text templates
- Canva - Custom design
- Meitu (美图秀秀) - Quick text
Step 4: Apply Color and Effects
Color strategies:
- Warm tones: Coral, orange, yellow (energetic)
- Cool tones: Blue, teal, purple (calm, professional)
- High contrast: Bright against dark background
Effects (subtle):
- Slight vignette (focus center)
- Color boost (vibrant colors)
- Brightness +10 to +15
Avoid:
- Heavy filters that distort reality
- Too many effects (cluttered)
- Low contrast (hard to read)
Step 5: Test and Iterate
A/B test variations:
- Different headline text
- Different colors
- Different layouts
- Different images
Measure: Click-through rate (views/impressions)
Common Mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Text too small | Use large, bold text |
| Low contrast | High contrast = readable |
| Too much text | 3-5 words max |
| Cluttered design | Keep simple, clear focal point |
| Misleading cover | Cover must match content |
Real-World Impact
Great covers: 2-3x click-through rate Poor covers: <100 views despite great content
Key metric: Cover is 80% of content success.
Related Skills:
- REQUIRED: graphic-content-creation (cover is first image)
- REQUIRED: title-writing (cover text = headline)
- xingtu-tool (add text overlays)
- canva-tool (design custom covers)
FAQ
What does the cover-design skill do?
Use when designing Xiaohongshu post thumbnails or first images, creating eye-catching cover images, improving click-through rates, or A/B testing cover designs
How do I install cover-design?
Run npx skills add https://github.com/vivy-yi/xiaohongshu-skills --skill cover-design in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/cover-design/ (personal) or .claude/skills/cover-design/ (project).
Which AI agents can use cover-design?
Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.
Is cover-design safe to install?
No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.
Who maintains cover-design?
It is published by vivy-yi in vivy-yi/xiaohongshu-skills. It has 280 recorded installs.
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