Max - Launch
Led design for four core features during the WarnerMedia + Discovery merger, launching Max in under 6 months.
I led the team that was responsible for My List, Continue Watching, and Downloads as we embarked on a tightly-deadlined major redesign of our streaming apps to support the newly merged Warner Bros. Discovery. It was a time of major disruption that required me to build new relationships with our Discovery counterparts and maintain morale while requirements, technical capabilities, and org structure were all fuzzy at best. In the end I am incredibly proud of the work we did, all while coming in ahead of deadline, and in a few cases pivoting quickly to support our launch timeline.
Role
Product Design Manager: Led cross-functional collaboration with product and engineering during the WarnerMedia+Discovery merger to design and fully spec four core features (My List, Continue Watching, My Stuff, and Downloads) across web, mobile, and CTV platforms in under 6 months. With regulatory constraints preventing early planning, I stepped into hybrid roles—writing initial requirements, accelerating design timelines, and delivering comprehensive design collateral including interaction, visual, accessibility, and motion design—to ensure we could launch expediently after DOJ clearance.
The Warner Bros. Discovery merger brought together two streaming platforms — HBO Max and Discovery+ — into a single product: Max. Our team was responsible for My List, Continue Watching, and Downloads during this major app redesign, working under tight deadlines with evolving requirements and organizational changes.
In a Nutshell
Most Fun
The rapid, energizing pace and access to the comprehensive Discovery+ user research library enabled quick learning and validation.
Biggest Challenge
Team formation concurrent with deadline management. Unclear ownership and organizational structure across merged entities.
In Retrospect
Would have invested more in team appreciation — team lunches, celebrations of milestones. The pace was intense and the team deserved more recognition in the moment.
Customer Impact
- Long-press interaction for Add to My List accounted for approximately 20% of all adds
- Continue Watching experience ensured seamless cross-platform functionality
- Downloads feature improved with better messaging, increasing customer satisfaction
Formation
Created product comparisons between HBO Max and Discovery+, analyzed new research, documented Continue Watching logic, and initiated wireframing before full organizational clarity existed. This phase was about building understanding of both products and finding the best elements of each to bring forward.
Delivery
Rapid wireframing-to-specs workflow. We used HBO Max as the baseline while seeking incremental improvements. An all-hands-on-deck approach with three designers covering multiple feature areas. Heavy documentation including redlines, interactions, motion specifications, and accessibility considerations.
Comprehensive Specs
Every feature required thorough specification documentation covering redlines, interactions, motion design, and accessibility. The Downloads feature was particularly complex with multiple download states, offline experience considerations, and nuanced requirements.
Launch
Max launched in the U.S. in May 2023 after 8 months of development. We delivered a high-quality product despite late-stage scope and technical capability adjustments. The team's ability to adapt quickly while maintaining design quality was key to a successful launch.