Product Designer II, New Business

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer II, New Business

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

Location: New York, NY, United States; Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-09-10

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the design and user experience for innovative, standalone digital products within CNN's New Business initiatives, focusing on enriching user lives beyond traditional news.

• Execute end-to-end design processes, from initial discovery and ideation through wireframing, prototyping, visual design, user testing, and final implementation across web, mobile, and connected platforms.

• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including Product Management, Engineering, User Research, Editorial, Growth, and Analytics to ensure cohesive and effective user-centered experiences.

• Apply and contribute to established design systems, patterns, and brand guidelines, while actively identifying opportunities for enhancement and evolution.

• Translate user needs, business objectives, and market opportunities into compelling design artifacts and user flows, ensuring alignment with strategic product goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the "New Business" arm of CNN, indicating a strong emphasis on innovation, growth, and the development of novel, non-news subscription products. The Product Designer will likely be instrumental in shaping the early stages of these ventures, requiring comfort with ambiguity and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The hybrid work model suggests a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead design for smaller, self-contained features or significantly contribute to larger, strategically critical product initiatives within the New Business portfolio.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including detailed user flows, interactive wireframes, high-fidelity prototypes, polished visual designs, and persuasive presentation materials for stakeholder buy-in.

• Actively participate in user research and discovery phases to gain deep insights into user needs, pain points, business goals, and emerging market opportunities relevant to new digital products.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and other stakeholders, ensuring seamless integration of design into the product development lifecycle.

• Clearly articulate design decisions, providing robust rationale and actionable recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences through compelling presentations and discussions.

• Contribute actively to collaborative workshops, brainstorming sessions, and design critique meetings, offering constructive feedback and embracing diverse perspectives to elevate design quality.

• Ensure consistent application of existing design systems and brand guidelines, while also proactively identifying and proposing improvements or extensions to these frameworks.

• Iterate on design solutions based on feedback from usability testing, A/B experimentation results, user analytics, and strategic business insights to optimize user experience and product performance.

• Support and contribute to the planning and execution of testing and validation efforts, translating findings into actionable product enhancements.

• Build and maintain productive working relationships across diverse teams, contributing positively to a collaborative and innovative design culture within CNN.

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, and evolving user expectations to proactively inform and inspire future product development opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on role with significant ownership and a requirement to manage multiple facets of the design process. The emphasis on "new business" and "standalone products" suggests a need for entrepreneurial thinking and the ability to define product direction with less pre-existing structure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 2+ years of experience as a product designer creating digital experiences across web, mobile, or connected platforms.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Proven ability to execute across all phases of the product design lifecycle, from discovery and ideation to wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and implementation.

• UX/UI Proficiency: Strong command of user-centered design principles, interaction design, information architecture, and visual design fundamentals.

• Figma & Prototyping Tools: Demonstrated proficiency in Figma for design creation and advanced skills in prototyping tools to effectively communicate design concepts.

• Design Systems & Brand Application: Experience designing within established design systems and consistently applying brand standards, with an ability to identify areas for improvement.

• Research & Testing Acumen: Familiarity with user research methodologies, usability testing, and iterative design practices to inform and validate design decisions.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional partners in product, engineering, research, editorial, growth, and analytics, incorporating feedback into design solutions.

• Communication & Presentation Skills: Strong written, verbal, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and recommendations to diverse stakeholders.

• Technical Familiarity: Basic understanding of web and mobile technologies and platform capabilities to ensure designs are feasible and optimized for implementation.

• Project Management Tools: Experience utilizing collaboration and project management tools such as Jira and Confluence for workflow management and team coordination.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing and launching subscription-based, consumer-facing, or media products.

• A portfolio demonstrating strong UX and visual design skills, with compelling examples of solving meaningful user and business problems.

• Familiarity with data analytics and experience using insights from analytics platforms to inform design decisions.

• Experience working in agile development environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are standard for a Product Designer II role, with a specific emphasis on Figma and a strong portfolio. The preferred skills point towards a desire for candidates who can hit the ground running with media or subscription products, suggesting that prior domain experience will be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated UX & Visual Design: A robust portfolio showcasing a strong foundation in both User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design principles, with clear examples of problem-solving.

• Problem-Solution-Outcome Structure: Case studies that clearly articulate the user or business problem, the design process undertaken, the proposed solution, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved.

• Platform Diversity: Examples of digital experiences designed for various platforms, including web, mobile (iOS/Android), and potentially connected TV or other emerging channels, demonstrating adaptability.

• Iterative Design Process: Evidence of how feedback, user testing, and data insights were incorporated into design iterations to refine and improve the final product.

• Design System Contributions (Optional but valued): Examples of working with or contributing to design systems, showcasing an understanding of scalability and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• User Flow & Wireframing: Clear documentation of user flows, information architecture, and wireframes that illustrate the structure and navigation of designed experiences.

• Prototyping Examples: Interactive prototypes that effectively communicate the intended user experience, demonstrating key interactions and user journeys.

• Visual Design & UI Elements: High-fidelity mockups and style guides that showcase visual design execution, including typography, color palettes, iconography, and UI component design.

• Research & Testing Insights: Documentation or summaries of user research findings, usability testing results, and how these insights directly influenced design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis should be on showcasing a complete design process, from understanding the problem to delivering a polished, user-tested solution. The "New Business" context implies a need for candidates who can not only execute but also contribute to defining the product's direction and user experience from the ground up.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $83,993 - $155,987 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Employee wellness program designed to support physical and mental well-being.

• Life and disability insurance policies for added security.

• Retirement savings plan to support long-term financial goals.

• Generous paid time off, including holidays, sick time, and vacation days.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is a broad estimate for a Product Designer II role in the US, considering the specified locations (New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C.) and the experience level. New York City typically commands salaries at the higher end of this range due to cost of living and market demand. The listed benefits are standard for a large media corporation like Warner Bros. Discovery, offering a solid benefits package.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, Digital News, Technology. Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is a global leader in creating and distributing premium content across all genres and platforms. CNN, as part of WBD, is at the forefront of digital news delivery.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (over 10,000 employees). This scale offers significant resources, complex organizational structures, and opportunities for impact across a vast network.

Founded: WBD was formed in 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc. CNN itself has a long history, founded in 1980. This blend of established legacy and new corporate structure fosters an environment of both tradition and rapid evolution.

Team Structure:

• New Business Unit: This specific team operates within CNN, focusing on developing innovative, standalone digital products that extend beyond traditional news content. It likely comprises a dedicated product management, design, engineering, and potentially marketing/growth function.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, User Researchers, Editorial teams, Growth specialists, and Analytics professionals, indicating a matrixed and agile team environment.

• Reporting: The Product Designer II will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the New Business unit, with dotted-line reporting or strong collaborative ties to Product Managers.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A core principle, driving all product development from understanding user needs to validating solutions.

• Agile Development: Likely employed, involving iterative development cycles, sprints, and close collaboration with engineering teams.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing analytics and experimentation to guide design choices and measure product success.

• Design Systems & Brand Consistency: Maintaining brand integrity and design efficiency through the use of established systems and guidelines.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "New Business" team within CNN suggests an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment within a large, established corporation. This means access to significant resources and brand recognition, but also the need to navigate corporate processes while driving innovation. The company's focus on "storytellers," "creators," and "dreamers" points to a culture that values creativity and forward-thinking.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Product Designer II. This level typically signifies an individual contributor with a solid grasp of design principles and processes, capable of independently managing smaller features or contributing significantly to larger projects. They are expected to apply established methodologies effectively and begin to influence design direction within their scope.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design within the New Business unit. Works closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams on a day-to-day basis, fostering a highly collaborative, cross-functional dynamic.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly influences the user experience, engagement, and potential monetization of new, strategically important digital products for CNN. Successful designs will contribute to driving subscription growth and expanding CNN's digital footprint beyond traditional news.

Growth Opportunities:

• Deepen Product Expertise: Opportunity to specialize in subscription-based digital products, consumer media, or emerging technology platforms, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Advance Design Leadership: Potential to progress to Senior Product Designer roles, taking ownership of larger, more complex initiatives, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to design strategy at a higher level.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Gain exposure to product strategy, business development, growth marketing, and data analytics through close collaboration with diverse teams.

• Influence Design Systems: Contribute to the evolution and expansion of CNN's design systems, impacting multiple product teams.

• Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Be part of a team pioneering new ventures, offering a chance to shape products from inception and experience the full product lifecycle in an innovative context.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for growth within a large media organization. The "New Business" aspect provides unique opportunities for impact and learning in a less established, more experimental product area, which can be highly valuable for career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. Employees are expected to work from the office on certain days, balancing in-person collaboration with remote flexibility. The primary listed location is 30 Hudson Yards in New York, a modern, well-equipped corporate office environment. Other listed locations (Atlanta, Washington D.C.) may offer similar modern office spaces.

Office Location(s):

• New York, NY: 30 Hudson Yards, a prominent, state-of-the-art office complex offering extensive amenities and collaborative spaces.

• Atlanta, GA: Likely a CNN/WBD office location.

• Washington, DC: Likely a CNN/WBD office location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Modern office environments designed to encourage teamwork, brainstorming, and spontaneous interaction among colleagues.

• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, prototyping tools), project management systems (Jira, Confluence), and potentially internal WBD/CNN development platforms.

• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for face-to-face collaboration with design peers, product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, fostering a strong team dynamic.

Work Schedule: Primarily a standard 40-hour work week, aligning with typical business operations. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, balancing in-office days for collaboration with remote days for focused individual work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is key. While specific office days aren't mandated in the listing, candidates should expect a requirement for regular in-office presence, particularly in New York, for collaboration with the core New Business team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review applications and portfolios, looking for relevant experience, design skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: A more in-depth discussion focusing on the candidate's portfolio, design process, and problem-solving approach. This may involve a presentation of selected case studies.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: Candidates may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or participate in a live design critique/workshop to assess their practical skills and design thinking.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders, including Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers, to evaluate collaboration skills, communication, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit with the team and company vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your skills and experience, particularly those related to digital products, user-centric design, and problem-solving.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions and rationale, and the impact or outcome. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Process: Include artifacts like user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final visual designs to demonstrate your end-to-end design capabilities. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, showcase how you collaborated with cross-functional teams and incorporated feedback.

• Tailor to CNN New Business: Emphasize projects that demonstrate innovation, understanding of consumer needs, and the ability to work in ambiguous environments. If you have media, subscription, or consumer-facing product experience, highlight it prominently.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand any design challenge prompt, identifying key objectives, constraints, and target users.

• Define Scope: Clearly define the scope of your solution within the given constraints and time limits.

• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to explain your design decisions, user research insights (even if hypothetical), and how your solution addresses the core problem.

• Prototype Effectively: If a prototype is required, focus on demonstrating key user flows and interactions rather than creating a fully polished, high-fidelity product.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse your presentation, ensuring you can articulate your process and rationale clearly and concisely within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is typical for a mid-level design role. The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges underscores the practical, skill-based nature of the hiring process. Candidates should be prepared to "show, don't just tell" their design capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with Figma's prototyping capabilities or other related tools (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie) to create interactive user experiences.

• Design Systems: Familiarity with creating, maintaining, or leveraging design systems for consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Experience with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar to understand user behavior and product performance.

• A/B Testing Tools: Familiarity with platforms used for experimentation to validate design hypotheses (e.g., Optimizely, VWO).

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency in Jira and Confluence for task tracking, sprint planning, documentation, and team collaboration.

• Collaboration Suites: Experience with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for daily communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned, making it a critical tool. The inclusion of Jira and Confluence points towards an agile development workflow. Familiarity with analytics and A/B testing tools is crucial for a role focused on iteration and data-informed design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Creativity: Valuing new ideas, pushing boundaries, and exploring novel solutions for digital products beyond traditional news.

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that all designs are intuitive, accessible, and valuable.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data, research, and experimentation to inform design choices and measure the impact of product initiatives.

• Excellence & Impact: Striving for high-quality design execution and aiming to create products that have a significant positive impact on users and the business.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integrated into product teams, working closely with product managers, engineers, and researchers from ideation through launch.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive design critiques and open communication to continuously improve designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights across the design team and with broader product development groups.

• Agile & Iterative: Embracing an agile mindset, with a willingness to adapt, iterate, and learn quickly in a dynamic environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values ("storytellers," "creators," "dreamers") and the emphasis on innovation in the "New Business" context suggest a culture that encourages experimentation and creative problem-solving, balanced with the rigor of a large media organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: The "New Business" domain implies working with less defined product roadmaps and user requirements, requiring comfort with uncertainty and the ability to define direction.

• Balancing Innovation with Brand: Ensuring new, standalone products align with CNN's overall brand reputation while offering distinct and innovative experiences.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively managing priorities and communication across multiple departments (Product, Engineering, Editorial, Growth) with potentially competing interests.

• Rapid Iteration & Experimentation: The need to quickly design, test, and iterate on new product concepts in a fast-paced market.

• Scalability: Designing solutions that can scale effectively as new products gain traction and user bases grow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Product Design: Deepen expertise in designing for subscription models, digital media, or emerging consumer technologies.

• Strategic Product Input: Gain exposure to product strategy, market analysis, and business case development for new ventures.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from senior designers, product leaders, and experienced engineers within WBD/CNN.

• Industry Exposure: Staying current with trends in digital media, consumer tech, and design innovation through internal resources and potentially external conferences.

• Leadership Potential: Developing skills in influencing stakeholders, driving design direction, and potentially leading design efforts for future initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to roles focused on new product development within large companies. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a blend of deep design skill development and broader product/business acumen.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a product or feature with significant ambiguity. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for defining problems, user needs, and initial solutions.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical constraints when designing a new product experience?" (Highlight your ability to find optimal solutions that satisfy multiple stakeholders.)

• "Walk us through a complex user flow you designed. What were the key decision points and trade-offs you made?" (Prepare to diagram and explain your thought process for navigation and interaction design.)

• "How do you incorporate user feedback and data into your design iterations?" (Be ready to discuss specific examples of usability testing, A/B testing, and analytics data influencing your design choices.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for CNN's New Business team specifically, and how do you see your skills contributing to our mission?" (Research CNN's current new initiatives and articulate your passion for innovation in media.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with engineering and product management teams? Describe a challenging collaboration and how you resolved it." (Emphasize your communication skills and ability to build strong cross-functional relationships.)

• "What are your thoughts on the future of digital media and subscription products?" (Demonstrate your awareness of industry trends and your forward-thinking perspective.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and emerging technologies?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning and professional development.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact. Use a consistent structure.

• Focus on Rationale: Be prepared to dive deep into why you made specific design decisions, referencing user research, design principles, or business objectives.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Highlight specific Figma techniques or workflows you used, especially those that enhanced collaboration or efficiency.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved engagement, reduced task completion time).

• Be Interactive: Be ready to answer questions about your process, discuss alternative solutions, and adapt your presentation based on the interviewer's feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills, but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities in ambiguous contexts, and strong collaborative potential, all crucial for a role in "New Business."

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer II position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the online application form through the Warner Bros. Discovery careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your UX/UI skills, problem-solving abilities, and experience with digital products. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your process, your solution, and the impact. Prioritize examples relevant to consumer-facing digital products, media, or subscription services.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant experience, skills (especially Figma, user-centered design, cross-functional collaboration), and achievements. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies. Be ready to articulate your design rationale, process, and the outcomes of your work clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss your experience with ambiguity and innovation.

• Research CNN New Business: Understand the team's mission to create innovative, standalone digital products beyond news. Familiarize yourself with CNN's brand and current digital offerings. This research will help you tailor your application and prepare for interview questions.

⚠️ 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.