Senior Product Designer, New Business

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, New Business

Company: Warner Bros. Discovery

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

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: April 20, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design of innovative, standalone digital products for Warner Bros. Discovery's New Business initiatives, focusing on enriching user experiences beyond traditional news content.

• Develop a broad range of design artifacts, from information architecture maps to high-fidelity prototypes, to influence product strategy and facilitate strategic decision-making with cross-functional partners.

• Champion thoughtful innovation by understanding platform capabilities and business objectives, while strategically challenging conventions to reimagine user possibilities.

• Foster a collaborative design environment by working closely with editorial, product management, engineering, research, and growth teams to synthesize diverse inputs into cohesive, user-centered product experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for "New Business" at CNN, indicating a focus on developing novel, non-news subscription products. The Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in defining the user experience for these emerging ventures, requiring a blend of strategic thinking, execution proficiency, and cross-functional leadership. The hybrid work arrangement suggests a need for strong remote collaboration skills alongside in-office engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute comprehensive, user-centered design solutions for emerging products within the CNN New Business portfolio, spanning initial ideation through to final implementation.

• Craft and deliver a diverse set of design deliverables, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and visual designs, tailored to project needs and stakeholder requirements.

• Actively participate in and lead design workshops, brainstorming sessions, and strategy discussions to shape the future direction of new digital products and experiences.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including editorial strategists, product managers, engineers, user researchers, and growth marketers, to ensure cohesive product development and alignment with business goals.

• Champion user advocacy by deeply understanding user needs, leveraging research insights, and translating them into intuitive and engaging product experiences across various platforms.

• Contribute to and leverage established design systems to ensure brand consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design execution across new business initiatives.

• Proactively identify opportunities for innovation and disruption within the digital media landscape, pushing the boundaries of what's possible for CNN's expanding product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize autonomy and strategic contribution, typical of a senior-level design role. The focus on "emerging products in highly ambiguous areas" suggests a need for comfort with uncertainty and a proactive approach to defining design problems and solutions. The requirement to "assess and flex deliverables" highlights adaptability and a pragmatic approach to design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a cross-platform product designer, with a proven track record of designing digital experiences for websites and native mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Figma for design and prototyping.

• Exceptional visual design and interaction design skills, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Proven expertise in creating and modifying components within design systems, and proficiently utilizing mature design system kits.

• Deep understanding of best UX design practices, including usability principles, user research methodologies, and usability testing techniques.

• Solid understanding of current mobile and web technologies and their implications for design.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and persuasively.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the media or digital news industry.

• Familiarity with A/B testing and data-driven design optimization strategies.

• Ability to contribute to and evolve design systems.

• Experience working in fast-paced, agile development environments.

• Passion for storytelling and creating engaging digital content experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma mastery, design system utilization, and cross-platform experience is critical. The requirement for strong communication and collaboration skills highlights the importance of integrating with diverse teams. The "media companies is a plus" note suggests that domain knowledge in digital news and content creation will be highly valued.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects, demonstrating ownership from initial concept to final execution, with a focus on user-centered problem-solving.

• Highlight projects that involved designing for ambiguity or new business initiatives, illustrating your ability to define problems and create novel solutions.

• Include examples of cross-platform design work (web and mobile native apps), demonstrating versatility and understanding of platform-specific nuances.

• Present case studies that clearly articulate the design process, including user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio project, clearly outline the design process followed, including any established methodologies or custom approaches used.

• Detail how user research and testing informed design decisions at various stages of the project lifecycle.

• Demonstrate your experience with design systems, including contributions to or utilization of existing systems, and how they impacted efficiency and consistency.

• Explain how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, editorial, research) throughout the design process and how feedback was integrated.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just visual polish but also strategic thinking, problem-solving capabilities, and a deep understanding of the design process. Projects involving new product development or innovation will be particularly relevant given the "New Business" focus.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $98,000 - $182,000 per year

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Employee wellness program designed to support overall well-being.

• Life and disability insurance for financial security.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) to support long-term financial goals.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time workweek, typically around 40 hours.

• Hybrid work arrangement allows for a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is broad, reflecting the senior nature of the role and the potential for candidates with extensive experience and specialized skills. The specified benefits are standard for a large media and entertainment company, emphasizing employee well-being and long-term financial planning. The hybrid nature of the work arrangement implies a need for structured in-office days for collaboration and team building.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Entertainment, Digital News, Technology

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Warner Bros. Discovery is a global media and entertainment conglomerate with tens of thousands of employees). For CNN's New Business team, this means access to significant resources and a broad organizational structure, but also the need to navigate larger corporate processes.

Founded: CNN was founded in 1980. Warner Bros. Discovery was formed in 2022 through the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., representing a significant evolution and consolidation of media assets.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the CNN New Business team, a strategic unit focused on innovation and new product development.

• This team likely operates with a degree of autonomy but is integrated within the larger CNN and WBD digital product and technology organizations.

• Expect close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, Editorial teams, and Growth Marketers within the New Business unit and potentially broader CNN digital product groups.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Emphasis on using analytics, user research, and A/B testing to inform product strategy and design choices.

• Agile Development: Likely follows agile methodologies for iterative product development, requiring flexibility and adaptability in design processes.

• User-Centric Design: A strong focus on understanding and meeting user needs through empathic design practices and continuous user feedback.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encourages close partnerships between design, product, engineering, and editorial to ensure holistic product development.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Warner Bros. Discovery's culture emphasizes storytelling, innovation, and a blend of established media heritage with digital transformation. For CNN's New Business, this translates to a dynamic environment focused on creating future-facing products that leverage CNN's brand authority while exploring new content verticals. The company's size suggests opportunities for broad impact and career growth, but also requires navigating a complex organizational structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond mid-level positions. Senior designers are expected to lead significant design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute to design strategy.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into the CNN New Business team, likely under a Design Lead or Director. This position offers the opportunity to influence product direction and collaborate with senior stakeholders across different departments.

Operations Impact: The Senior Product Designer will have a direct impact on the success of new, standalone digital products aimed at driving CNN's subscription business. By creating compelling and user-centered experiences, the designer will contribute to user acquisition, retention, and overall business growth in emerging markets for CNN.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, and potentially take on team lead responsibilities as the New Business unit grows.

• Strategic Influence: Play a key role in shaping the product strategy and design direction for innovative new ventures, gaining exposure to high-level business decision-making.

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in areas like user research, interaction design, design systems, and product strategy within the dynamic media and technology landscape.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain comprehensive experience working with diverse teams across editorial, product, engineering, and marketing, broadening professional networks and understanding of the business.

• Industry Exposure: Be at the forefront of digital innovation in the news and media industry, contributing to the evolution of content consumption and subscription models.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies significant responsibility and the expectation of leadership. Growth opportunities are likely tied to the success of the new business ventures and the candidate's ability to drive impact and mentor others. This role offers a chance to shape new product lines from the ground up.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, combining remote work with in-office presence at specified WBD locations (e.g., New York, Atlanta, Washington D.C.). This suggests a need for structured collaboration days and effective remote work practices.

Office Location(s):

• New York, NY (30 Hudson Yards)

• Atlanta, GA

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are likely equipped with modern collaborative spaces designed for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and design critiques.

• Technology & Tools: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and the necessary software (Figma, Confluence, Jira) for design and project management.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model necessitates intentional efforts for team connection, potentially through scheduled in-office days, virtual collaboration tools, and team-building activities.

• Focus Time: The remote component allows for dedicated focus time for deep work on design tasks, away from office distractions.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours, with flexibility often associated with hybrid roles, allowing for effective management of personal and professional responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid environment at a major media company like WBD suggests a professional and well-resourced office setting. The specific locations indicate hubs for media and technology talent. Candidates should be prepared for a structured approach to hybrid work, balancing individual contribution with team collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A presentation of your portfolio, likely focusing on 1-2 relevant projects, followed by a design challenge. This challenge might involve a hypothetical problem related to new product development or a critique of an existing experience.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into your experience, design philosophy, strategic thinking, and how you approach ambiguous problems.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Managers, Engineers, Editorial leads) to assess collaboration style and communication skills.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader within the design or product organization to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as compelling stories, highlighting the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the impact (quantifiable results are a plus).

• Process Clarity: Clearly articulate your design process for each case study. Explain why you made certain decisions, referencing user research, design principles, or business goals.

• Figma Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow, component usage, and prototyping capabilities. If possible, have a live demo or walkthrough ready.

• Ambiguity & Innovation: Select projects that showcase your ability to tackle complex or ambiguous problems, especially those related to new product development or strategic initiatives.

• Impact Focus: Wherever possible, quantify the impact of your designs (e.g., increased user engagement, conversion rates, task completion times).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the design challenge prompt. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across research, ideation, design, and presentation.

• Focus on Process: Even if you can't complete a fully polished design, demonstrate your thought process, how you'd approach the problem, and potential solutions.

• User-Centricity: Ground your solutions in user needs and research insights.

• Strategic Alignment: Consider the business goals of CNN's New Business and how your proposed solution aligns with them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, assessing not only design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. The portfolio review is critical, and candidates should be prepared to articulate their design decisions and process in detail, especially concerning ambiguity and innovation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool. Mastery is explicitly required, including advanced features like component libraries, auto layout, and interactive prototyping.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools might be beneficial for specific use cases, though Figma is the primary requirement.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Research Tools: Expertise in methodologies and potentially tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing. Familiarity with tools like UserTesting.com, Lookback, or similar platforms.

• Analytics Platforms: Understanding of how to interpret data from platforms like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar tools to inform design decisions and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Tools: Proficiency with Confluence for documentation and Jira for task tracking and workflow management is explicitly required.

• Collaboration Tools: Familiarity with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms for day-to-day team communication.

• Design System Management: Experience with tools or processes for managing and contributing to design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack is heavily focused on design execution and collaboration. Figma is the linchpin, and proficiency here is non-negotiable. The mention of Confluence and Jira indicates a need for candidates comfortable with structured project management and documentation within an agile environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A drive to create new and groundbreaking digital products that push the boundaries of content and user engagement.

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

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where all voices are heard, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly.

• Data-Informed Decision Making: Utilizing data and research to guide strategy, validate design choices, and measure success.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality design execution and a passion for creating best-in-class user experiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Emphasizes close working relationships with product managers, engineers, editorial teams, and researchers to ensure holistic product development.

• Open Communication: Encourages transparent and frequent communication to share ideas, provide feedback, and align on project goals.

• Iterative Design: A culture of continuous improvement, where designs are tested, iterated upon, and refined based on feedback and data.

• Shared Ownership: Fosters a sense of collective responsibility for the success of new products, encouraging all team members to contribute their expertise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a forward-thinking, user-focused, and collaborative approach. For a Senior Product Designer, demonstrating alignment with these values, particularly innovation and cross-functional collaboration, will be key to success in the role and during the interview process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing in Ambiguity: The "New Business" context means operating in uncharted territory with potentially undefined user needs or market opportunities, requiring strong problem-framing skills.

• Balancing Innovation with Business Goals: Creating novel experiences while ensuring they align with CNN's strategic objectives and subscription model requires careful consideration.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Synthesizing diverse perspectives from editorial, product, engineering, and growth teams into a unified product vision can be complex.

• Rapid Iteration: Working in a fast-paced environment may require quickly iterating on designs based on feedback, testing, and evolving business requirements.

• Adoption of New Products: Successfully launching and driving adoption for entirely new product lines in a competitive market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Product Development: Gain hands-on experience in defining and launching entirely new product categories for a major media brand.

• Leadership Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced design and product leaders within WBD and CNN.

• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of digital media innovation, understanding emerging technologies and consumer behaviors.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of editorial strategy, subscription models, growth marketing, and engineering constraints.

• Design System Evolution: Contribute to the growth and refinement of design systems, enhancing scalability and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a role focused on new product development. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to make a substantial impact and develop a broad skill set within a leading media organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a completely new product or market with significant ambiguity. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem definition, hypothesis generation, and iterative design).

• "How do you balance innovation and user desirability with business objectives and technical feasibility?" (Discuss your frameworks for evaluating trade-offs and making strategic design decisions).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about CNN's New Business initiatives and this specific role?" (Research CNN's current ventures and express genuine interest in their innovation strategy).

• "How do you approach integrating feedback from diverse stakeholders, especially when there are conflicting opinions?" (Showcase your ability to synthesize feedback and advocate for user-centered solutions).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Wisely: Choose 2-3 projects that best showcase your ability to handle ambiguity, design new experiences, and collaborate cross-functionally.

• Structure as a Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, the solution, and the impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be prepared to demonstrate specific Figma techniques, such as complex prototyping, component management, or design system integration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs.

• Be Ready for Design Challenges: Practice solving hypothetical design problems related to digital content, subscriptions, or emerging technologies within a time constraint.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, problem-solving skills in ambiguous contexts, and strong collaborative abilities. Candidates should be ready to articulate their design philosophy and defend their decisions with data and user-centric reasoning.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Warner Bros. Discovery careers portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your experience with designing new products, handling ambiguity, cross-platform design, and your Figma expertise. Ensure each project tells a clear story of problem, process, solution, and impact.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Designer," "Figma," "UX Design," "Prototyping," "Design Systems," "Cross-platform," and "New Business." Quantify your achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear communication, storytelling, and articulating your design rationale. Be ready to discuss your process and how you would approach a design challenge.

• Research WBD & CNN: Understand the company's mission, recent initiatives, and the strategic importance of the New Business unit. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.