It seems that Google wants to redesign NotebookLM to make messy projects and text-heavy notebooks cleaner and more visually appealing.
A new visual customization feature currently in testing suggests the AI-powered tool will feel more personal. It helps you organize your notebooks visually and makes it easier to navigate notes, diaries and journals.
According to Testing Catalog, Google is experimenting with custom banner images for individual notebooks in NotebookLM. The change would give each notebook a clear visual identity and help users quickly distinguish them from one another instead of scrolling through pages that all look the same.
Upcoming customization features on Google NotebookLM
The Custom Banner feature introduces a dedicated header section at the top of each notebook. Instead of the current layout where the title is immediately followed by the source count, NotebookLM may soon break this out into a separate header section.
In the new design, the notebook title appears above a banner image, making it easier to recognize at first glance. As shown in the image, there is a “Customize” button on the right side of the header that allows users to add images stored on their device or in the cloud. It gives each notebook a visual cue that fits its purpose or tone.
However, it remains unclear whether users will be able to add their own banner images or whether Google will let its Nano Banana AI generate visuals based on the contents of a notebook.
Google also adds more context to this header. The notebook’s creation date is displayed just below the title, next to the number of sources. This small detail could help users better keep track of older notebooks or understand when a project or journal started.
The feature is still in testing and is not yet generally available. If your notes or projects on NotebookLM still look cluttered, this update could provide some welcome clarity and order.
