The objective of the short-form project is to increase key engagement metrics by leveraging short-form content to drive click-through conversions to the long-form. By developing algorithms that weave a stream of familiar titles and introducing unknown, users can thumb through hundreds of clips and moments to uncover old favorites and discover new friends.
The Challenge
Short Form needed to solve a specific HBO Max problem: customers often arrive without knowing what to watch, and full playback can feel like a high-commitment decision. The team needed a experience that reduced decision friction, felt premium and branded, and converted curiosity into durable discovery outcomes without becoming a social-media-style destination.
My Contribution
Helped shape the product and personalization strategy for HBO Max Short Form, a premium short-form discovery experience designed to reduce viewing-decision friction and drive long-form engagement. The work connected user research, mobile-first feed design, Add to List and CDP handoffs, Catalog Ranker-based MVP recommendations, and post-MVP feedback loops that use short-form behavior to improve both short-form and long-form personalization. The MVP launched July 27, 2026, with experiment rollout and data collection in progress.