Resume
TJ Gioconda
Experience
Staff Product Designer
CNN — May 2026 to Present
Own end-to-end design strategy for CNN Weather’s web acquisition system, a five-phase roadmap targeting app downloads presented to and aligned with SVP leadership.
Created the strategic frameworks guiding the product, including five audience personas and a Convert/Mature/Serve growth model, and translated them into a nine-sprint cross-functional delivery plan.
Architected a responsive, WCAG-compliant weather system spanning the homepage, articles, alerts, and storm event hubs, with built-in acquisition and safety-critical content never gated.
Assisted in setting visual direction for CNN sub-brands (Weather, Money, Vital, Underscore).
Staff Product Designer
The Washington Post — June 2021 to Present
Led design strategy and execution for The Post’s highest-priority product initiatives, ran design operations for a 25+ person product department, and served as an external voice for the team.
Led design for On the Record (Webby Honoree), a sports and entertainment quiz, from concept to launch. Ran 10+ in-person tests and 1,000+ survey responses to shape one of The Post’s most habit-forming products.
Grew the games portfolio to 8.5M monthly page views, 1M monthly users, and 63M monthly ad impressions (7% of site-wide impressions). Protected $1M+ in annual revenue through a games platform migration.
Drove a 221% increase in comment engagement with a full redesign, including animated emoji reactions and sentiment-based ranking.
Led Washington Post Intelligence, The Post’s first B2B product, from concept to its 2024 launch, opening a new revenue stream.
Built production-quality AI prototypes for an audio briefing product. Created a vibe-coding curriculum that taught designers across the org to prototype with AI.
Design Director
Brllnt — January 2020 to January 2021
Managed an 8-person design team through the COVID-19 transition, maintaining delivery quality across branding, UX/UI, and product design
Served as primary creative contact for all company clients; led coaching and career development for junior designers
Coached designers to enhance their skills and foster professional growth.
Overhauled company marketing, contracting, and client payment agreements
Senior UX & UI Designer
Taoti Creative — January 2017 - December 2019
Delivered UX/UI solutions for a diverse portfolio of clients, including NASCAR, PBS, AARP, and USAA across web, iOS, Android, and custom platforms
Led innovative projects new to the company, including VR/AR implementations, interactive experiences, and in-person installations
Conducted comprehensive user research: in-person and remote prototype testing, tree testing, card sorting, surveys, and interviews
Established 508/WCAG accessibility compliance standards and created an in-office QA lab enabling simultaneous testing on 25+ physical devices
Producer
Agency Chief — October 2015 to January 2017
Managed content and product applications for federal government clients, overseeing multi-platform campaigns and editorial workflows
Created and managed social media campaigns.
Regularly reported on social, website, and media campaign analytics.
Created editorial workflow for consistent and accurate publishing of editorial content.
Monitored breaking news for clients to identify impactful and important stories.
Producer
Armed Forces Foundation — August 2011 to December 2016
Managed post-production, promotion, and showings for the feature-length documentary That Which I Love Destroys Me (2015) at the Austin Film Festival and other locations nationwide.
Online Media Specalist
Goodwill Industries International — March 2011 to February 2014
Planned, recorded, and edited the award-winning video and audio stories -- Goodwill's My Story.
Event Production Administrator
American Heart Association — January 2007 to February 2010
Managed all online and offline materials for a yearly fundraising event on the National Mall in Washington, DC that raised over 1 million dollars and attracted over 10,000 participants.
Education
Masters of Arts in Interactive Journalism
American University
Completed while working full-time
Bachelors of Science in Psychology
Old Dominion University
Minor in Special Education