Product Designer II, Newsource

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer II, Newsource

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

Location: New York, NY; Atlanta, GA; Washington, DC (Hybrid)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-01

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop industry-leading user experiences and intuitive storytelling tools for CNN's newsroom platforms, impacting millions of global audiences.

• Transform abstract ideas into tangible design artifacts, including information architecture diagrams, user flows, wireframes, and advanced AI-powered prototypes.

• Collaborate closely with product, engineering, research, editorial, data, marketing, and content strategy teams to drive product innovation and efficiency.

• Contribute to and maintain robust design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across digital and broadcast news production products.

• Conduct rigorous user research and usability testing to gather actionable insights, informing data-driven design recommendations and product enhancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on internal tools for content creators within the news media industry, emphasizing efficiency, workflow optimization, and innovative storytelling capabilities, rather than direct consumer-facing product design. The "Newsource" designation suggests a focus on news gathering and content production platforms.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design of next-generation editorial experiences for both digital and broadcast news production, from incremental improvements to long-term strategic vision.

• Conceptualize and communicate forward-thinking product features and desired outcomes through detailed information architecture diagrams, experience journeys, user flows, wireframes, design mockups, and interactive AI-powered prototypes.

• Execute regular user research sessions with internal stakeholders (journalists, editors, directors, producers) and external users to gather critical feedback and identify pain points.

• Perform comprehensive usability tests, interpret quantitative and qualitative data, and translate findings into actionable design recommendations for product improvement.

• Create, contribute to, and maintain design tokens and components within the established design system, ensuring a cohesive and scalable user experience across all platforms.

• Act as a champion for design principles, design systems, and the product roadmap, ensuring alignment with the needs of CNN's editorial teams.

• Play a pivotal role in shaping the future of CNN's newsroom production and publishing platforms by actively collaborating with stakeholders to brainstorm, envision, and validate new features and functionalities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic vision, tactical execution, and user-centric problem-solving within a complex enterprise environment. Emphasis on "newsroom platforms" and "content creators" indicates a focus on B2B or internal tooling rather than B2C product design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for a Product Designer II role. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 2+ years of professional experience as a Product Designer, with a strong track record of delivering impactful UX and visual design solutions. Experience in large-scale or enterprise organizations is highly valued, as is experience within the news or media industry.

Required Skills:

• Design portfolio demonstrating strong UX and visual design solutions, with an emphasis on identifying and meaningfully solving true user problems.

• Mastery of Figma, including proficient use of variables, components, styles, and shared libraries.

• Experience with AI prototyping tools such as Figma Make, Cursor, Claude Code, or similar technologies.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, crucial for cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management.

• Proficiency in utilizing, creating, and modifying design system components to build scalable and delightful user experiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex design challenges and foster cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder alignment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the news or media industry.

• Familiarity with data analysis and interpretation to inform design decisions.

• Experience with design handoff processes to engineering teams.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma mastery, AI prototyping, and design systems points to a need for technically proficient designers who can work within established frameworks while pushing innovation. The requirement for experience in large organizations and news/media suggests a preference for candidates who understand complex stakeholder environments and industry-specific workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 detailed case studies that clearly articulate the problem statement, the user research conducted, your design process, key design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Highlight projects demonstrating your ability to solve complex user problems within a structured workflow, ideally related to content creation, editorial tools, or internal enterprise applications.

• Include examples of your work with design systems, demonstrating how you've leveraged or contributed to design tokens, components, and style guides.

• Present clear wireframes, user flows, and high-fidelity mockups, illustrating your thought process from ideation to final design.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your ability to document and communicate design processes clearly, especially regarding user research findings, usability testing results, and design rationale.

• Provide examples of how you've collaborated with product managers and engineers throughout the product development lifecycle, from discovery to delivery.

• Showcase your understanding of iterative design processes, including how you incorporate feedback and adapt designs based on testing and stakeholder input.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, as it's the primary method for evaluating a candidate's design thinking, problem-solving skills, and technical proficiency. The emphasis on internal tools and newsroom platforms means case studies should ideally reflect experience in analogous environments.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $88,900.00 - $165,100.00 salary per year. This range is provided as per local legal requirements and reflects Warner Bros. Discovery's compensation philosophy, taking into account external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and performance.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance coverage.

• Employee Wellness Program.

• Life Insurance.

• Disability Insurance.

• Retirement Savings Plan.

• Paid Holidays.

• Sick Time.

• Vacation Time.

• Annual Bonuses.

• Short-term Incentives.

• Long-term Incentives.

• Program-specific awards.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and hybrid work arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is broad, suggesting that compensation will be highly dependent on the candidate's specific experience level within the 2-5 year window, their demonstrated skills, and their fit for the role's specific demands. The extensive benefits package is typical for a large, established media and entertainment company.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment / News & Broadcasting

Company Size: Large Enterprise (likely 10,000+ employees, given Warner Bros. Discovery's scale)

Founded: Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., building on legacies of content creation and storytelling dating back decades.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the CNN Product Design Team, which is part of the broader Warner Bros. Discovery digital product organization.

• This team likely comprises Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and potentially UX Writers, working in close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and Editorial stakeholders.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing user research, usability testing, and analytics to inform design strategies.

• Collaborative approach, emphasizing cross-functional teamwork and stakeholder alignment to achieve shared goals.

• Iterative design and development, embracing feedback loops to continuously improve products.

• Focus on building and maintaining scalable design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Warner Bros. Discovery, and specifically CNN, operates in a fast-paced, high-stakes news environment. The culture likely values innovation, agility, accuracy, and the ability to work under pressure. The emphasis on "storytellers" and "dreamers" suggests a creative and forward-thinking atmosphere.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Product Designer II signifies an intermediate level designer. This role is beyond an entry-level position, requiring demonstrated proficiency in core design skills, a solid understanding of the product development lifecycle, and the ability to work somewhat independently on defined projects. It's a stepping stone towards a Senior Product Designer role.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer II will likely report to a Design Manager or Lead within the CNN Product Design Team. They will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and various editorial and content teams.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of CNN's journalists, editors, directors, and producers. By designing intuitive and powerful tools, the Product Designer II will contribute to accelerating content creation, improving publishing capabilities, and ultimately enhancing the quality and reach of CNN's digital and broadcast products. This operational efficiency directly supports the company's core mission of delivering world-class news.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in AI prototyping, advanced Figma capabilities, and user research methodologies. Opportunity to specialize in specific areas of news production technology.

• Career Progression: Path to Senior Product Designer, where responsibilities include leading larger projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to strategic product vision.

• Leadership Potential: Develop leadership skills through cross-functional collaboration, stakeholder management, and potentially leading design initiatives within specific product areas.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience within a leading global news organization, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of media technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is in Product Design, its impact is operational within the newsroom. The growth path is typical for design roles, with opportunities for increased scope, leadership, and specialization within the media technology domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, allowing for a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. Specific details on required in-office days would typically be confirmed during the interview process.

Office Location(s): The role is listed with primary locations in New York, NY (30 Hudson Yards), Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC. These are major hubs for CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that encourages interaction with diverse teams, including product managers, engineers, researchers, and editorial staff. The hybrid model necessitates intentional collaboration efforts.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma is a must), prototyping tools, and potentially internal WBD systems. The use of AI prototyping tools is explicitly mentioned.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for brainstorming sessions, design reviews, user feedback workshops, and day-to-day communication via digital collaboration platforms.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. The hybrid nature may offer some flexibility, but the demands of the news cycle might occasionally require adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is common, but for a role supporting a 24/7 news operation, flexibility and strong remote collaboration skills will be essential. The presence in key media markets (NY, ATL, DC) is strategic for CNN.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter review of application and resume, followed by a brief introductory call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A key stage involving a deep dive into your design portfolio. You will likely be asked to present 1-2 case studies, explaining your process, decisions, and outcomes. A design challenge or take-home assignment focused on a newsroom-related problem may be administered.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interviews: Interviews with the hiring manager and potential team members (other designers, product managers, engineers). These will focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and understanding of UX principles.

• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with individuals from editorial, content strategy, or other departments you would collaborate with, to assess your ability to understand their needs and communicate design effectively.

• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling is Key: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling story: problem, process, solution, and impact. Clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: While polished final designs are important, demonstrating your thought process, iterations, user research insights, and problem-solving approach is crucial.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. Focus on how your solutions improved user workflows, efficiency, or achieved business objectives.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that best align with the requirements of this Product Designer II role at CNN, such as internal tools, complex workflows, or media-related applications.

• Prepare for Figma & AI Questions: Be ready to discuss your Figma expertise in detail, including your experience with design systems, variables, and collaborative features. Be prepared to talk about your AI prototyping experience and its practical applications.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Newsroom: Research CNN's platforms, the challenges faced by journalists and editors in a fast-paced news environment, and the importance of efficient content creation tools.

• Focus on Workflow: If given a challenge, think about how to optimize workflows, streamline tasks, and improve the user experience for content creators. Consider aspects like information hierarchy, data visualization, and collaborative features.

• AI Integration: Consider how AI could be leveraged to enhance the design or functionality of the product you are designing for.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying your choices with user-centered principles and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and the ability to demonstrate practical design skills, particularly within the context of enterprise tools and potentially AI integration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Mastery is required, including advanced features like variables, components, styles, and shared libraries.

• AI Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in tools like Figma Make, Cursor, Claude Code, or similar is required for rapid concept validation and AI-assisted design.

• Design System Tools: Experience with creating, contributing to, and maintaining design system components, tokens, and style guides.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this core design role, but understanding how user feedback is managed and how design changes are integrated into development workflows is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack heavily emphasizes Figma and emerging AI prototyping tools, indicating a forward-looking approach to design tooling. A strong understanding of design systems is paramount for ensuring consistency and scalability across CNN's diverse platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Storytelling: A core value at CNN and WBD, driving the creation of compelling content and the tools to deliver it effectively.

• User-Centricity: A focus on understanding and serving the needs of both internal content creators and external audiences.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Essential for navigating complex projects and diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.

• Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing research and analytics to inform design choices and measure impact.

• Efficiency & Agility: The need to operate effectively and adapt quickly in the ever-evolving news landscape.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with product managers, engineers, researchers, and editorial teams, acting as a bridge between user needs and technical implementation.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, open dialogue, and proactive communication to ensure alignment and address challenges.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and insights to foster collective growth and maintain design system integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture likely reflects the high-energy, deadline-driven nature of the news industry, combined with the creative and collaborative spirit of a design team within a large media organization. The emphasis on operational efficiency through design is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of News: Adapting designs to the rapid pace of news cycles and the need for quick turnaround times.

• Complex Stakeholder Needs: Balancing the diverse requirements of various editorial teams, product managers, and engineering.

• Scalability: Designing solutions that are scalable across multiple platforms and adapt to evolving WBD/CNN technology stacks.

• AI Integration: Staying current with and effectively implementing AI tools and features into design workflows and product features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced UX/UI Training: Access to internal or external training on the latest design trends, methodologies, and tools.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend design and media technology conferences to gain insights and network.

• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior designers or product leaders within WBD.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining a deeper understanding of the news production process, broadcast technology, and digital media strategy through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant challenges related to working in a high-stakes, fast-paced industry, but also provides ample opportunities for professional growth in a dynamic and evolving media technology landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on collaboration, negotiation, and user advocacy).

• "Walk us through a complex design problem you solved for an internal tool or enterprise application. What was your process, and how did you measure success?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for CNN and Warner Bros. Discovery specifically?" (Research WBD's mission, CNN's role in news, and recent innovations).

• "How do you see your role contributing to the broader mission of delivering world-class news?" (Connect your design skills to operational impact).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration, testing), the solution, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Figma & AI Expertise: Be prepared to demonstrate your Figma proficiency live or discuss specific features you used. Explain your experience and perspective on AI prototyping tools.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs solved user problems, improved efficiency, or contributed to business goals. Use data and metrics where available.

• Engage Your Audience: Be ready to answer questions about your design decisions, your thought process, and how you would handle specific scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing practical design skills, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to thrive in a demanding, collaborative environment. Demonstrating an understanding of the news media landscape will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link for the Product Designer II, Newsource role.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases projects relevant to internal tools, workflow optimization, and complex user experiences. Highlight your Figma and AI prototyping skills prominently.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description (e.g., "Product Designer," "UX Design," "Figma," "AI Prototyping," "Design Systems," "User Research," "Newsroom Platforms"). Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, process, and impact. Prepare for potential design challenges and behavioral questions related to collaboration and problem-solving.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN's mission, its digital platforms, and the current landscape of news media technology. Understand their guiding principles.

⚠️ 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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