Product Designer II, Growth - Retention

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer II, Growth - Retention Company: Warner Bros. Discovery Location: New York, New York, United States; Atlanta, Georgia, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / User Experience Date Posted: January 17, 2026 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This Product Designer II role is pivotal in shaping user experiences for CNN Digital's web, mobile, and OTT platforms, with a specific focus on enhancing user engagement and retention strategies.
• The position requires a blend of creative design expertise and a deep understanding of how user-centric design impacts business objectives, particularly in the competitive media landscape.
• The individual will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Editorial, and Revenue, to deliver cohesive and impactful digital product experiences.
• This role is instrumental in driving significant projects that are critical to CNN's business growth and user loyalty through innovative design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the "Growth - Retention" vertical, indicating a strategic focus on improving key metrics related to user engagement, lifetime value, and churn reduction within the CNN Digital ecosystem. The emphasis on "business critical" projects suggests a high-impact role with significant visibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute all phases of the product design lifecycle, from initial concept ideation and wireframing to detailed prototyping and final visual design, ensuring a seamless user journey.
• Lead and contribute to large-scale, strategic projects that are recognized as business-critical for CNN Digital's growth and retention objectives.
• Develop and articulate a clear vision for the future of design within CNN Digital, implementing forward-thinking design strategies that align with industry trends and user expectations.
• Translate abstract ideas and concepts into tangible user flows, interactive prototypes, and comprehensive design plans that effectively communicate design intent.
• Deliver polished, high-fidelity visual designs grounded in strong design fundamentals, user-centered principles, and an understanding of the media organization's unique context.
• Understand and effectively balance the intersection of user experience design with the overarching business and revenue goals of a major media organization.
• Cultivate and maintain strong collaborative relationships with internal stakeholder leads across Product Management, Engineering, Editorial, and Revenue departments to ensure design consistency and alignment with company objectives.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding and adept implementation of internal design processes, contributing to their continuous iteration and improvement.
• Actively identify and propose thoughtful, innovative solutions to complex design challenges, driving user satisfaction and engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic thinking. The emphasis on "business critical" projects and "revenue" stakeholders signifies that this role is not solely focused on aesthetics but also on measurable business outcomes, a key characteristic of effective product operations and growth-focused design roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or equivalent professional experience.

Experience:

• 2+ years of professional experience specifically as a Product Designer, with a strong portfolio demonstrating successful UX and visual design solutions.
• Proven experience building world-class product experiences that streamline workflows through continuous iteration and improvement, with a focus on user retention.

Required Skills:

• Master proficiency in Figma for UX design and prototyping.
• Foundational understanding of HTML and CSS to inform design feasibility and collaboration with engineering teams.
• Exceptional track record of executing product design strategy and partnering effectively with cross-functional team members.
• Ability to drive user experience design, encompassing usability principles, user research methodologies, testing techniques (A/B, Multi-Variant), design theory, and interaction design.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to diverse audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to contribute thoughtful solutions to complex design challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in news environments and content publishing platforms.
• Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing techniques.
• Understanding of data analysis and its application to design decisions, particularly for retention metrics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Figma mastery and foundational HTML/CSS knowledge points to a hands-on role deeply integrated with the development process. The explicit mention of "retention" and "business goals" signals the need for a designer who can connect their work directly to commercial outcomes, a critical skill in growth-focused product operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive design portfolio is mandatory, showcasing strong UX and visual design solutions that clearly identify and meaningfully solve user problems.
• The portfolio should demonstrate a progression through the design process, from problem definition and ideation to final implementation and iteration, with a specific emphasis on growth and retention strategies.
• Case studies should highlight the designer's ability to collaborate with product, engineering, and business stakeholders, showcasing how design decisions contributed to measurable outcomes like increased user engagement or retention.
• Visual examples of wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished visual designs are expected, demonstrating proficiency with tools like Figma.
• Evidence of applying user research, usability testing, and A/B testing to inform design decisions and validate solutions is highly valued.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates are expected to illustrate their understanding of design process workflows, including wireframing, prototyping, and visual design execution within a collaborative environment.
• The portfolio should reflect experience with iterative design processes, demonstrating how feedback and data were incorporated to refine and improve designs over time.
• Examples of how the designer has contributed to or implemented continuous improvement cycles for product features are crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Growth - Retention" focused role, the portfolio should explicitly demonstrate how the candidate's design work has directly impacted retention metrics, user engagement, or customer lifetime value. Case studies should ideally include quantifiable results and a clear articulation of the design's contribution to business objectives.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $88,900.00 - $165,100.00 per year Note: This salary range is provided by Warner Bros. Discovery and is subject to variation based on factors such as external market data, internal equity, location, skillset, experience, and performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance coverage
• Employee Wellness Program
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Paid Holidays
• Sick Time
• Vacation

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time)

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Product Designer II role in major US metropolitan areas. The inclusion of "annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards" suggests a performance-driven compensation structure beyond base salary, common in growth-oriented roles within media companies. The benefits package is robust and typical for a large, established organization like Warner Bros. Discovery.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment (specifically Digital News and Streaming) Company Size: Large Enterprise (Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment conglomerate) Founded: 2022 (Warner Bros. Discovery formed from the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc.)

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer II will be part of the world-class CNN Digital Product Design Team.
• This team operates within a matrixed structure, collaborating closely with Product Management, Engineering, Editorial, Data Science, and Revenue teams.
• The design team likely has a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles and data-driven decision-making to achieve business objectives.

Methodology:

• The team is driven by a shared commitment to user delight and pushing the boundaries of exceptional digital experiences.
• Success is achieved through the synergistic efforts of content, design, product, and technology.
• A data-driven approach is fundamental, with methodologies likely including user research, A/B testing, and continuous iteration based on performance metrics.
• Collaboration is key, fostering an environment where ideas are shared and refined across disciplines.

Company Website: https://www.wbd.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Warner Bros. Discovery's merger creates a dynamic environment with a rich history in content creation and a forward-looking strategy in digital media. For a CNN Digital role, the culture will likely blend journalistic integrity with innovation in digital product development, emphasizing speed, user focus, and data-informed strategies. The "storytellers" and "dreamers" ethos suggests a creative and ambitious workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Product Designer II - This level typically signifies an experienced individual contributor who can independently manage significant design projects, contribute to strategic direction, and mentor junior designers. It's a crucial mid-level role within a product organization. Reporting Structure: The role reports to a design lead or manager within the CNN Digital Product Design Team. Collaboration will span across various departments, requiring strong stakeholder management skills. Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on user retention and engagement for CNN Digital products, which in turn influences revenue generation and the overall success of CNN's digital platforms. The focus on "business critical" projects underscores the significant impact this role is expected to have.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in user retention strategies, growth design principles, and advanced UX/UI techniques within the media domain.
• Leadership Potential: Opportunity to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and potentially move into Senior Product Designer or Design Lead roles.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain extensive experience working with data scientists, product managers, engineers, and revenue teams, broadening understanding of the end-to-end product development lifecycle and business operations.
• Strategic Influence: Contribute to the strategic direction of CNN Digital's product roadmap through design innovation and user advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "II" designation suggests a role with increasing autonomy and responsibility. The focus on "growth" and "retention" means career progression could also involve specializing in growth hacking through design, or moving into product management roles focused on user acquisition and lifecycle management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a requirement for regular presence in one of the specified Warner Bros. Discovery office locations (New York, Atlanta, or Washington D.C.). Office Location(s): New York, New York; Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, District of Columbia. These are major metropolitan hubs with significant media and technology presence.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is expected to be collaborative, with designers working closely with product managers, engineers, researchers, editors, and data scientists.
• Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma) and potentially other collaboration platforms will be provided.
• The office setting will likely foster a dynamic atmosphere conducive to creative problem-solving and team interaction, with opportunities for in-person brainstorming and feedback sessions.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, typical for full-time positions. While the role is on-site, flexibility may be available depending on team norms and project demands, but the primary expectation is in-office presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being "On-site" in major cities offers proximity to industry events, networking opportunities, and a vibrant professional community. This environment is conducive to the rapid iteration and collaborative feedback loops crucial for growth-focused product design.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design capabilities.
• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, detailing specific projects, design process, problem-solving approaches, and user impact, with a focus on growth and retention examples. Be prepared to discuss your role and contributions.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be given a design problem to solve within a set timeframe, or asked to deconstruct a specific CNN Digital feature, demonstrating their strategic thinking, problem-solving skills, and design methodology.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other stakeholders to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to evaluate overall fit, career aspirations, and alignment with team goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Retention: Clearly showcase projects where your design work directly contributed to user retention, engagement, or loyalty metrics. Quantify results whenever possible.
• Process Depth: Detail your end-to-end design process, emphasizing how you translated user needs and business goals into actionable design solutions.
• Figma Mastery: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow, any custom components, or advanced techniques you employ.
• Collaboration Stories: Share examples of successful cross-functional collaboration, detailing how you partnered with engineering, product, and other teams.
• Problem-Solution Framing: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your proposed solution, your specific role, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand CNN Digital: Research CNN's current digital products, target audience, and competitive landscape, with a focus on their retention strategies.
• Growth Design Principles: Familiarize yourself with key growth design principles and common retention tactics in media and content platforms.
• Data-Informed Design: Prepare to discuss how you would use data (e.g., A/B test results, user analytics) to inform your design decisions and measure success.
• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating complex design concepts and rationale concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this specific role, expect interviewers to probe deeply into how you have directly influenced retention metrics. Be prepared to discuss your understanding of user lifecycle, churn drivers, and how design can be a lever for improving these.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and design system management. Mastery is a core requirement.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly listed as a designer's tool, understanding how to interpret data from tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or internal BI platforms will be crucial for informing design decisions and measuring impact.
• A/B Testing Platforms: Familiarity with the principles and execution of A/B and multi-variant testing is important for validating design hypotheses.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the designer's core toolkit, but understanding how user data is managed and potentially segmented within CRM or customer data platforms can inform retention-focused design.

Foundational Knowledge:

• HTML & CSS: A foundational understanding is required for effective collaboration with engineering and for designing within technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is primarily design-focused, a strong understanding of how to leverage data and work with engineering on implementation is key. The ability to translate business needs (like retention) into design requirements that engineering can execute is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that design decisions prioritize user delight and problem-solving.
• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design choices, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design solutions on business objectives, especially retention.
• Collaboration & Communication: Fostering strong partnerships across Product, Engineering, Editorial, and Revenue teams, with an emphasis on clear, open, and constructive communication.
• Continuous Improvement: Embracing an iterative approach to design, actively seeking feedback, and consistently refining products to enhance user experience and achieve business goals.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for design outcomes, driving projects to completion, and demonstrating a proactive attitude towards problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to be deeply integrated with product managers and engineers from the outset of projects, working collaboratively to define problems and co-create solutions.
• Feedback Loops: An environment that encourages open feedback exchange, constructive critique, and iterative refinement of design work.
• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the design team and with other departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Growth - Retention" suggests a culture that is highly focused on metrics and measurable outcomes. The team likely values designers who are not only creative but also analytical and business-minded, capable of driving tangible results.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively designing for user retention while also meeting critical business objectives and revenue targets.
• Complex Digital Ecosystem: Navigating the intricacies of multiple platforms (web, mobile apps, OTT) and ensuring a consistent, high-quality user experience across them.
• Fast-Paced Media Environment: Adapting to the rapid pace of news cycles and digital media trends, requiring agility and quick iteration on designs.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across diverse teams with potentially different priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Growth Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in user acquisition, activation, retention, and referral strategies through design.
• Advanced UX Research & Testing: Enhance skills in conducting sophisticated user research and implementing advanced testing methodologies (e.g., longitudinal studies, complex A/B tests).
• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to take on design leadership for key initiatives and mentor junior designers, fostering leadership capabilities.
• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of digital product design, media consumption patterns, and emerging technologies relevant to user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for growth-focused roles in dynamic digital environments. The growth opportunities are tailored to developing specialized skills in retention design and leadership within a large media organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed a feature or product specifically to improve user retention. What was the problem, your approach, and the outcome?" (Focus on quantifiable results.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives, particularly revenue goals, in your design process?" (Demonstrate strategic thinking.)
• "Walk us through your process for identifying and solving a complex user problem within a digital product." (Showcase your methodology and problem-solving skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the CNN Digital brand and its mission?" (Research CNN's content and user base.)
• "How do you approach collaboration with engineers and product managers, especially when there are differing opinions?" (Highlight your communication and teamwork skills.)
• "How would you measure the success of a design change aimed at improving user engagement on a content platform?" (Focus on metrics and data analysis.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Structure your portfolio presentations as compelling narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, and the impact.
• Quantify Impact: For retention-focused projects, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design solutions. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss proxy metrics or user feedback that indicates positive impact.
• Figma Showcase: Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow, any design systems you've contributed to, and how you leverage its features for efficiency and collaboration.
• User Focus: Emphasize how user research and testing informed your design decisions and led to improved user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Expect interviewers to drill down into the "why" behind your design decisions, especially concerning retention. Be prepared to defend your choices with data, user insights, and a clear understanding of business impact.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the Warner Bros. Discovery careers portal.
• Curate your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your success in user retention and engagement. Highlight your Figma proficiency and your ability to connect design solutions with measurable business outcomes.
• Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as "Product Designer," "User Experience," "Figma," "retention," "growth," "collaboration," and "prototyping." Quantify your achievements where possible.
• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting 2-3 key portfolio projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role, focusing on your contributions to user retention and cross-functional collaboration.
• Research CNN Digital: Gain a deep understanding of CNN's digital products, target audience, content strategy, and current user experience. Identify potential areas for improvement related to growth and retention.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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