Past research into how people consume news on social media reveals important insights for designing attention-grabbing visuals. In this context, attention capture refers to the moment when the brain focuses on one stimulus over others, giving it priority and devoting more cognitive energy to it (Öhman et al., 2001).

Given the sheer volume of content competing for attention in social feeds, users naturally filter out information they perceive as unimportant (Pentina et al., 2015).

Broadbent’s Filter Model suggests that people prioritize sensory input based on physical characteristics such as color, motion, and contrast.

In practical terms, this means that posts with bold color palettes, high-contrast elements, or subtle animations are more likely to break through the noise (McLeod, 2023). For example, a news outlet might use a bright red banner for breaking news alerts on Instagram Stories, or a short looping GIF to highlight a key statistic.

Typography also plays a role in visual attention. A 2016 study found that

larger font sizes are linked to longer eye fixations, suggesting that oversized headlines or clear text overlays can significantly improve a post’s stopping power.

This is why platforms like The New York Times use large, bold headlines in their Instagram carousels — not only for readability, but also to visually signal importance at a glance. For brands, this might mean making the headline in a news graphic take up at least one-third of the design space, ensuring it remains legible on mobile screens.

Eye-tracking studies reinforce the link between visual design and engagement.

Research by Vraga et al. (2019) found that attention to social and political news often starts with the design itself rather than the headline or caption. This suggests that the imagery you choose — whether it’s a powerful photograph, an infographic, or a branded template — should be compelling enough to make viewers stop before they’ve read a word. For example, an advocacy group posting about environmental policy might lead with a striking aerial shot of deforestation rather than a plain-text statement.

More recently, Sunarso et al. (2023) concluded that visual content is essential for driving engagement, strengthening brand recognition, supporting storytelling, and boosting web traffic. In practice, this means maintaining a consistent visual style across all posts — from colors and fonts to layout and iconography — so that your audience can instantly identify your content in a crowded feed. A lifestyle brand, for example, might always use the same filter style on Instagram images and pair it with a recognizable corner logo, ensuring both familiarity and professionalism.

The research is clear: design choices can make or break your post’s visibility and engagement. Here’s how to put those findings into practice.

Use Bold Colors and High Contrast to Stand Out

Your audience’s brain is scanning for visual cues that signal “pay attention.” Bright colors, strong contrast, and motion are proven to catch the eye.

How to apply it:

• Choose one or two brand colors that pop in the feed and use them consistently.

• Increase contrast between text and background for maximum readability.

• Add subtle animations or motion graphics for short-form video and Stories.

Example:
BBC News uses a bold red breaking news banner across both static and video formats, ensuring their updates cut through a busy feed.

Make Headlines Large Enough to Read on Mobile

Large font sizes don’t just improve legibility — they extend how long someone’s eyes linger on your post.

How to apply it:

• Keep mobile screens in mind: headlines should be readable without zooming.

• Limit headline length to 5–8 words for quick recognition.

• Use bold or semi-bold weights for clarity.

Example:
The New York Times Instagram carousels often feature large, all-caps headlines that take up one-third of the image space, ensuring the main message is clear even before the caption is read.

Lead With a Compelling Visual, Not Just Text

Eye-tracking studies show people notice imagery before reading a single word. Your main visual should tell part of the story.

How to apply it:

• Choose a lead image that reflects the emotional tone or main takeaway of your post.

• Use photography, illustrations, or infographics that work even without text.

• Avoid overloading visuals with too many competing elements.

Example:
National Geographic often uses a single, powerful photograph in the first frame of a carousel post, drawing people in before sharing details in later slides.

Design With Relevance in Mind

Even strong visuals won’t hold attention if they don’t feel relevant to the audience.

How to apply it:

• Match your design style to your audience’s tastes and the platform’s culture.

• Incorporate seasonal colors, trending visual formats, or topical imagery.

• Keep testing different styles to see which resonate most.

Example:
During major sports events, ESPN adapts its regular templates to include event-specific colors and iconography, making the content feel timely and connected to the moment.

Keep Your Visual Branding Consistent

Attention capture is step one — recognition is step two. Consistency builds trust and makes your posts easier to identify.

How to apply it:

• Use the same color palette, typography, and layout structure across posts.

• Create reusable templates to save time and keep designs on-brand.

• Add a small, unobtrusive logo or brand mark to each graphic.

Example:
HubSpot itself uses a distinct orange accent, clean typography, and consistent spacing in all its social graphics, making the content instantly recognizable.

Final Takeaway

Attention on social media is fleeting — but research shows you can boost your chances by combining striking visuals, bold typography, relevant design choices, and consistent branding. Every post is an opportunity to both stop the scroll and build recognition, so treat your design decisions as part of your content strategy, not just decoration.

If you want to put these best practices into action faster, Media Gridz’s dynamic templates make it easy to design scroll-stopping posts in minutes. Our templates are built with attention-capturing principles in mind — so you can focus on your content while the design works behind the scenes.

Need something truly unique? We also create custom templates tailored to your brand, audience, and visual style.
📩 Contact us here to start designing visuals your audience can’t ignore.